Web Design, Development And Testing

Many organizations are interested in building web applications for their business but are unaware of the various steps that are needed to build a compelling web application. In this article I will attempt to put together the various pieces of the puzzle. Application development involves several distinct efforts that need to come together to build a compelling end product. A compelling end product is the combination of design, development architecture, development implementation, automated regression and functional testing and performance and load testing.

Design: People often confuse design with development. Moreover even within design, user interface design is often confused with graphics design. Web user interface design involves the design of the flow of the website and the layout of the specific web pages within the website. The web user interface designer concentrates on the usability of the application. The user interface designer will typically develop "wireframes" using tools like Adobe Photoshop to convey the design. These are often initially developed as prototypes and usability testing is carried with user groups out to ensure that the web application will be intuitive and easy to use. Graphics design on the other hand relates to the aesthetics of the page. The graphics designer is responsible for the aesthetic layout of the pages and the creation of the various graphical objects inside the pages such as images and flash objects. The graphics Designer will typically use a combination of tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Captivate to create the actual graphics objects. A designer will need to work closely with other groups to make sure the design process does not compromise the performance of the application by making sure that the graphics objects are small thus ensuring that the various web performance metrics are unaffected.

Development: This involves converting the design into an actual application. The development typically involves an architectural phase where the underlying modules that make up the application are scoped out. If persistent data storage is needed, a database schema should be designed to accommodate the data storage needs. The choice of the operating system (e.g. Windows, Linux or Solaris) where the web application will run, the web server (e.g. Microsoft IIS, Apache or Tomcat) which will run the web application and the back end database (e.g. Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL or Postgres) which stores the data will need to be made. Various development frameworks are available to build web applications. The most common ones are ASP and ASP.NET from Microsoft, Java Servlets and JSP from Sun, PHP and Perl that are open source. The choice of the application framework is typically dictated by the strengths of the members of the development team. The architectural phase is followed by the implementation phase. This is typically the longest part of the project and during this phase the actual code is written using the design specifications and graphics objects developed by the design team. The programming will typically be done using a combination of the application frameworks mentioned earlier together with HTML, JavaScript and CSS style sheets.

Quality Assurance and Testing: A surprising number of people are of the view that quality assurance and testing is desirable but is not actually needed. Unfortunately this view has its roots in total ignorance of the process that is needed to build a good end product. Regardless of how pretty or slick we make the application, if it does not work as expected, users will reject it. Quality assurance and testing involve two different kinds of tasks. Functional and regression testing is used to verify that the developed application is doing what it is supposed to do. This is achieved by test automation using a functional testing tool. Load and Performance testing is used to ensure that the application performs as intended when it is subjected to the typical load of a production environment. Load testing is practically speaking impossible to perform without using an automated load testing tool since it involves the simulation of a large number of concurrent virtual users. This effect cannot really be achieved manually and needs the assistance of an application that is designed to subject the application to a specified load and then measure its performance when it is subjected to that load. Quality Assurance teams will need to track the bugs or defects in the application using bug tracking tools. Such tools will allow defects to be tracked by all members of the team.

The three groups mentioned above tend to be specialized for their skill set. As an example, people often make the mistake of using developers as quality assurance testers. This is not a wise strategy because most developers who are good at writing software are quite poor at finding bugs or defects in their own software.

Writing good and compelling web applications requires an understanding of all phases of the process, design, development and quality assurance. Skipping phases or taking shortcuts will result in low quality software that will generally cost more in the long run.

About the Author:

Umair Khan is Chairman of Verisium, Inc., maker of vPerformer (performance & load testing) and vTest (functional testing).
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Article published on September 28, 2007 at iSnare.com

Web Design Breaking Down The Walls

The Internet has broken down multiple walls between cultures, generations and economic boundaries. The Internet is available to anyone. While this is certainly a powerful dynamic this article is not about your ability to connect with a worldwide consumer base.

The broken down walls that I’m talking about come in the form of access to a wide variety of talented freelancers who can kick your website up a notch.

An online business owner can tap into the developed talent pool featuring writers, photographers, code experts and video and audio streaming specialists. All of whom can bring their own wealth of expertise to any given project or collaboration.

Let me give you an example of these broken down walls. In the world of publishing there are writers who send in material to be reviewed with the potential for publishing. Often what is sent is not a close enough fit with what the publishing company feels they need. Many publishers have begun to use the internet to network with writers, illustrators, editors and fact checkers to develop projects on a ‘work for hire’ basis that allows the publishing company to draw from a countrywide talent pool to develop a singular project that closely aligns with their original idea for publishing.

This is the same concept for web design. You have the ability to work with global talent to match your needs when it comes to your site design and content needs utilizing experts in the specific design elements you may need.

Not everyone is gifted in all areas of site design. Typically a web designer is gifted at layout, but may not be overly conscious of what makes for good content. On the other hand a content producer may not be especially interested in learning how to make the words look nice in the finished page design. Online graphic art companies like istock and clipart.com allow you to find artistic elements that compliment your site design while remaining cost effective and as non-intrusive as you need them to be.

By the very nature of freelancing a solid team can be put together that works for your good. If you had to hire each of these professionals to work in your firm the cost would likely be prohibitive, but when called upon these professionals can perform the needed tasks efficiently and affordably.

There is something satisfying about developing and completing a project all by yourself, but if you don’t have the patience or maybe even the expertise you’d like when it comes to web design and functionality then it might be time to call in the freelancers. The good news is they work for you only when you need them. When you get to the point where you can manage some of the design elements on your own then you simply stop contacting the freelancers for help the area you have become skilled in.

Freelancers fill in the gaps until you are ready to do it yourself, but it’s also good to know they are just a click away whenever you need to reassemble to team.

About the Author:

Online Website Design with HighPowerSites.com or Easy Website Design at BuildAGreatSite.com. Get ebooks to sell at BooksWealth.com.
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Article published on December 18, 2007 at iSnare.com

Thinking Offshore Web Design? Think Again!

Offshore web design firms promise ultimate convenience and savings to businesses around the world. Many companies even decide to hop aboard the outsource wagon and hire these design firms. In many cases, they get more than they bargained for.

While it is true that many offshore web design firms promise low, low prices for web design services, far too many companies learn that you get what you pay for. Many companies based outside the US simply cannot offer the services and quality of a home-grown business. When dealing with overseas companies, businesses need to adjust to time zone differences, which often make contact and meetings virtually impossible. Sending money to pay for services is often time-consuming and expensive. Wiring money and sending overseas transfers to pay for web design is not even always safe and can leave company owners vulnerable to identity theft.

Overseas companies often do try hard to compete on the global stage, but the truth is that any US company needing web design for the competitive North American and European market needs top quality. Many companies who hire overseas web design services often have to spend extra money to repair sloppy, ungrammatical copywriting. Unfortunately, not every offshore company can deliver professional web design – in many cases, fly-by-night overseas firms deliver amateurish, unusable work. After all, anyone can set up a company half-way around the world and promise design services. There is often no way for you to verify their qualifications.

Even when an offshore web design company tries very hard, the truth is that someone based half-way around the world simply cannot know North American marketing thoroughly. Even major companies are finding that their offshore outsourcing isn’t working – the experienced web design talent is simply not there. In far too many cases, companies look at the bottom line and hire these web design services only to realize after the fact that they need to pay to have their web redesigned all over again. Does your company really want to pay TWICE for web design services?

Before companies sign on the dotted line and hire an overseas web design service, they also need to think twice about the “deal” they are getting. In many cases, offshore companies offer an impressively low hourly charge, but take longer to finish a project. Even though a web design company only charges a fraction of its US counterpart in terms of hourly price, it can easily end up charging a similar amount, simply by taking longer to complete the same amount of work. Since your company could end up paying just as much for an overseas web design service, doesn’t it make more sense to hire a US-based firm and get guaranteed, quality work for the same price?

The biggest problem with overseas web design services is that offshore services come with no legal protection whatsoever. Laws are simply very different in other parts of the world and when a company decides to choose an overseas firm, they are in effect resigning themselves to no legal protection. If a web design company turns in a plagiarized product or a product that violates intellectual property laws, the company that hired the web design service will have a very hard time finding legal redress. Worse, it is the US company that may have to face the US legal system if any laws have been violated. In many cases, offshore companies operate only via email, which means that when there is a problem with a delivered service, there is no way to get a fast response. Companies may simply disappear when there is a legal problem. Buying offshore is buying “as is” – not the way you want to hire the web design services that will make your business succeed!

About the Author:

Ciplex is committed to provide the best services below market prices. Our Los Angeles professional web design company has real offices our clients can visit, and we have phone lines that work during US office hours.
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Article published on November 16, 2006 at iSnare.com

Picking Out The Best Web Design For Your Website

Companies who set up websites for the general public to view should choose their web design options carefully. One who sets up a website needs to ensure that the web design itself is as perfect as it possibly can be. There are a few ways in which the website owner can produce the most attractive and user-friendly web design possible.

The first tip website owners should take in mind when perusing web design concepts is what type of individual is going to be viewing their website the majority of the time. By recognizing one’s target audience, the website owner can ensure that the web design structure is one which is going to attract and impress all who set eyes upon the website. This provides the website owner and web designer with a good place to start with regard to the particular web design which is most suitable for the website.

One should also make sure that the web design is not too overwhelming for viewers. If there are a lot of pictures along with volumes of text on the webpage, the viewer has more of chance of being distracted and not receiving the specific message which the website owner is trying to relay. For example, if a website is designed to sell kites and the webpage revolves around vivid pictures of butterflies and crowded text, it may take away from the overall point of the website which is to sell a product to the online consumer. It is important to not go overboard with the web design of a website.

With that said, it is imperative that the web design is not drab. One will be much more interested in viewing a website that has color, some pictures and a good amount of text throughout the webpage. It is beneficial to ensure that there is a little bit of everything but not a lot of one specific type of thing in the web design format. This will help to ensure that the website visitor is attracted to the web design but not overwhelmed by the content or graphics.

The web design of a website should also be of a unique nature. If one has ever viewed multiple websites selling a similar product, they know how common it is to come across web designs of a similar nature. One who owns a website wants their website to stand out to the visitors and persuade them to return to the particular website for their products or content time and time again. One can make this happen by utilizing a web design that is unique and different from all others that website visitors may come across on the Internet.

Web design is something which can go in many different directions. Therefore, by following the previously mentioned tips one may be that much more likely to use a web design for their website which is sure to please all who come across it.

About the Author:

You will find more from this author at: builderstree.com - Internet

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Article published on October 13, 2006 at iSnare.com