Services

Why Custom Development

For clients looking for a simple web presence, mainly content pages and news posts (blogging), I usually recommend using one of the many free CMS (Content Management System) or blogging platforms available today like Drupal, Joomla and WordPress. For clients that need to put custom content, business logic and display information from a database I recommend using a custom solution that conforms to their needs. While many free platforms offer way to extend them (via plugins, extensions or an API), many times it's difficult to adapt or extend to the particular needs of the client, and may result in more code bloat or systems that become unwieldy to update or extend.

I usually recommend a custom system with the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid) that is both simple to use for non-technical users but also does exactly what the client requires.

Custom Content Management System

Traditional web sites were developed as static HTML pages, which as they grow are more difficult to maintain. A CMS (Content Management System) is an application that manages much of the basic functionality of a website, like retrieving data from a database (like a members directory), can help establish a consistent "look and feel" (via a template system), and make content usable by cross-referencing and searching. This frees the users of the system to concentrate more on the content of their site instead of worrying about other details like using correct fonts.

I have developed a base CMS to provide the basic features required by web sites: content pages, navigation, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) friendly URLs, blogging and basic events calendar, all database driven. This allows me to create a basic site for a client for quick feedback, and concentrate more on their custom content and front-end. Web sites can be more user and content centric for a better online experience.

I constantly improve my CMS platform based on client feedback, new requirements and new technologies.

Technology

Here is a quick rundown of some of the technologies and techniques I employ in development.

Web Frameworks: frameworks are a group of programming libraries used in a specific application or problem domain, in this case one geared towards developing web applications. I mainly use CakePHP, but also have some experience with Django (Python based) and CodeIgniter.
MVC (Model-View-Controller): a programming paradigm that separates content display from the logic of the system allowing better maintenance and separate development of "look and feel" from the business logic and data modeling.
ORM (Object Relational Mapper): use class based code to represent data and its relationships without having to restore to raw SQL in most cases. Allows for simpler coding, better maintenance and portability.
Databases: design the database structure needed for any custom application, mainly MySQL because it ubiquity in hosting companies.
Javascript and AJAX: wherever possible I use the jQuery Javascript library to provide more interactive sites either by using AJAX calls (loading content separately that might take a long time) or using available plugins (for example to display photo galleries and slide shows or having a WYSIWYG editor for content).
CSS and Grid Systems: CSS makes it possible to have a better handle on the look and feel of the site, while t grid systems (like the 960.gs grid system) helps in rapid site prototyping and better (though a bit less flexible) site layout.
Python: a "scripting" language that helps in many tedious or difficult tasks like cleaning HTML and uploading legacy data to a database (via the MySQLdb extension). I also have some basic knowledge of the Django MVC framework.
SVN (Subversion): for source control of the code.

Using Available Systems

From time to time I get requests for functionality that is already available in free systems, where doing custom development might be to cost or time prohibitive. One example of this is forum software where there are many free alternatives (like PHPBB) which might suit the client. In some of those cases I might provide the installation and customization service.

I also help integrate other web services like Twitter, Google Maps, ReCaptcha, Google Analytics and YouTube to websites.

Consulting and Outsourcing

I also provide consulting services to clients about developing an online presence including:

Custom systems vs available free alternatives.
Use of social media.
Static sites vs dynamic and database driven sites.
Hosting solutions and web technologies.

Additionally I sometimes do outsourcing work for clients that don't have IT or online content departments, which includes:

Keeping their sites updated (blogging, content pages, events calendar).
Helping them in moving sites to new hosting companies.
Managing their web systems, including interfacing with web solution providers, email accounts creation, helping with reports, etc.
Improve their custom CMS platform accoding to new requirements or new technologies.
Uploading legacy data to a database system.