Tag Archives: Web Development

Using websites for searching something or checking your emails has become part of daily chores these days; but have we ever thought how these websites are developed? Although these shiny, catchy websites may look very simple, their development is a costly and time consuming affair. If you possess necessary skills, you may build a website on your own. However, with the growing content and features, you may need a helping hand or an expert to assist you. The obvious choices are to hire a firm or a developer to develop your website. As with other contracting jobs, this engagement also calls for careful study and determination of engagement contracts or models with their pros and cons.

There is no single governing principal as to which engagement model would work in a particular situation. Business strategies as well as client/consultant firms’ operating models often drive the decision on engagement models. Let’s review some of the common engagement models that are often employed by various businesses:

Engagement Models

Dedicated Offshore Resources:

In this type, the resources you hire are dedicated to work on your project. This enables you to employ most experienced and highly skilled resources without having to worry about hiring them on-site and looking after all the related formalities are done. The main advantage with this model is the freedom that you get to change decisions related to team strength and other related areas. This option is at your disposal, whenever you feel the need to step in. You are only required to provide fundamental supplies to initiate. This model is generally used for medium to long term assignments.

Fixed Price:

As the name suggests, contract is awarded for a fixed cost in fixed price model. This is the ultimate model to use when you know the estimated cost before investing, as fixed cost implies low risk. Be sure to define the exact scope and take an extra effort to carefully draft your RFP (Request for Proposal). Scope creep in later stages could severely hamper your budget.

Time and Material:

In cases where the requirements cannot be completely defined upfront and requirements could change over the course of time; it is advisable to use this model. This model is best suited for complex projects. The total expenditure will vary depending on the work, resources and time consumed in the execution of project. However, bear in mind the fact that you may need to shell out extra bucks for every scope change.

Milestone Based Billing:

This model helps to reduce the large project risks and reinforce milestone monitoring. Long term and remotely developed projects are the ideal candidates to deploy this model. Payments are usually predefined in accordance with the accomplishment of milestones. Better visibility of progress aids you in minimizing risks.

The development firms will use various strategies while offering their services and thus use different models. Knowing the underlying differences and understanding the nature of the project helps you to make the appropriate decision for a model selection.

Web Development

Web Application Development – Bright Today and Promising Tomorrow

June 21, 2012 brainwork

The internet continues to expand its impact on diverse industries and sectors. Businesses have adopted an online presence and now, cater to online users all over the world. This progress is the contribution of web application development, which essentially comprises of business tactics and procedures that are implemented on the internet. It includes three tiers – user services, data services, and business services. The web application development is essential in the modern business world where companies all over the world communicate with each other.

The proper implementation of web application is important to guarantee desired results and achievement of targets. The core phases include envisaging the direction of the project and the goals to be achieved, preparing a project plan, coding and developing the project, and testing and removing the final inconsistencies and bugs in the project. One has several alternatives to choose as far as the technical options are concerned. PHP is a widely used scripting language for developing dynamic and functional web applications. Since it is extremely versatile, it can perform efficiently over any type of OS. This compatibility over diverse platforms has made PHP extremely popular among developers.

Web Development

HTML5: Future of Web and Application Development

March 1, 2012 brainwork

HTML5 has been around us from past three years and is slowly evolving as a thriving web development language due to which many tech industry leaders and developers have started embracing it for web and mobile application development. HTML5 stands for hypertext mark up language, which is used for structuring and displaying content on the internet. It is the fifth version of HTML, and is integrated with CSS3 and advanced series of JavaScript API, known as Application Programming Interface. HTML is a composite of features such as technologies, advanced features, and APIs that connects potential of desktop with the speed and connectivity of the internet.

From programming point of view, HTML5 is an advanced markup language, which is compatible with high-end multimedia applications. It is easy to read and understand by humans, computers and web browsers, alike. As per the recent research, the world’s top 100 websites are using HTML5 language, and search engines and social networking sites first used it.

Due to recent development in mark up language mobile phone companies are looking forward to HTML5. In present time, HTML5 is in number three position, after iOS (Apple) and Android (Google), as the most ideal platform for mobile phones. It is forecasted by a research firm called ‘Strategy Analytics’ that sale of HTML5 compatible phones will reach up to 1 billion by 2013. The reason why HTML5 has become the most preferable one is due to its capability to build applications that can target all types of mobile platforms at a time. Mobile applications developed using HTML5 are more cost effective and easy to create than that of iOS, Android and Windows phones.

Web Development

Efficient Use of Typography in Web Design Development

November 29, 2011 brainwork

There are many aspects to a website that play their small yet crucial role in improving its visibility and popularity. One of such important aspects is its typography. Typography is basically the font style and size that provides the actual and appropriate look to a particular webpage. Selection of typography for a webpage involves choosing the correct typefaces, line length and point size supported by professional tracking, kerning and leading. To make sure that your typography selection provides you with best results, few tips can prove helpful.

Firstly, carefully read the text of your webpage to make sure that there is no extra spacing or gaps left between lines and words. Next step is to maintain hierarchy in the whole process. Hierarchy essentially helps the readers to judge as where to start and end reading along with knowing the best parts of it. This is done by inserting different fonts and bolding words in the content.

It is also advisable to use more and more of simple fonts rather than the fancy ones. This keeps the webpage least complex and easier for the readers to connect. Any link present on a webpage is the most crucial materials to convey. Thus, a good typography always suggests to highlight them.

Knowing the difference between micro and macro typography also proves out to be useful in this process. Micro typography refers to the spacing between letters and words while macro typography refers to the overall appearance of a paragraph. Using different color fonts and size is also a major plus point towards effective typography. Different color and size of fonts helps the reader to differentiate amongst distinguished segments and purposes of the content.

Web Development

Native Application in Mobile Web Development

October 14, 2011 brainwork

Mobile Web app is every where nowadays and forms a part of priorities for the clients. Leading the market of mobile development is mostly iphones, ipads, and android phones. Mobile web development companies are under the task of using technologies that make the use of internet on mobile phones, easier and customized than before. One of the successful results of these efforts is native apps.

A native application is the one designed to function in a computer environment according to a machine language. This terminology is used in contrast with the interpreted Java application, which is not a single platform. It is also used to contrast a native application that has an emulated application and was originally written for some other platform. This application thus provides a strong, powerful, scalable and affordable solution for companies in the field of mobile web development.

Native application has many significant advantages over other web applications. The primary advantages provided by such apps is that it is highly responsive and functional to commands as compared to browsers and do not require an internet access to function. It also has a strong control over the typefaces and layouts of your mobile apps as well as an easy and direct control over application like camera, gyroscope, microphone, compass, accelerometer, and GPS. Generally with browsers, access to these applications is limited. Another advantage of native applications that is worth mentioning is its strong control over designs and rate. In case of browsers, rates vary widely and there is less control over them.