Services
 
 
 

Agile Software Development for Your Software Team

  
 
How do you compete with low cost software alternatives? By delivering higher quality faster!

We can help in two ways: by building custom software for you, or by helping your software team learn agile software development techniques.

Software Development Services

We have a wide variety of experience centered on real-time application software, embedded software in regulated environments, and Linux based tools. Our product development experience covers the medical, scientific, and imaging industries. Some examples:

  • Vision Screener medical device, used by opthalmologists
  • Photographic copier kiosk, for general consumer use
  • Spectrometer for use in pharmaceuticals, and other industries
When specialized software skills are called for, we can access our network of software professionals in the Boston area to tap that knowledge as needed. Our style is to work very collaboratively with the other professionals on your product design team. We understand that requirements change, and that they have to keep changing. Yet reliable software is a necessity. We have a track record of delivering high quality software throughout new product development. Contact us to find out how we can help you develop your product.

Agile Coaching Services

We teach test-centric software development. By keeping the code base completely testable all the time, you improve its quality tremendously. We teach iterative development. By involving management and customers in early release of solid functionality, you shorten your time-to-market, significantly improve ROI, and build strong relationships with your customers.

We'll coach your software team in their migration to Agile software practices. The best learning is by doing, not sitting in training courses. To learn by doing, you need a coach.

Every company has its unique challenges. Everyone's path to Agile practices will be different but the principles remain the same: Communication, Testing, and Iteration. More info: Mind The Gap

Express Launch

For entrepreneurs launching a new venture... For companies about to begin a new software project... we offer our "Express Launch" coaching service. We will work with your technical domain experts and your early staffers to establish Agile practices right from the start, and plan your initial releases.

If you wait until there is a code base already in place, it's harder to make that code fully testable. But if you use agile techniques like "Test First" and "Test Driven Development" right from the beginning, you'll have a smoother path to delivering solid code faster.

By creating an early release of the software and taking the group "full circle" everyone (developers, managers, customers) will get an immediate understanding of their role, and of the 'speed vs. quality' balancing that Agile practices enable.

Services FAQ

Q: Do you coach Extreme Programming?
A: Yes. We have experience using XP successfully.

Q: Do you coach Scrum?
A: Yes. Two of our partners have Scrum Master certification.

Q: What will it be like if you coach our team? Do you work on-site with us full-time, or do you just sit in on meetings? What exactly do you do?
A: Before we begin a coaching relationship, we meet with management (usually the company president or owner) and also with the software developers. We get our own "take" on what changes make sense for you, but more importantly we learn what your definition of success is. Then we jointly plan a course of action. Typically we'd expect to be on-site frequently, working with the team. But we tailor our methods to the client's needs.

Q: I'm interested in having my team change to XP but I've been told that it's necessary to implement the change as fast as possible. I'm not comfortable with that - what's your view?
A: Teams have moved successfully to XP through both paths - fast adoption, and gradual. But your situation may not permit a fast change to XP. It may not even permit any change to XP! The paths realistically open to you depend greatly on so many organizational and people factors. That's why we have an assessment step prior to starting a coaching engagement. The best way to ensure success is to have an honest look at the situation, and be open to the idea that now might not be the right time to proceed.

Q: Are you saying that you would advise a potential paying client NOT to use your Agile coaching services?
A: The simple truth is that Agile practices may not be right for a given client. Or maybe they're right but not at the present time. Honesty is part of the value we offer our clients (and potential clients).

Have a question we didn't answer? Email us