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Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Additional Tools

We utilize many tools to increase productivity. Part of our employees job description is to stay on top of current tools and keep an eye out for new and better tools. This allows us to know when new or beta versions come out to use and find new tools that work better or fill a new role we didn't know we were missing.

Balsamiq - This UI mockup tool allows quick development of a UI which can be bounced around between developers and then to the client to refine it until it is a user interface we all can be happy with. This is such a nice tool that after only a short 'How To' session our clients are often using it to show us their ideas or new projects instead of trying to just describe it.

FogBugz - This is the issue tracking software we decided to use [after researching more than a doze]. It is excellent for internal development but it allows external submissions as well. Our clients favorite feature of this issue tracker is the ability to submit bugs/issues by email and be kept in the loop as that item gets updated and fixed. We want to keep our client informed of the progress we are making on any reports and FogBugz helps make that quick and simple for everyone involved.

We have many tools that most clients will never see. These additional tools allow us to increase productivity, often by as much as 25%. 
This is just a list of some of our favorite tools, a Shout Out to some great pieces of software.
This isn't a all inclusive list of our tools, just our favorite and most often used tools.

You can see from these tools that we are always striving for better and faster communication with our clients and between team members. We look for and utilize the best tools to produce the best product for our clients.

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Database Development

Focusing on using First Class Microsoft products has allowed us to become experts with Microsoft SQL Server.
We have experience using SQL Server for over 10 years and don't plan to stop any time soon.
While our client should never need to know what is happening in the back, our clients can be confident they will never have to worry about it with the reliability and stability of Microsoft SQL Server.
Using .netTiers [see Frameworks section] as our preferred developmental method to interact with the database ensures that there should never be any database issues, allowing us to focus on the clients requirements, not some non-client related issues.

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Frameworks

To increase productivity, stability and security we utilize frameworks so that we can focus on developing the solution for our client.

The first aspect of Web development is the website framework it's built in. After evaluating over 30 different platforms in various languages and focuses, we found that the best to suit the needs our of clients is DotNetNuke. We have been working with and contributing to DotNetNuke for over 5 years. We play around with it to learn all the intricacies to utilize it more effectively and efficiently to the benefit of our clients.

A hugely important aspect of an Web Application is the database. We utilize .netTiers to quickly build and incorporate any modifications to the database into code in mere minutes with no worry about typo's or a forgetting to make all changes. Using .netTiers has saved us hundreds of man hours, all leading to savings for the client and a better focus on developing the application for the client instead of fixing some back end piece.
.NetTiers is based on the Microsoft Enterprise Library Pattern & Practice which ensures maintainability with a simple interface so programming solutions is quicker and simpler with less research into how to use the tools.

After working with Javascript for years and it's cumbersome nature, we turned to jQuery and have spent almost 50% less time on developing Javascript than we did before. Along with a custom framework to make javascript simpler in an ASP.NET application, we can now comfortably and confidently deploy intensive javascript in our web applications knowing that updating and upkeep will be just as simple as with our server side code.


Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Software Development

The programming language we most often find will be the best option for a client is C#. Our staff has a masterful grasp of this language and are constantly keeping on top of development as well as tips and tricks that can be applied to speed development and increase quality. A cousin to C# in the .NET library of langues is VB or Visual Basic. We can also work in this language with exceptional skill. As a member of the .NET languages, they come out to be the same thing as far as the computer is concerned when running, but we are absolutely capable of working with VB to continue or update an existing code base.

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Web Development

Much like software development, we most often utilize C# as our programming language of choice to provide a solution to our client.
Web development requires so much more than just a single programming language and a UI.
As web technologies have grown and evolved, a nice set of standard technologies and tools have evolved that Goldstar Consulting has worked to master to provide excellent products to clients.
Listed here are the tools and technologies we will use to provide our client with the best possible web application.

This list is just a sample of where our skill set excels in providing an excellent product to our client. We utilize many more technologies to increase productivity, simplicity and create a better product. It would be far too long to mention every technology we use. These are ones that are common to all web projects we do.