SRT Solutions raises the bar on good software for AnnArbor.com
The recent sale of blog platform Moveable Type inspired AnnArbor.com to look for an alternative back end for its dynamic news portal. Its in-house IT team could do some of this work, but they had other, important responsibilities to tend to simultaneously. AnnArbor.com wanted its in-house team to have the necessary support to get the site conversion work done quickly.
SRT Solutions began working on the project with AnnArbor.com in November. It began by converting sections of AnnArbor.com from Moveable Type to the Django platform. Django has a legacy of use in the news industry, plus it’s a platform that would allow for longer-term functionality and flexibility as the organization continues to grow.
Leading by example makes existing code, team better
Using processes that SRT Solutions uses every day, its developers showed AnnArbor.com’s team a new way to write and deliver code. Leading by example, SRT Solutions helped AnnArbor.com’s developers implement a new process for agile, paired development. SRT Solutions also helped AnnArbor.com develop and use unit tests for all new code, adding a new measure of quality control to the process. In this new new testing protocol, code is tested throughout, not just at delivery, when it’s hard — and costly — to make changes.
SRT Solutions has the benefit of working with world class software developers and know how to help their clients avoid potentially costly and time consuming errors,” said Hassan Hodges, Director of Technology. “From their experience, they instinctively knew how to take our existing code and make it better; in fact, SRT Solutions has raised the bar on what we think is good code.
While the primary focus was converting the website’s homepage, SRT Solutions quickly moved to other parts of the website. Using its extensive software experience, SRT Solutions was able to work with AnnArbor.com to strategically inform and prioritize the development work. Based on the organization’s business goals, SRT Solutions developed a project timeline that met both revenue and content goals.
By helping AnnArbor.com move to the Django platform, SRT Solutions created long-term value in two distinct ways. AnnArbor.com is now running on a platform that offers stability and functionality. Its IT team has a new process that delivers both efficiency and quality control that it can implement on other software projects.
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