Building web applications

I have build a wide range of web applications from the ground up, using the latest PHP frameworks usually Laravel.

Revitalising legacy application

Most developers prefer writing new applications but I’m just as happy working to legacy systems that need to be brought back to life.

A legacy system will have accumulated many business rules and it is often easier to improve something you already use, rather than starting again from scratch.

There are two big reasons (and lots of smaller reasons) why revitalising a legacy system is usually better than building a brand new application.

1. While you develop the new system, the old system doesn’t remain unchanged. The business can’t stand still while the new applications is being built.
2. Deployment – on day one the new system has to work 100%, using data that has been migrated from the old system. Scary and often there are big failures.

API building

Systems more and more these days are connected by calls to an API to send and receive information securely from and to other applications. This can be to social media or external partner applications. It will always involve some form of authentication and authorising, often using the industry standard OAUTH2.

I also build APIs that other applications can utilise.

Examples of integration through API that I’ve built are as follows.

– Upload video to YouTube
– Send content to FaceBook
– Send account details and invoices to the accounting system Xero
– Retrieve payment status from accounting system Xero
– Send orders and images to a partner’s online system
– SugarCRM integration with other applications

work right across the web application spectrum, and can offer the following services

Managing offshore development

If you envisage using offshore developers to build your next exciting app, you will need someone locally to ensure the standard of the work produced is to a high standard. Think ‘minimising technical debt’. You need someone who can understand quality at a coding level. Even if you don’t need me to manage your project, I would be happy to at least undertake a code review.

Project Management

If you have a new application to build, having good project management will make a big difference to the outcome. It doesn’t have to be on a full time basis – it all depends on the size and complexity of the project.

Migrating systems to AWS

Amazon have a number of cloud services for application hosting, databases, storage and email. There are many significant advantages, including reduced costs, that make moving your application to the cloud well worth considering.

If you are considering this as a possibility, contact me so that we can discuss what is possible.

Database design and optimising

How many times have you see a new application work perfectly well in testing, only to grind to a snail’s pace as the tables fill up. The proper analyse and tuning can make the world of difference. I’ve seen instances where a new index can take a search from 20 seconds plus down to milliseconds.

SugarCRM configuring and customising

I spent a number of years configuring and customising SugarCRM.

Advice

If ever you are thinking of making decisions that affect your IT infrastructure, an independent second opinion is a great idea. Even if it confirms that you are on the right track, the conversation will give you plenty of food for thought.

Training

I can undertake training for you in Linux, PHP and SugarCRM (as admin or developer). In the past I’ve undertaking training for commercial organisations and I was a tutor in IT at UTS (University of Technology Sydney) for a number of years.

I would be pleased to hear from you if you think I might be able to help in any way. Just give me a call so we touch base.