Web Application Development @ Clevernet

Outline: Make a list of every page

The first step in developing a web application consists of making a list of every screen (or page).

While making this list we also specify what content appears on each screen.

We are not concerned with how the content will look, just what it is.

To facilitate the outlining process we use a tool called Rebar. Rebar is a web based "wireframing" (outlining) tool that allows us to quickly define all the screens and their content. It is a very basic tool that creates a "clickable" version of your web site in a matter of minutes or hours.

For every screen, using the first person, we define what the user will see and what links she will be able to follow from that screen, including any main menu elements that are present on every page. Depending on the complexity of the system being developed, this step can usually be accomplished in two or three wireframing sessions.

Once we have a complete wireframe, we are in a much better position to provide time and costs estimates since we know what the system will consist of. If the client is unhappy with the estimate, they are welcome to take the wireframe and shop the system around to other developers. We usually charge a nominal fee for wireframing and require its creation prior to giving a quote on most projects.

Design: Apply a design to the outline to get a prototype

The next step in the web development process is deciding on a web site design. A design defines the look of form elements, headings, sub-headings, footers, body text, and addresses questions of color, layout, etc.

Rebar allows us to export a "static" html version of the wireframe using a predefined "style sheet". We apply the client's design requirements and we now have our prototype.

We then post the prototype to a password protected web site and enable a "comments" system that allows everyone involved in the project to comment on each page of the prototype. This commenting allows us to identify inconsistencies and irregularities in any aspect of the design, content, and program flow and addresses them before putting the programmers to work in the next step.

Clevernet's web site design process is fully documented and proven. However, if you can't afford a custom design, you might consider using an open source web design. We have applied open source designs to a variety of systems and can usually implement them for considerably less than a custom design.

The primary advantage of defining the design at this point in the process is that you end up with exactly what you were expecting to see when the project is published. There are few or no surprises to contend with, neither in price nor execution.

Program: Add custom functionality

At this point we implement the functionality of the system. There is usually very little interaction with the client during this step.

Sometimes we uncover inconsistencies in the wireframe and prototype that were previously hidden due to their static, non-interactive nature. In these cases, we present the client with the original specification and allow her to select from two or three alternatives. We try to account for such situations when writing the estimate so that fixes do not usually incur additional charges.

Approve and Publish: Add your content and launch

When the system is complete (all pages defined in the wireframe have been implemented and all forms function as intended) we give the client an opportunity to approve the final product. This "acceptance period" ranges from a few weeks to a few months. If, at the end of the period, we do not have any feedback from the client, we assume the product is accepted as is and proceed with publishing and billing. It is important to note that we do not start implementing changes until the client says "we have no more change requests" or until the acceptance period ends, whichever comes first.

Now that the system has been developed and approved, it is moved into a "production" environment. This usually means it can now be accessed at the domain name of choice and is available for the general public or intended audience.

Because we develop using the Fusebox framework, implementing new features of modifying existing ones is usually painless. Please contact us if you are interested in hiring us to develop your custom web application. For samples of some sites that we've worked on that have followed this process, please visit our portfolio.