LSQ
Testing and qualification web portal
A legacy software rebuild into a cloud-based testing and qualification portal.
"I've been thoroughly happy with the support provided the Codevate team. Very happy with the app they've built for us, updates have been no problem. A high recommendation from me."
Rebuild & replace of a legacy software system
LSQ is a cloud-based testing and qualification portal. The web app is a full rebuild of the company's pre-existing Windows-based legacy software. The new software allows engineers to perform tests and qualifications from the field, on any device.
The legacy software had developed many problems over time, causing it to no longer be fit for purpose. The software was becoming increasingly slower over time, making it difficult for staff carry out their jobs. The original developers were unavailable to work on the software, meaning critical issues went unaddressed. The software would only run on Windows-based laptops, making distribution difficult.
After a successful launch of the new cloud portal, staff are now able to carry out test much more efficiently. With the new software, there are now many opportunities for innovation, such as a customer-facing portal.
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Services delivered
- Web development
- Technical evaluations of pre-existing software
- Consultancy
- DevOps and infrastructure
Technologies used
- PHP - Symfony
- TypeScript - React
- PostgreSQL database
- AWS cloud infrastructure
Highlights of the LSQ web portal
Qualification booklet PDF export
- All test results combined into a single booklet which can be provided to the client
- Big time saver over manually putting a document together
- Less room for human error as the booklet is automatically generated from the results
- Standardises the format and brand across all qualifications
Real-time test suite
- Test results shown in real-time as values are entered
- Charts to visualise results, helping to reduce human error, as incorrect or irregular inputs can clearly be seen
- Images/photos can be uploaded against a test to document customer equipment
- iPad support, enabling easier testing from remote client locations
Customer system configuration
- Configure client systems with their specific hardware, which can be re-used across tests to save time
- Tailor which tests are available to a customer based on their equipment
- CRM functionality to keep track of the company, its locations and important contacts
- Client systems can be signed off before conducting tests, reducing input errors
Behind-the-scenes and other top features
Not all heroes wear capes. These behind-the-scenes features don't have screenshots, but form an important part of the project.
User permissions and access control support
Granular user roles ensure only the right users have access to sensitive features and data, improving security.
Point-in-time database back-ups for disaster recovery
Automatic backups allow quick recovery in case of data loss, helping to maintain business continuity.
Highly available AWS infrastructure
Scalable cloud infrastructure on AWS providing a low maintenance system with a high service uptime.
Content management system
Data in all dropdowns, defaults for test configuration, etc. can all be managed within the software
Want to develop a web app like this?
"I've been thoroughly happy with the support provided the Codevate team. Very happy with the app they've built for us, updates have been no problem. A high recommendation from me."
- 100% UK-based
- Complimentary scoping call
- At-a-glance feasibility analysis
- No obligation high-level proposal
- Work with an expert to evolve your idea
Project outline: rebuilding the legacy software
Our client came to us with their pre-existing laptop-based software, used for performing tests and qualifications on scientific equipment. The software was showing its age, having been developed a long time ago - "legacy software". It had numerous problems, causing it to no longer be fit for purpose.
The amin issues with the legacy software were:
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Becoming increasingly slower over time
- This made it difficult for staff to carry out their job.
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Distributing the software was difficult
- staff had to physically bring in their laptop for the IT team to install the software.
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Unable to easily deploy software updates
- Software updates could not be rolled out remotely.
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The software developers were unavailable
- No updates to the software could be performed without them, meaning that critical issues go unaddressed and no new functionality could be developed.
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New developers would be difficult to find
- Due to the legacy technologies used, with fewer and fewer developers willing and able to work with them. They would also be rather expensive.
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Bugs and errors were present
- Such as errors in calculations, meaning the software was not usable in some cases.
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On-site server had increased risk of outage and data loss
- Maintaining a physical server can also be costly.
Our solution
We rebuilt the software as a web-based portal, meaning that the software could be accessed from any device without any prior installation. Software updates can be deployed at will, meaning staff will always be running the latest version.
With cloud-based software, regular database backups can be taken and stored securely. The risk of software outage can be lowered by scaling the software across several physical availability zones.
The new software itself has a much improved modern user interface (UI) and user experience (UX), allowing staff to carry out qualifications more efficiently. Fine-grained access control was introduced to allow staff to have different levels of access to the data.
Delivering the new software
At time of writing, the software has recently been rolled out. Staff are beginning to adopt the new software, with the feedback being very positive so far.
With the new software there are now plenty of opportunities for innovation, now that the shackles of the legacy software have been removed. For example, a new customer-facing portal could be developed, with integrated payments, allowing for a self-checkout customer experience.
Due to the nature of the software, a great deal of domain knowledge was required to develop it, which we acquired throughout the course of the project. We are now intimately familiar with the business and its processes, allowing us to act as a virtual head of technical - consulting on business processes.
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Looking to develop software that's greater than the sum of its parts?
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