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factor X systems is an internet development business based in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, U.K., specialising in efficient, scalable, dynamic websites utilising the LAMP - linux, Apache, mySQL, PHP - model. All levels of system complexity can be tackled, from simple 3 page personal sites up to huge, database-driven corporate businesses, including back-end processes, an area much neglected. Use of object-oriented programming, particularly the Object Relational Modelling technique results in quality, well-designed sites built quickly.
Some areas to consider when getting web development done:
- Usability - simplicity is key here. Arcane symbols or complex menuing may add eye-candy, but if they make it more difficult for the first-time user to find what they want, the result will often be a loss of interest. Along with usability comes accessibility, overly fussy navigation can make it difficult for visually-disabled people to use the site, or perhaps involve a greatly increased cost in making the eye-candy accessible.
- Efficiency - many software developers these days work on the foolish assumption that efficiency's no longer important, that faster processors or broadband connections will eventually catch up with their grandiose offerings. The result is code-bloat that takes longer to load or is even unaccessible to some users.
- Image - the end result needs to fit in with the individual's or organisation's image, including adherence to existing styling and an appropriate colour scheme.
- Search optimisation - the major search engines have become the gateway into the internet and it's vital to get a good placement with them, and for that it you need the most important search terms appearing within your page(s), preferably near the beginning, within standards-compliant XHTML / CSS coding and well-written text. Flash animations are quite useless, even detrimental on this score.
- Security - whole areas of criminal activity have sprung up on the internet and the world's authorities seem unable to cope, therefore it's on the site owner to secure their site or rather, to get someone to do it for them. Security is an arms race rather than a one-off battle. New security holes are being found all the time, but a developer can make breaking-in extremely difficult for even the most notorious hacker.
Use the menu to find out more then contact factor X systems to get your site online.
13/12/2008 - added a whois facility
30/3/2009 - map and timeline of the Industrial Revolution - a Flex / Google maps experiment