When we write custom software, our clients can depend on certain things always being true:

• The quoted price will be the final price
  
  
• The software will be delivered on time
  
  
• Xyborg will create software that fits the business, instead of forcing the business to fit the software
  
  
• We will always stand behind our work
  
  

Properly designed and written, custom software can make a huge difference in the bottom line. We have created call center applications that slashed the average time per call. We have helped an electronics store dramatically improve margins. Time and time again, we have combined our software expertise with a business owner’s understanding of his business to make improvements that would be otherwise impossible. Click here for some examples of custom software projects.

Good custom software can be a big help to your business. Getting good custom software can be difficult. While there are many very good programmers, software developers, as a group, do a lousy job. Two-thirds of all very large software projects fail, and are never put into production. Of those that are completed, 90% are at least 50% over budget. Smaller projects fare a little better, but the failure rate is still staggering. Would you put up with this level of incompetence and failure in any other field? How would you feel if you built a house, and it cost $1,000,000 instead of the $200,000 quoted, was finished two years late, and some of the rooms you wanted were left out?

At Xyborg we are doing our part to restore the good name of software developers. Every single project we have worked on has been completed on time and on budget. We can do the same with your project.

How have we managed to accomplish what many have not? We use some cool tools, but it all boils down to a few simple things:




We want to understand how your business operates, and pinpoint where automation can help. We follow the 80/20 rule – 80% of the benefits come from automating 20% of what could be automated. After we understand your business, we will recommend automating only what will result in a significant return on your investment.



Once we have worked with you to determine where automation is most appropriate, a business analyst will produce a detailed specification document. We make sure we know exactly what we are going to do, even if we haven't yet decided on how we are going to do it. We will meet with you, review this document, and make sure it precisely documents your needs.



We create a detailed project plan, with specific milestones. The project manager assigned to your project will constantly monitor progress, keeping it on track.



All our programmers are highly trained and very skilled. Nevertheless, we still have every single line of code they write inspected by an analyst. Nothing beats a second set of eyes for insuring quality.



We spend at least as much time testing as we do programming. Before programming even starts, our Quality Assurance team is already creating test scripts.

A test script consists of a series of steps, and the anticipated result. The tester performs the test, and then records the actual result. Any discrepancies are logged and followed up. The key is to have a comprehensive set of scripts that tests the entire application.

Manual testing with scripts is sufficient for many small projects. However, automated testing, called regression testing, is almost essential for large complex projects. A special testing tool is used to record test scripts as they are run. The tool records not only the steps taken, but the results as well. Once a series of scripts, along with the correct results, has been recorded, the scripts can be rerun automatically with a new version of the software at any time. This allows you to test the entire application whenever there is any change, no matter how small. When programmers make a change to a program, they often break something else without realizing it. Regression testing is the only way to catch these kinds of errors for a large application since it is not practical to manually test the entire application over and over each time a small change is made.



We keep in regular contact with the customer, showing prototype screens and reviewing progress. We also understand that your needs may change during the development project, either because of changing business needs, or because of your greater insight after reviewing the prototype system. We build a second pass into the process to refine the application. As soon as the application is complete enough to get a real sense of how it feels, our analyst will go through the entire program with you, and work with you to determine where we can fine-tune it. While we could skip this step and still create good software, we are only satisfied when we have created great software.



Proper documentation is often neglected when custom software is written. We take pride in the quality of our documentation. Our professional writers create manuals in ordinary language, not technical jargon.



You and your staff will receive detailed training on your new software. To help you get comfortable, you can run your software in “Test Mode”. Everything works exactly the same, but instead of working with your production data, the program uses a test database where people can practice without affecting real data.



Our relationship with you does not end when the software is installed. We are there to answer questions, provide additional training, or to add new features down the road.