FAQ

Every small piece of system functionality developed by us is covered by low-level, automated tests. Apart from that, we maintain a set of high-level "acceptance" tests. They verify whether a product works properly from a client’s perspective. In fact, they are automated as well, in order to get rapid feedback after any changes in the code. They simulate "clicking" through your web application.

Moreover, our developers review each other's code to maintain an optimal internal design and avoid mistakes. Code reviews and emphasis on software craftsmanship are part of our work. This way we reduce overhead costs, minimize project failures and remove uncertainties, as well as grow as individual developers.

Our standard development toolset consists of:

• Git - a flexible source control system
• IntelliJ IDEA - the best Scala/Java development environment
• GitHub+Actions, GitLab, Bitbucket+Pipelines - for continuous integration, testing and code reviews,
• Trello, Jira - agile project management tools
• Confluence - an enterprise wiki for documentation and knowledge sharing
• **and many others...
  A particular set of tools depends on the team. Self-organization and years of (commercial) experience allow us to organize our work efficiently, even in completely new settings. We often consult and advise our clients on the tools and technologies that best fit their projects.

We have cyber-insurance for more than 2M $. Our organizational model minimizes the occurrence of all kinds of risks associated with the process of software development:

• Bottom-up organization structure - all problems are solved jointly by the project team, not by the managers above, reducing communication overhead
• Up-to-date IT equipment and tools - with secured access on several levels (e.g. two-factor autentication)
• Remote organization - localized power or Internet connectivity failure will never affect the entire project team
• Infrastructure in the Cloud - we use systems which perform regular back-ups and provide professional support
• Implementation of projects using agile methodologies - applications are developed in short iterations, each culminating in a demonstration of tangible results given to the customer.

First of all, we understand that our client’s business is their business and we appreciate and value that they let us in to find out all the details of their processes. To get a better picture we might need some sensitive information. In such cases, we sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Moreover, our insurance for nearly 2 mln USD covers cyber and privacy liability. We have our Privacy Policy and we follow the GDPR rules. All Intellectual Property Rights are transferred to the client once an invoice is paid. We are very careful about the people who join our team. These are experienced engineers with a proven work record. We use new equipment and update software regularly. Wherever it is possible we use 2-factor authentication.

For ongoing communication, we usually set up a Slack, zoom, or Google Meet with a team and a client.

Our clients have full access to our project management tools such as Jira or Trello (or we use our clients’ tools). Checking on the tools gives an overview of the project’s or iteration’s progress.

At least once every two or three weeks we demonstrate a working version of the product with fixes and/or improvements.

Our main goal is to make you earn money on your software as fast as it’s possible! That way, we can maintain long-term cooperation, as you already have funds for your software further development - and that’s the type of project that we like the most. Of course, we adjust our process to meet the particular needs of each client.

No worries at all. Good test coverage allows us to safely make changes in the project. With the Time&Materials approach there is no need to renegotiate a contract or submit a formal Change Request.

Sure thing. Just let us know and we will get you in touch with people who already trust SoftwareMill.

You can also check out what our clients say about our services on Clutch.

• Offering development from Poland, EU - highly-skilled and motivated developers, with a good command of English, able to visit clients' offices if needed;
• Providing a small, efficient team of experienced backend & frontend developers, able to shift focus in a very agile way;
• Cooperating very closely with your business - integrated into our company culture;
• Partnerships with:
  Lightbend - as a Select System Integrator,
  Datastax - as a Consulting Partner,
  Confluent - as a Consulting Partner.
  AWS Select - as a Consulting Partner.
• We take care of the complete project development process, always keeping in mind that we want to develop maintainable, working software that brings real value to our clients.

We hire mid and senior developers who are fully equipped with the needed experience and knowledge to solve even the most complex problems, reducing communication overhead. They suggest the right technology stack and speak business language. Applications are developed in short iterations, each ending with a presentation of tangible results given to the client. We are experienced in building data-oriented products. We are able to start quickly and at the same time, we plan for a system that scales easily. Our main priority is to create valuable software and maintain transparent and trustful relationships. At the end of the day, our clients pay for the features delivered. Therefore, we do not plan for sophisticated architectural patterns when the simple solution works. We focus on the optimal tech stack, fault tolerance, quality of the code, and scalability.

Most often we work in time & material model. We have a high-level long-term plan of the project, however, we make more detailed plans only for a short period of time for the features we need to implement first. That gives us flexibility when our client’s priorities change. We use planning poker, including additional time for unknown changes. We prefer to be safe than sorry when it takes longer than expected due to any changes. Most of all we never sacrifice the quality and focus on delivering the best possible solution.