The Anatomy of a Web Application

Web Production consists of three core disciplines: User Experience Design, Interface Design and Development, and Software Design and Development. As a practitioner of each of these disciplines, I have long noted the great divide between the communities. The software community deals with software design and development, the interface community deals with interface design and development, [...]

Measuring the Value of Web Applications

To view the framework visit: 5 Facets of Valuable Web Applications Introduction to the Five Facets Framework The term “valuable application” is used often, but seems to have little practical or consistent meaning. In an attempt to define what it means to produce a valuable web application, I propose a framework for qualitative measurement meant [...]

The Role of Language

The Role of Language Language frames and informs the way we think and interact with one another. I believe the web industry is currently suffering from the unabated use of terms that don’t accurately frame and inform the creative, continuous act of web production. Some of the terms I’ll suggest might resonate with you while [...]

Suggested Term: Produce

“Produce” Consider using Produce in place of Design, Develop, or Build. When referring to the activity of an entire team, I use the term produce in place of verbs such as design, develop, or build. I do this for three reasons. Given that web production teams consist of project leaders, business representatives, users, designers, and [...]

Suggested Term: Offer

“Offer” Consider using Offer in place of Release or Launch. The terms release and launch are used by production teams to mark the milestone of making a web application, or a feature enhancement to a web application, available to the application’s users. These terms grate me too. They too connote a sense of finality, and [...]

Suggested Term: Gift

“Gift” Consider using Gift in place of Deliver. I’m not a fan of the verb deliver or the noun deliverable in the context of web application production. When I think of delivery, I think of the UPS guy leaving a non-descript brown package at my door, and walking away taking no responsibility for the quality [...]

5 Facets of Valuable Web Applications

For an introduction to the framework read: Measuring the Value of Web Applications The Five Facets Framework The framework consists of four parts A definition of a “valuable web application”. A snowflake diagram that specifies the facets of a valuable web application. A series of statements for each facet that help determine the degree to [...]