Comments for ayrmer software blog http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog making complex tasks simple Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:23:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Web developers and designers dependancy on libraries by Charlie Collins http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/web-developers-and-designers-dependancy-on-libraries/comment-page-1#comment-2936 Charlie Collins Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:23:33 +0000 http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/?p=1825#comment-2936 Grant makes some good points (as usual) and is right to highlight JQuery as an excellent example of a lightweight framework. I would still contend that designers and developers alike use this where a small, compact Java Script file would do the job equally well. I would also endorse the use of well sourced classes, as they will save time and avoid reinventing the wheel; saving time and money, when selected with a clear set of objectives. Although potentially another topic, I also like Grant's comments about community testing, one of the foundations of open source, see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cathedral_and_the_Bazaar" title="The Cathedral and the Bazaar" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Cathedral and the Bazaar</a> Grant makes some good points (as usual) and is right to highlight JQuery as an excellent example of a lightweight framework. I would still contend that designers and developers alike use this where a small, compact Java Script file would do the job equally well.

I would also endorse the use of well sourced classes, as they will save time and avoid reinventing the wheel; saving time and money, when selected with a clear set of objectives.

Although potentially another topic, I also like Grant’s comments about community testing, one of the foundations of open source, see The Cathedral and the Bazaar

]]> Comment on Web developers and designers dependancy on libraries by Grant Bagwell http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/web-developers-and-designers-dependancy-on-libraries/comment-page-1#comment-2759 Grant Bagwell Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:56:54 +0000 http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/?p=1825#comment-2759 As technical director of Ayrmer Software I though I would add my comments onto the issue. A lot of what Charlie is saying is very pertinent and true for all software developers. However I believe there is a definite difference between classes (usually modular level items that can be used for one or more purposes) and frameworks (larger code libraries that aid your complete project through libraries and extensibility). For frameworks such as JQuery (javascript) it is true that a lot is added to the project. However this generally aids development where programmers would not generally want to write absolutely everything from scratch. Generally frameworks are extensively tested usually by a community. This community testing usually ensures it is far more robust, secure and reliable than a newly written piece of code. I wholly recommend using frameworks, as long as you are aware of what it is doing (see Charlie's points on underlying knowledge). Although some of these can be large, JQuery is an example of a good lightweight framework and does not add a sizeable footprint to your website. For classes Charlie's comments on testing, support are very true. It is important to trust the developer of the class as well as taking into consideration any motives for writing the class. E.g. Wordpress widgets would be examples of classes. Often these widgets are doing a lot more than initially described. In both of the above underlying understanding is hugely important. However a correctly sourced class or relevantly chosen framework can mean the difference between a project succeeding or not. As technical director of Ayrmer Software I though I would add my comments onto the issue. A lot of what Charlie is saying is very pertinent and true for all software developers. However I believe there is a definite difference between classes (usually modular level items that can be used for one or more purposes) and frameworks (larger code libraries that aid your complete project through libraries and extensibility).

For frameworks such as JQuery (javascript) it is true that a lot is added to the project. However this generally aids development where programmers would not generally want to write absolutely everything from scratch. Generally frameworks are extensively tested usually by a community. This community testing usually ensures it is far more robust, secure and reliable than a newly written piece of code. I wholly recommend using frameworks, as long as you are aware of what it is doing (see Charlie’s points on underlying knowledge). Although some of these can be large, JQuery is an example of a good lightweight framework and does not add a sizeable footprint to your website.

For classes Charlie’s comments on testing, support are very true. It is important to trust the developer of the class as well as taking into consideration any motives for writing the class. E.g. WordPress widgets would be examples of classes. Often these widgets are doing a lot more than initially described.

In both of the above underlying understanding is hugely important. However a correctly sourced class or relevantly chosen framework can mean the difference between a project succeeding or not.

]]> Comment on The importance of User Acceptance Testing by The Importance of User’s Views « Bryan Soliman Blog http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/the-importance-of-user-acceptance-testing/comment-page-1#comment-2247 The Importance of User’s Views « Bryan Soliman Blog Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:54:30 +0000 http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/?p=565#comment-2247 [...] (2010) The Importance of User Acceptance Testing [Online]. Available from: http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/the-importance-of-user-acceptance-testing (Accessed: 02 October [...] [...] (2010) The Importance of User Acceptance Testing [Online]. Available from: http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/the-importance-of-user-acceptance-testing (Accessed: 02 October [...]

]]> Comment on Invest in the un-sexy back-end systems by Charlie Collins http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/invest-in-the-un-sexy-back-end-systems/comment-page-1#comment-2158 Charlie Collins Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:31:40 +0000 http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/?p=1767#comment-2158 Great post Vince, some good points :-) Great post Vince, some good points :-)

]]> Comment on Facebook is watching you, the new big brother 1984? by Charlie Collins http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/1984-facebook-is-watching-you/comment-page-1#comment-2128 Charlie Collins Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:03:55 +0000 http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/?p=1769#comment-2128 Having posted this article yesterday I received an email from WebProNews that was following the same line that readers might be interested in, see http://www.webpronews.com/is-facebook-tracking-everywhere-you-go-online-2011-09#comments Having posted this article yesterday I received an email from WebProNews that was following the same line that readers might be interested in, see http://www.webpronews.com/is-facebook-tracking-everywhere-you-go-online-2011-09#comments

]]> Comment on Staring in the face of adversity – some tips for surviving the recession by Alastair Banks http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/staring-in-the-face-of-adversity-some-tips-for-surviving-the-recession/comment-page-1#comment-2065 Alastair Banks Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:57:07 +0000 http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/?p=1733#comment-2065 Nice Post Charlie and some great advice - especially for the person starting up in business for the first time. Follow these hints and tips ladies and gents and you'll not go far wrong :) Al Nice Post Charlie and some great advice – especially for the person starting up in business for the first time.

Follow these hints and tips ladies and gents and you’ll not go far wrong :)

Al

]]> Comment on What is function led design? by Designing for your target audience - avoid use of Adobe Flash | ayrmer software blog http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/what-is-function-led-design/comment-page-1#comment-2011 Designing for your target audience - avoid use of Adobe Flash | ayrmer software blog Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:43:16 +0000 http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/?p=802#comment-2011 [...] potentially wasting their clients investment / money. Had they taken a function led design – what is function led design – approach they would have worked out the client’s target market demographic; from [...] [...] potentially wasting their clients investment / money. Had they taken a function led design – what is function led design – approach they would have worked out the client’s target market demographic; from [...]

]]> Comment on Your clients should be your best advocates by Charlie Collins http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/your-clients-should-be-your-best-advocates/comment-page-1#comment-1592 Charlie Collins Thu, 21 Jul 2011 07:42:19 +0000 http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/?p=1639#comment-1592 Thank you for your comments Stephen, much appreciate, especially the fact that you managed to miss our case studies. There can be seen on our new, press releases and case studies page - http://bit.ly/bw945R - amongst other places across our website and other online marketing collateral (including linkedin, facebook, etc.,). You'll also come across comments on blogs I regularly read (including Alistair’s) as I think it is important to actively participate and not just sit on the periphery and people watch. Interesting that our paths haven't cross given that you worked in Newton Abbot - although we are nearer Bovey Tracey as we are based in Heathfield (in all its glory) - although I have never really networked in Newton Abbot itself. Would recommend you the A38 Club - http://www.a38-club.co.uk/ - which is a network focused on the <em>gap in the market</em> between Exeter and Plymouth business networking. Will have a read of your blog post about the customer journey, always interested to read other peoples thoughts. Feel free to connect via Linkedin, if you haven't already and give us a shout that next time you are passing. Thank you for your comments Stephen, much appreciate, especially the fact that you managed to miss our case studies. There can be seen on our new, press releases and case studies page – http://bit.ly/bw945R – amongst other places across our website and other online marketing collateral (including linkedin, facebook, etc.,). You’ll also come across comments on blogs I regularly read (including Alistair’s) as I think it is important to actively participate and not just sit on the periphery and people watch.

Interesting that our paths haven’t cross given that you worked in Newton Abbot – although we are nearer Bovey Tracey as we are based in Heathfield (in all its glory) – although I have never really networked in Newton Abbot itself. Would recommend you the A38 Club – http://www.a38-club.co.uk/ – which is a network focused on the gap in the market between Exeter and Plymouth business networking.

Will have a read of your blog post about the customer journey, always interested to read other peoples thoughts.

Feel free to connect via Linkedin, if you haven’t already and give us a shout that next time you are passing.

]]> Comment on Your clients should be your best advocates by stephen bateman http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/your-clients-should-be-your-best-advocates/comment-page-1#comment-1561 stephen bateman Sun, 17 Jul 2011 15:36:48 +0000 http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/?p=1639#comment-1561 Charlie Referrals and recommendations have even greater amplification and value now that we are all connected online. In the last 10 mins I've had a quick look at what you do (saw your name on Alistair's blog) and clicked through to your webiste I learned that you're based in Newton Abbot (I worked there as MD of David & Charles) I've checked your LinkedIn profile and read 13 recommendations for your work. However, I can't see any case studies (none that pop up where I've looked) I agree with you when you say "work on your relationships and stop pitching, the work will find you!" This relies on prospects being in the consideration phase of their shopping and I see the best companies in our sector (especially USA) make great use of case studies to drive new business (this is a form of recommendation) http://bit.ly/lhXKkv Stephen Charlie
Referrals and recommendations have even greater amplification and value now that we are all connected online.
In the last 10 mins I’ve had a quick look at what you do (saw your name on Alistair’s blog) and clicked through to your webiste
I learned that you’re based in Newton Abbot (I worked there as MD of David & Charles)
I’ve checked your LinkedIn profile and read 13 recommendations for your work.
However, I can’t see any case studies (none that pop up where I’ve looked)
I agree with you when you say “work on your relationships and stop pitching, the work will find you!”
This relies on prospects being in the consideration phase of their shopping and I see the best companies in our sector (especially USA) make great use of case studies to drive new business (this is a form of recommendation) http://bit.ly/lhXKkv
Stephen

]]> Comment on E-Commerce checking out! Getting it right. by Charlie Collins http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/e-commerce-checking-out-getting-it-right/comment-page-1#comment-1521 Charlie Collins Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:26:26 +0000 http://www.ayrmer.co.uk/blog/?p=1601#comment-1521 Having just completed a sign up process for a new system we are developing at the moment this was very relevant. Managed to reduce 60% of data gathered in process and showed it to client this morning and then said if was "brilliant". Having just completed a sign up process for a new system we are developing at the moment this was very relevant. Managed to reduce 60% of data gathered in process and showed it to client this morning and then said if was “brilliant”.

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