NetDuo Creative

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Why use an ORM?

Object/Relational Mapping, or ORM for short, tools are becoming more and more popular among web and application developers. In my experience I've noticed three main reasons why so many developers are jumping on the band wagon of ORM based data access layers.

1.) Speeds up development time

Simply put, custom data access projects can take hundreds, if not thousands, of hours to develop. And that's just for the initial setup. Then there's the never ending maintenance and (most likely) futile attempts to keep the project using the most modern technologies. On the other hand all of the ORM tools I have worked with to date have had the ability to instantly build data object models based on existing database schemas. Most can even do the reverse; build (and maintain) an entire database model from an existing data object code layer. ORMs accomplish this task in minutes, not days or weeks like traditional. Meaning that with just a few clicks of a mouse your system will already have the back bone to any data access layer; CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations. Combine all of that with the fact that there's a squadron of hot pocket eating and World of Warcraft LiveWire Mountain Dew drinking nerds out there, that at this very instant are doing all that is necessary to keep that their ORM software up to date and bug free.

2.) Increased efficiency and performance

"Whoa, hold up, dawg! Did he just use the words "increased, "efficiency", and "performance" while referring to an ORM?"

I know what you're thinking. "ORMs pump out good, generic code. However, I pump out great, customized code." Wrong. However, even if you're right consider this; an average development team has varying levels of expertise and experience. Every team member isn't . As a result, they may not follow design patterns in their code, and end up with a sub par quality of code that leads to increased maintenance and poorer performance. Throw in the fact that with multiple developers writing code comes increased inconsistency, which in turn means increased maintenance. On top of all of that most development shops aren't in the business of creating world-class data access layers. It's merely a means to an end. ORMs are in that business, and it shows.

3.) The sky's the limit

ORMs take care of most, if not all, of the data management and object persistence (stateless) handling from the very beginning. This is incredibly beneficial, because as I mentioned before most development teams have a broad range of experience among members. ORM tools thrive in this type of environment, because they take the heat off of less experienced developers in regards to data management while still allowing a high level of customization from more skilled team members.

ORM tools I've used:

ORM resources I like:

0 Comments | Add Comment

Friday, June 25, 2010

Ten reasons to have a website

Sell your product
Whether through services, tangible goods or other types of commodities a business's goal is to sell its product. A website provides low cost, highly efficient, and easily accessible methods for accomplishing this.
Stay competitive in the market
According to Outspoken Media in 2009 54% of small businesses owned a website. The number of small businesses maintaining a website has risen nearly 36% within the last two years.
Achieving a high level of accessibility
The World Wide Web has no "regular business hours" and because of this neither will your business. The internet is accessible twenty four hours a day, seven days a week... well you get the picture.
Reaching a specialized market
If your business is specialized, then having a business website is a great way to exhibit professionalism in your area of expertise. Also, with search engine optimization, your business will have a way to stand out even more among the competition.
Test marketing new services and products
On the Web, new products and services can be released to the global market instantaneously – updating a web page to include a new item costs a fraction of what it would to advertise in a traditional manner. Also, the convenience of the internet enables your business to receive immediate feedback from your target market(s).
Track your customers
Using analytical tools, you will have access to such information as: how much time users spend on your website, which pages are visited the most, which websites users are coming from, how many hits your website is receiving in a given time period, and much, much more!
Customer service
As with any business, most customers have the same set of questions and concerns. By having an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section, you can reduce customer service costs and save yourself time and money. Online customer service also provides a higher level of convenience and can be integrated via form-based inquiries, live chat services, and a number of other workflows.
Cut advertising costs
When compared to the costs associated with traditional advertising methods such as direct mail, newspaper or magazine ads, or radio and television, the cost of a creating and maintaining a website is negligible.
Networking
By linking your pages with those of your networked contacts, you are referring clients back and forth. This provides an inexpensive and flexible way of maintaining a high amount of publicity in the market.
Establish your Internet presence
The fact that 1.73 billion users worldwide (including over 200 million within the United States) have household access to the Internet makes it the number one reason for any business to have a website.

0 Comments | Add Comment

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Android Development this Summer!

With the recent explosion of the Android operating system, the mobile market has managed to become even more essential for today’s companies. In response to a growing need, the NetDuo team is currently prepping to introduce Android application development services to the four-state area. We’re slated to begin development mid-summer, and are currently scheduling projects for that period. Please contact us with questions or to request a quote for the project you have in mind.

Your company may not have a need for a mobile app in the immediate future, as there are many business models that don’t have an application in that aspect of the mobile environment. However, a reality that must be considered is that an additional result of the recent mobile boom is the need for a mobile-specific, or at least mobile-friendly, website. Unlike a full mobile application, which may or may not apply to every company, a mobile-friendly website is becoming a necessity for virtually every business with the desire to have a relevant, current web presence.

The fact is this – in the current market an established presence in the mobile world is essential for future success, and the NetDuo team is ready to build that for you. Let us know where you would like to be, and we’ll help you get there.

2 Comments | Add Comment

Prev | Next

Subscribe to
our blog feed!

Web Site Terms and Conditions of Use

1. Terms

By accessing this web site, you are agreeing to be bound by these web site Terms and Conditions of Use, all applicable laws and regulations, and agree that you are responsible for compliance with any applicable local laws. If you do not agree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from using or accessing this site. The materials contained in this web site are protected by applicable copyright and trade mark law.

2. Use License

Permission is granted to temporarily download one copy of the materials (information or software) on NetDuo Creative, LLC's web site for personal, non-commercial transitory viewing only. This is the grant of a license, not a transfer of title, and under this license you may not:
1. modify or copy the materials;
2. use the materials for any commercial purpose, or for any public display (commercial or non-commercial);
3. attempt to decompile or reverse engineer any software contained on NetDuo Creative, LLC's web site;
4. remove any copyright or other proprietary notations from the materials; or
5. transfer the materials to another person or "mirror" the materials on any other server.
This license shall automatically terminate if you violate any of these restrictions and may be terminated by NetDuo Creative, LLC at any time. Upon terminating your viewing of these materials or upon the termination of this license, you must destroy any downloaded materials in your possession whether in electronic or printed format.

3. Disclaimer

The materials on NetDuo Creative, LLC's web site are provided "as is". NetDuo Creative, LLC makes no warranties, expressed or implied, and hereby disclaims and negates all other warranties, including without limitation, implied warranties or conditions of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement of intellectual property or other violation of rights. Further, NetDuo Creative, LLC does not warrant or make any representations concerning the accuracy, likely results, or reliability of the use of the materials on its Internet web site or otherwise relating to such materials or on any sites linked to this site.

4. Limitations

In no event shall NetDuo Creative, LLC or its suppliers be liable for any damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of data or profit, or due to business interruption,) arising out of the use or inability to use the materials on NetDuo Creative, LLC's Internet site, even if NetDuo Creative, LLC or a NetDuo Creative, LLC authorized representative has been notified orally or in writing of the possibility of such damage. Because some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on implied warranties, or limitations of liability for consequential or incidental damages, these limitations may not apply to you.

5. Revisions and Errata

The materials appearing on NetDuo Creative, LLC's web site could include technical, typographical, or photographic errors. NetDuo Creative, LLC does not warrant that any of the materials on its web site are accurate, complete, or current. NetDuo Creative, LLC may make changes to the materials contained on its web site at any time without notice. NetDuo Creative, LLC does not, however, make any commitment to update the materials.

6. Links

NetDuo Creative, LLC has not reviewed all of the sites linked to its Internet web site and is not responsible for the contents of any such linked site. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by NetDuo Creative, LLC of the site. Use of any such linked web site is at the user's own risk.

7. Site Terms of Use Modifications

NetDuo Creative, LLC may revise these terms of use for its web site at any time without notice. By using this web site you are agreeing to be bound by the then current version of these Terms and Conditions of Use.

8. Governing Law

Any claim relating to NetDuo Creative, LLC's web site shall be governed by the laws of the State of Missouri without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

General Terms and Conditions applicable to Use of a Web Site.

Privacy Policy

Your privacy is very important to us. Accordingly, we have developed this Policy in order for you to understand how we collect, use, communicate and disclose and make use of personal information. The following outlines our privacy policy.

Before or at the time of collecting personal information, we will identify the purposes for which information is being collected.
We will collect and use of personal information solely with the objective of fulfilling those purposes specified by us and for other compatible purposes, unless we obtain the consent of the individual concerned or as required by law.
We will only retain personal information as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes.
We will collect personal information by lawful and fair means and, where appropriate, with the knowledge or consent of the individual concerned.
Personal data should be relevant to the purposes for which it is to be used, and, to the extent necessary for those purposes, should be accurate, complete, and up-to-date.
We will protect personal information by reasonable security safeguards against loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or modification.
We will make readily available to customers information about our policies and practices relating to the management of personal information.

We are committed to conducting our business in accordance with these principles in order to ensure that the confidentiality of personal information is protected and maintained.

General	(2)
Services	(1)
Android	(1)
Mobile	(1)
Data Access	(1)
Data Management	(1)
SQL	(1)
Development	(1)