Reasons to Choose Responsive Software
Customized Software
Professional Service
20 Years Experience
Proven Track Record
Pre-built Framework
All Windows Versions
No Licence Fees
Installable from the Web
Single Executable
Accurate Estimates
Total Quality Control
Professionally Written Code
Incremental Development
Customized Software
Software suppliers will tell you that every business is basically the same in order to convince
you that their package will suit your particular requirements. They will then expect you
to adjust your business processes to suit their software. And the reason their software
is so complex is that it aims to meet, not only the needs of your business but also, the differing needs
of a multitude of other businesses at the same time!
At Responsive Software we have a different approach. Our competent professional programmers will work directly with
you in your business to develop only the software you need to meet your specific requirements. The software we
create belongs to you and is designed to provide trouble-free and licence-free running for
your business for many years to come. It also gives you an excellent basis on which to develop your information
systems as your business grows.
Although the initial cost of a customized system may be greater than that for an off-the-shelf package,
the total cost of ownership (TCO) is significantly less when considered over a period of just a few years
and is more affordable than you might think.
And with customized software you end up owning both the software and the source code upon which your business depends. With
packaged software all you'll ever get is a licence to use something that belongs to someone else!
Professional Service
Responsive Software provides a professional consultancy service for businesses that develop their
own software. Because our aim is to be truly professional we endeavour to act in the best
interests of our clients while at the same time adhering to the highest ethical standards.
Consequently when we develop customized software for your business we acknowledge that it does not belong to us and
renounce all ownership rights to it in your favour. We also treat all information
we receive with the utmost confidentiality and renounce the possibility of gaining a commercial advantage from
our privileged position as your software professional.
20 Years Experience
We've been developing business applications for 20 years and have experience in
a diverse number of areas including insurance systems, accounting systems,
actuarial & financial calculations, electronics manufacturing, furniture manufacturing, food distribution,
fish processing, telecommunications, networking, client/server, internet technologies, POS systems,
pharmaceutical dispensing, teaching and education administration.
During this time we've come to appreciate many of the issues that are important to a business when
making an investment in software development. In particular we've come to the conclusion
that many businesses' experience with computer software on the whole is somewhat less than satisfactory. (For
more details you may wish to read our essay on the architecture
of a business application.)
Proven Track Record
All the software Responsive Software have written during the past 20 years has gone into operation
and is successfully fulfilling the purpose for which it was intended. For more information please take a look at
our track record or some of the comments
from our clients (scoll to bottom of page.)
Pre-built Framework
We have built and tested a generic business application
that we make available to our clients as a starting point for customized software.
We call this the Framework. It includes a general ledger function, a cashbook function,
a document and image repository, a point-of-sale function that operates both on-line
and off-line and an HTTP server function for web site development.
It also includes all the logic necessary for client/server communications and database management.
This Framework is a fundamental component in a number of applications used by
our clients as part of their mission-critical business operations. It provides
them with a sound basis on which to further develop their systems as they are subject to larger
numbers of users, more and more data and an increasing level of complexity.
All Windows Versions
Business applications based on the Framework will install and run on all versions of
Windows including 95, 98, ME, NT, 2K, XP, Vista, 7, 10. These can be present in any combination on the client computers.
No Licence Fees
Business applications based on the Framework can be deployed free of any on-going licence
fees including the database server.
Installable from the Web
Business applications based on the Framework are provided in a single executable installation
file that can be installed directly from a web site. This file is usually less than 10MB in size.
Single Executable
Business applications based on the Framework are built and deployed as a single executable
that can be run in various modes including client, server and POS modes as determined by
command-line switches. This file is usually less than 3MB in size.
No other files need be present for the application to work apart from those required by the
database server on the computer where the database is located. This means the application
can be run as a client on any Windows computer simply by copying the file, creating a shortcut and
adding the appropriate command-line switches.
Accurate Estimates
We have a great deal of experience estimating how long a software development
job will take. This means that in most cases we can estimate the cost with
a reasonable degree of accuracy. In situations where a client
has a precise idea or description of their requirements we can usually give a fixed-price quote.
Total Quality Control
We have the procedures in place to give us total control over the quality
of the software we deliver. This includes a
policy of zero-tolerance for software defects or "bugs" in our code. If even a minor defect
appears in our software we eliminate it permanently by finding the logical error and fixing it.
We do not "code around" or ignore it.
Because many of our clients' business operations are critically
dependent on the systems we develop we place the utmost priority on ensuring
they will continue operating smoothly without interruption. This is
particularly important when making changes or enhancements to systems that are already in use.
Our approach includes the use of appropriate development tools. We believe many
of the scripting and "managed" environments currently in vogue take a piecemeal approach
to software delivery that does not lend itself to the total quality control of a software system.
We take the time to understand and test every line of code we write by
stepping through each one with an interactive debugger to ensure that it behaves in the manner
we intend. (Too often in the software industry programmers are permitted to write code
they don't fully understand but that appears to work based on the assumption that defects will
be picked up by the testers. We repudiate this approach and believe that a
programmer who writes a piece of code is the person in the best position to both understand and
test it.)
Professionally Written Code
All our code is professionally written to a high standard. We adhere to
a clearly defined coding standard that is applied consistently throughout our work.
We also place a high priority on writing code that can be easily understood by
subsequent programmers who are given the job of modifying the code and include
appropriate comments where necessary.
Incremental Development
We take an incremental approach to software development. This means we build you
a business application with as few or as many features as you like. New features and enhancements can be added
later as required either by us or any other software developer of your choice.
Of course we would be delighted if you came back to us for changes or
improvements to your software. There is nothing
we enjoy more than being asked to add enhancements to a system we have developed.
However you are under no obligation to do so.
You may wish to engage us only to carry out the initial development for your project and "start the ball
rolling" so to speak. Once you're confident the architecture is sound and the project is
a "goer" you can then hand over the source code to your own team of programmers. Or once you see
how it's done you may even decide to have a go at it yourself!