WinMac Windows and Internet Consulting - Fujifilm

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Never-Search

Overview

Never-Search is a startup that sells a product that provides golf points of interest (POIs) information on a map to both businesses and consumers. The product provides information such as golf course attributes, contact and fees information, instructors, PGA members, etc. As they add different categories of information, they are morphing into a general map based information provider similar to Google maps or MapQuest but with higher accuracy due to active participation of source providers.

The client is a C++ mapping program that has internet connectivity to perform registration, data updates, feedback, and new purchases. The web server software has modules handling main site traffic, eCommerce, and updates. There are also areas to take care of data correction feedback, downloading of the client application and email campaigns. WinMac acted in multiple capacities as outlined below.

Chief Technical Officer

WinMac provided guidance as to which technologies to use for an internet site and for its interaction with the main client application. Scalability, rapid development, skill sets, maturation level of the software, support, cost to develop, and cost to run were all factors that weighed on the decision making process. Microsoft technologies were ultimately chosen for those reasons. They provide the convenience of a single source for most of their needs. The various components are already integrated meaning less time devoted to interoperability issues. Even though they cost slightly more to run, the cost savings from their excellent development support and testing more than offsets this on the initial small scale deployment.

Selection of the e-commerce platform was a major decision point. WinMac did a cost / benefit analysis of custom, semi-custom, and off the shelf implementations. It was decided that the ideal solution was off the shelf software with possible customization if available. After an in depth search, AspDotNetStoreFront was selected. This platform offered many advantages including: wide deployment, C# or VB source code, and no royalties. In fact, WinMac highly customized the application for Never-Search.

The natural direction of starting small with the ability to scale was one outcome. This meant careful selection of a web hosting and other providers that has reasonable initial pricing, but at the same time was professional and has the ability to scale. WinMac was able to find such providers for Never-Search, saving both time and cost.

Architect and Liaison Officer

In the capacity as Chief Architect, WinMac ensured that the overall client / server / database structure coalesced in a coherent manner. The main way to do this was a review of the interfaces connecting all of the parts of the software. Algorithmic and structural reviews were also done. WinMac was responsible for security methodology to ensure that an individually licensed subscription stays individual.

WinMac also coordinated the efforts of development of teams in California, Canada, Russia, and India. No small feat to ensure that lack of progress in one area doesn't hold up another area. Constant communication, clear definition of the interfaces, and modularization were key.

Developer

As developer, WinMac handled development of the following aspects of the software.

	E-commerce: The off the shelf platform was customized to suit the unique requirements of Never-Search's subscription and copy protection mechanism. Never-Search also runs various sales and promotions that need adjusted pricing and campaign success rate tracking.

	Main web site: Created various pages to entice the user to purchase, descriptions of the product, company, trial, registration, etc. .

	Download manager: The client application is over 2GB in size, and can be either ordered on DVD or downloaded. A download of this size necessitates visible downloading progress, retries, load balancing, and tracking. After reviewing all options including 3rd party solutions, it was determined that a fully custom solution is more flexible and cost effective.

	Feedback emailing campaign: To ensure data accuracy of points of interest, Never-Search needed to solicit feedback from owners of those data points. This took the form of customized emails which included a map image showing their location as a pushpin. A unique link brings the owner to the web site to modify geographic and other information.

Testing

Provide acceptance criteria testing services for code written by other developers as well as a general soundness checking.

Operations

WinMac provides ongoing operational support to Never-Search. This entails handling site down emergencies, load balancing, maintaining software archives, upgrade and patch deployment, variations on promotions, second line technical support investigations and corrections.