Interesting and true article on the site "Habrahabr"
The staff of the web studio "Glyanec.NET" has always followed the principles set out in the article. We recommend to get acquainted — https://habrahabr.ru/post/151902.
There is no red pill
What is it about?
I have long been an adherent of the ideas of equality, freedom and brotherhood that there is a red pill.
— That it is possible to solve all problems of scaling of programs by means of "OOП";
— That with the help of one methodology it is possible to build project development;
— That with the help of several ingenious books you can learn to design interfaces.
In fact, after a couple of dozen projects, I've come to the conclusion that it's all nothing more than a delusion, and miracles only happen in the books of authors who make millions on their bestsellers. Or in the minds of consultants who make money by selling you bullshit in the form of Agile, KPI and other clever words. I may not make any discoveries in this post. But I will save you a couple of years if you decide to believe my experience.
There is no design
Perhaps, after N iterations, the developers begin to tell you - everything, you can’t do the project further, you need to refactor. Better yet, rewrite from scratch, otherwise it will fall with each new change. And if you obey them uncontrollably — they will refactor for two months, in two months they will decide to rewrite from scratch. And six months later, when nothing is ready, either they give up a useless venture, or you fire them, the market has gone ahead and you won’t be able to get on the train that has already left.
Or, if the developers already had refactoring experience in another company, they will immediately offer you to design immediately. UML, the use of sophisticated tools and so on — let's do everything right right so as not to rewrite. This may concern not only programmers - the designer will try to draw the final layout immediately, so that he can hand it over without alterations. But that does not work.
People do not get along with one simple thought: the ideal does not exist. Any designer, programmer, specialist, looking at his work a year ago, will find many mistakes — because he grew professionally. This means that any result can always be improved. However, the same people will convince you with foam at the mouth that today they have learned Zen and will do it right away. Do not listen to them.
Look around: nature does not design immediately, it does billions of iterations and applies positive feedback (sorry, creationists have found the transitional forms nevertheless). And develops organisms through evolution. Therefore, from my experience I made a simple conclusion — despite idealism, the first three to five iterations of the system must be done quickly (usually with hardcode and govnokodom). A kind of interactive prototypes on live data, on which developers really know the details of the subject area, and the customer finally understands what he needs. After that, you can design, but never before. Even Martin Fowler seriously discussed evolutionary design (and dead traditional).
No methodology
Here I will be brief. We tried fixed iterations, try kanban. Since I am a programmer, in addition to PM, I can confirm that all methodologies really come down to write-code-somehow. And the less unnecessary actions are introduced into the process, the better. Daily compulsory conversations are a minus (we communicate in the evening and more often on-demand). Planning poker — not needed: as a rule, in my projects there are a lot of complex dependencies, and it is impossible to model them accurately; which means that the estimates will only take time and dominate when you took them on yourself. Instead, there are simple estimates: do it right away, do it in an hour, in a day, and so on, that is, order.
A separate point is the rejection of the fixed iteration. I don’t know how others do, but in my projects, as well as in startups, frequent releases and quick changes are very important. A bi-weekly fixed release is IMHO nonsense, and we abandoned fixed iterations in favor of kanban, which is why. However, we are not alone — here are 50 months of the evolution of development, the guys came to the same conclusion.
I also want to note the twitching. We have a regulation (with its implementation it’s not easy, but we don’t give up) about the hours of silence: at least 4 hours a day, the programmer should work without any IM tools, because nothing infuriates how to switch questions.
In general, so far I have not seen a universal methodology. When I was in high school and had a project management course, we got married to RUP. Then he studied Agile. In practice, the former is simply dead for IT, a rapidly changing market and industry. And the second is an open secret. Everyone says that they really know all the secrets and can deliver development. But more and more often govnoproekty enter the market, and everything is done very slowly. But consultation offices are booming. Amazing right? Instead of doing the projects themselves, they make grandmas on coaching.
In addition to units, like some who have been driving development for 5-10 years in Google or IBM, basically these guys IMHO should not even come close to consultations, unless there are really cool projects in the portfolio.
What is there?
There are only people. According to the doctor of biological sciences Sergey Savelyev, who he outlined in the book “Variability and genius”, people's brains differ significantly (individual structures up to 40 times). Roughly speaking, everyone has a unique brain. And the whole task is only to select for you the most ingenious, imprisoned for the right job. Because certain large structures in the brain will pull a person to do what he has a gift for. Therefore, the best people always have a thrill from work - but not because they chose such a job, but because they were originally created for it and just correctly guessed.
Therefore, I am looking for those who like his work - this is a sign of giftedness (at times of genius), and that a person has chosen his path correctly (and not by force, for the sake of money, he studied Java or Photoshop there, and is engaged in what he is not gifted).
One great programmer is worth ten gouging or mediocre. One smart, sociable, energetic leader who infects others with energy and is able to win the respect of programmers costs ten ordinary PMs and hired consultants for rabid grandmothers.
Therefore, I am making every effort, as far as possible, to seek and retain people. I do not believe in methodology - if there is no project that believes in the project, and no team of smart people, everything else does not matter. And I do not believe in the ability to do good right away, but I believe in evolution.
Who wants to spend money, time and their efforts on red tablets in the form of Agile, or thinks that now smart programmers will design everything, and designers will draw - ok, go! You can design before the third advent, and try to build the perfect burndown chart until the fourth, while 10 hosts are raging from incorrectly selected user stories on your project.
I wish you not to waste time on garbage, but rather focus on finding and retaining the best of the best!
Epilogue
The post is dedicated to the very units, those programmers, project managers and designers, and all specialists who work hard and do real work, and not IBD, like many of their colleagues. People like you are the IT elite and the driving force behind the world. Isaac Asimov spoke well of you in his story Profession.
[...], and the one who does not want to come to terms with this is the person we are looking for. This may be a cruel method, but it justifies itself. You can’t tell a person: “You can create. So come on, do it. ” It is much more accurate to wait until he himself says: "I can create, and I will create whether you want it or not." There are about ten thousand people like you, George, and the technical progress of one and a half thousand worlds depends on them. We cannot afford to lose at least one of them or spend efforts on someone who does not fully meet the necessary requirements.
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How a website audit can transform your business
A website audit is not a simple check, it is a necessity that allows you to deeply understand both the technical and marketing aspects of your site. Is your website optimized for search engines? Does it communicate effectively with your potential customers? The answers to these questions can radically change your approaches and strategies. Ordering a website analysis can reveal hidden issues that are holding back your site's lead generation and customer acquisition potential. Whether you're looking to improve your site's search engine rankings or increase user satisfaction, an audit can provide you with the tools and guidance you need.
We will look at how a carefully prepared audit can significantly improve your website and make it more competitive. We will discuss what aspects of a website are checked during an audit, what benefits it can bring to your business, and how you can order a website audit from professionals to ensure the best results.
Why does your business need a website audit?
Excellent website usability is not just a nice bonus, but a critical condition for ensuring online success. A website audit allows you to analyze in detail how conveniently and efficiently users interact with your site, and how this affects your business's ability to achieve its goals. Here are some reasons why it is important:
- Increase user satisfaction: An audit reveals navigation and interface issues that may prevent users from easily and intuitively finding the information they need or performing the actions they want on your site. Improving these aspects can significantly increase your visitors' satisfaction.
- Reduce bounce rate: When users find it difficult to navigate the site or perform the necessary actions, they are more likely to leave the site without converting. An audit helps to identify and fix design elements that can lead to a high bounce rate.
- Increase conversions: Website optimization can have a direct impact on your conversions. For example, simplifying the checkout process or improving the visibility of a call-to-action button can significantly increase the number of successful transactions.
- Search engine optimization: SEO audit and optimization is part of the overall website audit and focuses on aspects that affect your website's visibility in search engines. Analyzing keywords, meta tags, URL structure, and other SEO practices will help to push your website higher in search results.
- Improving accessibility: The audit also assesses how accessible your site is to people with disabilities. Ensuring accessibility not only expands your target audience, but also emphasizes your responsibility as a business.
- Optimization for mobile devices: Nowadays, it's important that your website is optimized for mobile users. An audit will help ensure that your website works efficiently on all types of devices, improving the overall user experience.
Ensuring a high quality website is an investment in customer satisfaction and the efficiency of your online space. Ordering a professional audit can help you identify critical issues and resolve them before they negatively affect your business. You can read more about SEO promotion in the article "Features of SEO optimization of an online store"
How the audit is conducted and what we offer
Website audit is a complex process that includes several key stages. Each stage has its own specifics and requires a detailed approach. Our team of specialists uses advanced technologies and techniques to ensure the highest quality of services. This is how we work:
- Audit planning: First of all, we identify your business goals and website features. This helps us to prepare a personalized audit plan that takes into account all the necessary aspects: from technical analysis to user experience assessment.
- Technical audit: At this stage, we check the technical component of the website: coding, information architecture, compliance with SEO and web accessibility standards. We identify technical errors that may prevent the site from being indexed by search engines or impair overall performance.
- User experience (UX) audit: We analyze how visitors interact with your website and evaluate the usability of the interface. In this context, we can also put a heatmap on the site. Heatmaps allow you to visualize where users click most often, how long they stay on certain segments of the page, and how they scroll through the page. This is very useful for improving page structure and content.
- Report and recommendations: At the final stage, we compile a detailed report that includes all the issues we found and specific recommendations for fixing them. We provide practical advice that can be implemented quickly to improve your website.
- Support and optimization: After the audit, we also offer website maintenance and optimization services. This can include regular updates, monitoring of website performance, and additional checks for compliance with changed requirements or technologies.
Our goal is not just to identify problems, but to provide you with the tools and knowledge to solve them effectively, so that your website not only works at full capacity, but also helps you grow your business.
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If you want to ensure that your website functions at the highest level, meets all modern requirements, and works as a powerful tool for your business, contact us. Order a website audit in Glyanec today and take the first step towards improving your online space. We guarantee a professional approach and dedication to achieving your business goals.
What are the advantages of websites over mobile apps?
Different companies are faced with the choice between developing mobile apps and websites every day. While mobile apps may seem convenient and innovative, it's important not to ignore the numerous advantages of websites. Ordering a website is not just an investment in an online presence, but a strategic decision that can significantly reduce development and maintenance costs, provide a wider audience reach, and improve search engine rankings.
We'll take a closer look at why websites compare favorably to mobile apps, analyzing their functionality, accessibility, and maintenance costs. The importance of websites in today's digitalized landscape cannot be underestimated, as they play a key role in attracting customers, expanding the market, and optimizing the user experience.
What is a website and a mobile application?
Websites and mobile apps play vital roles in promoting a business, but they have significant differences. A mobile app is a program downloaded and installed on a mobile device that can use the phone's system capabilities, such as a camera, GPS, or gyroscope. They can offer a more personalized experience, but they require significant investment to develop and maintain.
Therefore, choosing between website development and in-house development usually turns out to be a more profitable and effective solution.
Main advantages of websites
Websites offer a number of benefits that make them an attractive choice for businesses of all sizes. Let's take a look at a few of the key benefits you should consider when considering a website for your business.
- Universal access: One of the main advantages of websites is their accessibility. Visitors can access your site from any device that has an Internet connection, regardless of the operating system. This provides a wide audience reach and the ability to attract more potential customers.
- Cost-effectiveness: Ordering a website is often much cheaper than developing a mobile app. The cost of developing and maintaining a website is lower because you don't need to create separate versions for different platforms, such as iOS and Android. In addition, updates and changes to the site can be implemented faster and easier, which reduces overall maintenance costs.
- SEO and marketing benefits: Websites provide better opportunities for search engine optimization (SEO). This means that your website can rank higher in search engines, increasing the chances of being discovered by potential customers. Optimizing your website for search engines helps to increase its visibility and attract more organic traffic.
- Improving the user experience: Websites can offer a rich and user-friendly user interface that is adapted for different devices, including mobile phones, tablets, and desktops. With a responsive design, users can easily navigate the site, which improves the overall user experience and can increase conversion rates.
With these benefits in mind, building a website is a rational choice for businesses looking to maximize the benefits of their online presence. Not only do websites save money and resources, but they also provide ample opportunities to scale and grow your business.
Why do users abandon mobile apps?
Despite the significant development of mobile technology and the increase in the number of available apps, many users still prefer websites. This is due to a number of reasons that point to certain disadvantages of mobile apps and limitations that can affect the user experience.
Most users do not see the need to install mobile applications when they can easily access the same services or information through a website on their laptop or smartphone via a browser. This is especially true for those services that users use infrequently or sporadically.
Additionally, users emphasize that mobile apps often take up too much space on their devices, which can be critical for those with limited storage space. There are also concerns about battery and mobile data consumption, especially when apps are running in the background or transferring large amounts of data.
Privacy and security issues
One of the biggest concerns that pushes users away from mobile apps is the issue of privacy and security. Many apps require extensive permissions to access personal information such as contacts, location, social media data, and even personal files, which raises concerns among users about how this data is collected, stored, and used. There is also a fear that mobile apps may be vulnerable to hacking, especially those that store sensitive financial data or personal information. Data breaches at large companies that have made headlines only reinforce these concerns.
These factors contribute to the fact that many users prefer to use websites that do not require a download and provide quick access to services without the need to install resource-consuming applications. This confirms that websites can be a more convenient and secure solution for many users. However, for many companies, creating a website will prove to be the most optimal solution to effectively attract customers and provide high quality service with minimal costs and complexity.
To summarize, a careful choice between website and mobile app development should be based on the specific needs of the business, its target audience, and available resources. However, for many companies, ordering a website will prove to be the most optimal solution that allows them to effectively attract customers and provide high quality service with minimal costs and complexity.
What are progressive web applications and what are their advantages
Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) are changing the way we think about what websites can do. This technology combines the best of the web and mobile applications, offering speed and usability that was previously only possible in apps. In this article, we'll take a closer look at what progressive web apps are, what technologies are behind them, their benefits, and key implementation considerations. We will pay special attention to how progressive web applications can transform your business by providing a better user experience and increasing productivity.
What are progressive web applications?
Progressive web applications are a type of software that is split into a website and a mobile application. This allows users to install web applications on their devices and use them in a similar way to regular mobile applications. An important feature of PWAs is that they use web browser technologies but offer functionality that is usually associated only with mobile applications.
The PWA concept was first introduced by Google in 2015. The goal was to make the web experience as convenient and fast as possible. Since then, the technology has gained significant development and support, especially from companies seeking to improve the mobile user experience without losing the versatility and accessibility of the web.
Technologies used in advanced web applications
Progressive web applications use a number of modern web technologies to provide users with an experience that is as close as possible to mobile applications. The most important of these technologies are:
- Service Workers - scripts that run in the background, independently of the web page, and allow you to manage network requests, cache resources, and use push notifications.
- Manifest file - a JSON file that allows developers to install a web application on the home screen, set the icon and the start screen.
- Using HTTPS - ensuring the security of user data and the reliable operation of web applications.
Why progressive web applications are better than traditional sites
Improving the user experience
Progressive web applications are characterized by extremely fast loading speeds and high responsiveness, which is ensured by data caching and intelligent management of network requests. This means that users are able to access content instantly, regardless of the quality of their Internet connection, which significantly improves the overall user experience.
Offline access and support for push notifications
One of the defining features of PWA is the ability to work offline. This is achieved thanks to Service Workers technology, which allows web applications to cache important content and provide access to it without the need for an Internet connection. In addition, PWAs can use push notifications to inform users about news, updates, or special offers even when they are not using the web application.
Increase engagement and conversion rates
Thanks to better user experience and offline capabilities, PWAs demonstrate high rates of user engagement and increased conversions. The ability to load quickly and run smoothly on any device ensures higher customer loyalty and a higher likelihood of completing targeted actions, such as making a purchase or filling out a contact form.
Steps to implement progressive web applications in your business
Implementing progressive web applications may seem daunting, but with the right approach, the process can be efficient and smooth. Here are the basic steps to integrate PWA into your business:
- Audit the current state of the website - check if your site is ready for conversion to PWA. This includes ensuring HTTPS compatibility, site responsiveness on different devices, and the availability of all necessary technical aspects.
- Developing and configuring Service Workers is a key component of PWA that allows the website to work offline and use push notifications.
- Creating a web app manifest - a manifest allows users to add your app to the home screen of their devices, providing easier access and a more native experience.
- PWA testing - ensure that your PWA works properly across all devices and browsers, with special attention to offline mode and loading speed.
- Monitoring and updating - once your PWA is up and running, it's important to keep it up to date and make updates to resolve any issues or improve functionality.
To illustrate how easily and quickly users can install a progressive web application on their devices, we have prepared an animated GIF. This GIF shows the process from the moment a user visits a website to the moment they install the web application on the home screen of their mobile device. This demonstrates the simplicity and ease of use of PWAs, as well as their ability to offer a native experience through a web browser.
Progressive web apps are a powerful tool for business development, offering speed, convenience, and an enhanced user experience comparable to native mobile apps. They allow you to achieve a high level of customer engagement, provide the ability to work offline and send push notifications, which is critical in today's dynamic market. Thanks to their ease of installation and efficiency, PWAs can significantly increase conversion rates and improve the overall user experience.
If you're looking for a way to make your web experience more efficient and engaging, progressive web applications can be a great solution. Remember that proper implementation and ongoing updates are essential to the success of any technology solution. Don't hesitate to bring in professionals to help you optimize your website to turn it into a responsive web app and take full advantage of its capabilities.
Virtual fitting rooms in online stores: how artificial intelligence is changing shopping
In a world where technology is changing every aspect of our lives, online shopping has become one of the fastest growing areas. However, despite all the convenience that shopping from home offers, there is one problem that still makes many shoppers hesitate before clicking the "buy" button: the inability to try on clothes before buying. This is where innovative technologies, such as virtual fitting rooms, come into play, promising to revolutionize the way we buy clothes online.
Virtual fitting room is a cutting-edge technology that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to allow customers to try on clothes virtually before making a purchase. This innovation has the potential not only to provide a better online shopping experience, but also to fundamentally change the entire retail sector.
Our company is closely monitoring this area of technology and expects its rapid development in the near future. We believe that the integration of such innovations will not only increase customer satisfaction, but will also significantly improve the efficiency of online stores by reducing the number of returns due to mismatched sizes or appearance of goods.
Evolution of virtual fitting rooms
From early experiments to today's advanced systems, virtual fitting rooms have come a long way. Initial attempts to implement digital solutions for trying on clothes were criticized due to poor visualization quality and limited functionality. However, with the advent of advanced artificial intelligence technologies and improved image processing algorithms, virtual fitting rooms are becoming much more accurate and useful for the end user.
The key to the success of virtual fitting rooms lies in the use of a range of technologies. This includes computer vision, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and image processing algorithms. These technologies allow to analyze users' photos in real time, adapting clothes to their body parameters. In addition, advanced interfaces ensure that these systems are intuitive and easy to use.
Benefits for consumers and businesses
Virtual fitting rooms offer significant benefits for both customers and store owners. For consumers, it is an opportunity to visually assess how the clothes will fit them without having to visit a physical store or wait for the goods to be delivered. This significantly increases customer satisfaction and reduces the number of returns. On the other hand, retailers are able to attract more customers by offering a unique shopping experience and reduce the costs associated with handling returns. As a result, virtual fitting rooms not only boost sales but also improve business sustainability.
Online fitting - how does it work?
Integrating a virtual fitting room into a website requires a comprehensive approach that includes the development or implementation of specialized software. This software uses artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze user-entered data, such as body measurements, or even real-time photos or videos to create an accurate virtual image on which to "try on" clothes.
Artificial intelligence plays a key role in the functioning of virtual fitting rooms, as it analyzes and processes user data to create an accurate three-dimensional model. Such systems can recommend the most suitable size of clothing, taking into account not only the size but also the personal preferences of users regarding the fit of clothing. The introduction of virtual fitting rooms is changing not only the way people buy clothes, but also the overall online shopping experience. Customers are able not only to visually see how the clothes will look on them, but also to experiment with different styles and colors without the need to physically visit the store. This interactive approach can greatly enhance the user experience, increasing shopping satisfaction while reducing the likelihood of returning an item due to a failure to meet expectations.
Advantages of online clothing fitting
The use of online clothing fitting technologies brings significant benefits that affect both the consumer experience and the efficiency and sustainability of retail business models. Let's look at the key aspects of these benefits:
Reducing the number of product returns
One of the biggest challenges for online retailers is the high number of returns, which is often due to mismatches in sizing or customer expectations of how the product looks. Online clothing fitting can significantly reduce this risk by giving customers a better understanding of how the clothes will fit them, which in turn leads to more confident purchases and fewer returns.
Increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty
Enhancing the online shopping experience through a virtual fitting room helps to increase overall customer satisfaction. Interactivity and personalization of purchases strengthen the relationship between brands and their customers, encouraging repeat purchases and increasing loyalty.
Impact on environmental friendliness and business sustainability
Reducing the number of returns not only improves economic efficiency for businesses, but also has a positive impact on the environment. Reducing the need to transport returned goods helps to reduce the carbon footprint of companies, making them more sustainable and environmentally responsible.
The future of the fitting room for an online store
One of the main trends is to improve the accuracy and interactivity of virtual fitting rooms through the expanded use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. This includes the development of algorithms that can analyze the more subtle nuances of users' figures, as well as integration with virtual and augmented reality to create a more immersive fitting experience.
Artificial intelligence not only improves virtual fitting rooms, but also opens up new opportunities for personalizing fashion offers. This can include automatic clothing recommendations based on previous purchases, lifestyle, and personal preferences, which will significantly improve the user experience and shopping efficiency.
By closely following these trends and actively experimenting with virtual fitting rooms, our company strives not only to optimize our customers' experience, but also to act as an integration leader in the market. Recognizing the importance of these innovations, we are confident that the further introduction and development of virtual fitting rooms will not only contribute to the growth of our company, but will also play an important role in shaping the future of online retail by making shopping more convenient, personalized and sustainable.
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