Field Notes From Cyfrania
Chronicles of software developers: sweet successes, bitter failures, and everyday routines shared to inspire, spark thoughts, offer hints, or just for a pleasant read.
PWA: Tech You Might Be Missing for Website Gains
Progressive Web Applications (PWA) is a tech I felt deserves more than just a LinkedIn post. So I’ve written a full article, unlike the brief entries I typically do about our favorite tools at Cyfrania in my #TechChoiceByCyfrania series. The reason? I see numerous websites around that could benefit greatly from PWA, yet their owners are unaware of this. My article is just for them. I'll break down what PWA is, what it can do for website owners, how it…
How to Secure Ownership Rights for Your App’s Code
Recently, we once again heard from a client that their previous team is refusing to provide access to the code they paid for, and they are now having to take legal action. So, today I’ve decided to set aside my other tasks and create a guide for app owners on how to safeguard themselves against this type of outrageous incident. It goes without saying that this vendor's behavior violates every possible IT industry service standard, as well as the ethical norms of the profession. The commonly accepted norm is as…
What Is the Outsourcer Responsible for in the Project?
We're definitely skilled at what we do, but we're not all-powerful, unfortunately. It would be awesome if we could influence everything in the project - like convincing users that our project is the best, expanding the budget limitlessly, or adjusting deadlines as we see fit. Life, however, has its plans, regardless of our wishes. So, what exactly falls under our responsibility? Are we entirely responsible for how the project turns out? Well, to some extent. We're a bit like NASA specialists. We're the ones crafting the rocket modules, but…
The Art of Collaboration for Project Success
I admit that there are many factors influencing the success of the project. I am not the discoverer of this topic, of course. However, this text is the fruit of my brainwork, the result of my personal observations and thoughtful analysis. Among lots of projects we’ve been a part of, I observe the crucial importance of such a phenomenon as synergy, which occurs when the customer and the team work together on a project. In this article, I want to share my observations about the role of joint efforts. It would…
Embracing the Uniqueness of Development Companies
As I delve deeper into the intricacies of marketing, I become more aware of the profound uniqueness that defines every company. It may appear, only at first glance, that the landscape of development companies is homogenous, with numerous outsourcing firms only satisfying a variety of needs. However, the reality is far more nuanced. The development of software solutions is akin to the rich diversity in the natural world. Just as a fox and a wolf, while belonging to the same family of canids, exhibit distinct genera and species, development companies, despite their shared lineage, possess…
The Paradox of Expectations
Warning: You are personally responsible for all your expectations from this text I hate expectations. And I love them. Expectations are a paradox. They can be both a source of frustration and a catalyst for clarity. I hate their elusive nature. They hide behind masks of good intentions and eloquent words, capable of derailing plans, disrupting deadlines, and even damaging relationships. This is what makes them frustrating. And I love the moment an expectation is identified, it's like a fog lifting. Suddenly, just like with a wave of a magic wand…
Portfolio Is the Tip of the Iceberg
People understand portfolios so differently. Some people include everything, absolutely indiscriminately, well, everything they have just encountered - from minor tweaks like repainting a button or shifting it slightly, to more significant changes like altering the order of items in a shopping cart or changing the font. And then, looking at this diversity, it seems that experts have had a hand in creating every website and application on the Internet. Others present flashy portfolios filled with impressive works. In fact, it turns out that the specialists merely evaluated the projects…
As Multifaceted as a Diamond
The question "Why should I choose you?" often arises in various forms such as "How are you different?", "What are your advantages?", and "What are you better at?" This question holds significant importance as it not only shapes our identity to customers but also provides us with a deeper understanding of who we are. However, encapsulating the answer to this question in a single sentence is quite challenging. While it's true that we are an outsourcing software development company. And we are also as reliable as Swiss watches. We are also business partners for our customers. And we are also…
Why Fixed Budgets Are Perfect for Time and Material Contracts
For some reason, many people feel uncomfortable with clearly defined budgets or even can't tell the exact sum of money they need. Some customers worry that their budget is too small and with such a budget, no one will take up the development of their idea. Some developers are afraid that the budget will not be enough or they will not fit into a tiny budget. However, having a clearly defined budget is excellent. We have a significant number of customers. And by "a significant number" we should understand dozens at this particular moment and hundreds over the years…
Is It Easy to Transfer Experience?
Once again, one of my long-time customers started to build an internal team. It always sucks when it happens. I work for hire, but I work very hard to let people feel I am the best engineer out there. Come on, stick to me! You don’t need anyone else! In this case, the customer actually explained himself. He said he realized that he had become too much dependent on me. If I was not around, he felt helpless. His goal was to have reliable people in his local area. A good goal overall. But reliable people do not appear with a wave of a magic wand. Instead of reliable people, you usually get…
