07/Aug/2006
Contigo focus on building applications using the latest Microsoft technology and are committed to understanding and utilising these technologies to ensure our customers get the best fit and best value solutions for their business. We primarily build applications using Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0 and SQL Server 2005.
The applications are built based on the Jazz Framework. This is a set of tools and components, developed by Contigo, that allow us to build robust data driven applications rapidly with a set of common services such as security, logging etc.
The Jazz Framework provides us with the following benefits:
- Sophisticated code generation to enable rapid delivery;
- Reusable common services;
- Reusable user interface components;
- Ensures application consistency.
By utilising the Jazz Framework we can build an initial application from a database design in a few days. We can then spend time focussing on providing the real business benefit rather than spending time writing 'plumbing code'. We make a great deal of use of code generation for creation of user interface code, data access code, web service code and database stored procedures. The data access layer is database agnostic and we can swap between Oracle and SQL Server by changing a configuration setting - no recompile is necessary.
Application Philosophy
Our philosophy when designing and building applications can be summarised in a few statements:
- Simple to use;
- Simple to administer;
- Intuitive and great to look at;
- Extensible;
- Less complexity.
We primarily build web based applications as we believe this is the most flexible architecture for modern enterprise applications. Many web based applications can however be ugly, slow and difficult to use. A new range of web based applications, collectively titled Web 2.0, demonstrate how good looking and functional web applications can be. We utilise graphic designers, sophisticated web components that utilise Ajax technology and constant usability testing to ensure our applications are great looking, fast and easy to use.
Integration and Extensibility
We understand that in most enterprises a range of applications and technologies are in use, and no application is an island. Because of this we ensure our applications can be integrated into existing architectures and with existing applications. We also ensure our applications are extensible to allow customer specific functionality to be added.
All our applications provide an API that can be accessed by other .NET or COM based applications. The API is also exposed as a set of web services to allow integration with applications based on Java or other technologies. These web services can be co-ordinated via Biztalk or some other orchestration or application integration package We provide database level integration using SQL Server Integration Services and direct database access via the application stored procedures.
All our applications provide a level of extensibility and customisation. Such development would normally be undertaken by Contigo as part of an implementation project. This allows customer specific customisation of an application or enables a specific integration with another application to be implemented.
Latest Technology
Contigo are a Microsoft partner and specialise in developing applications built on Microsoft technology. We believe Microsoft provide the best set of integrated tools and technologies to build enterprise class software in a cost-effective and productive manner.
The tools and technologies available are evolving more rapidly than ever and Contigo is committed to keeping up to date with the latest developments and using the best technologies and techniques available to deliver value to our customers.
We have expertise in existing technologies such as .NET 2.0, SQL Server 2005, Biztalk 2006 and Sharepoint 2003. We are also evaluating and getting to grips with the technologies that will be appearing in the next 18 months such as WCF (Windows Communication Foundation), WF (Windows Workflow Foundation) and WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation). These technologies will be appearing as part of the Windows Vista wave of releases that also includes Office 2007 and Sharepoint 2007. These technologies provide some very exciting capabilities that will greatly enhance the quality and functionality of Windows and Web based applications.
More information
For more information on the technology infrastructure used by Contigo and how it can help your business, email info@contigo.co.uk or contact us.