Code For Web

At Technability, currently we are facing the age old issue of multi-code environment, which does make for an exciting and robust workplace. One of the main reasons for this is we inherit projects from clients where they had a terrible experience with the previous webmaster, web developer or designer and the current code base is either in ASP, PHP, Perl, or something else. In many cases the client does not want to pay for the conversion of their existing site to another platform, so we have to bite the bullet and refresh our minds of some PHP or ASP (worst case). This does make for some challenges, since we mainly code in ASP.NET (C# flavor) and Ruby now days. Having to take a “step-back” and refresh our minds for PHP syntax or some other langauge can be a bit rough at times if we are currently slammed with work or just in the middle of a new site deployment.

What I have found that works best for jumping over this hurdle is to focus on the core languages that your firm supports. Now, with the other languages that you will have to come in contact with, don’t run away, but develop a team that can adapt quickly to the syntax changes or, better yet, network with a few individuals who have backgrounds in those languages and that your team can work together with. One, this lessens the requirement that your team needs to know or have limited knowledge of the language and secondly allows your team to continue to focus on what they know best.

With the current state of the economy in the United States, small businesses need to find ways to leverage and work with other small businesses in order to keep in business and network building business relationships.

business business

So, 2009 is right around the corner, and the development world is looking pretty exciting. Many new technologies coming out and some that look and sound great, while others, we are not sure about.

Development Frameworks

ASP.NET MVC - new framework from Microsoft that is in Beta right now, very promising. Looks like it has taken some of the features and processes from MonoRails and Ruby on Rails ideas. Microsoft is a little late to the party, but I guess better late than never. This does give developers a different approach to development in the web space.

Ruby on Rails + Merb = Wow! This is a great step forward for developers in the Ruby community. Instead of having two competing frameworks, we have one top notch team working at creating a killer framework. This is an amazing step forward, and definitely something developers of other flavors should check out.

Django, this python based web framework surely does show some amazing promise. I have to admit that I have not had the time to really dive into the core of the framework or create any projects, but I did go through the tutorial and was amazed.

Economy

With the current state of the economy, web development firms are needing ways to stay on budget and in business. I could see a movement towards open source development due to the cost reduction in server operating systems licensing cost. I am afriad of firms scambling to make ends meet, and cutting corners where they really shouldn’t be cut. Everyone has to make a living, but the question is at what cost to the firm and the client?

2009 will be an interesting year, over at Technability we will be looking to expand and grow in the web design/development department, so at least there is some promise.

Uncategorized Asp.net MVC, business, Django, Ruby on Rails, web design, web development