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Programming

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The wizards behind the curtain Modern web sites depend on advanced software programming for efficiency of operation, for speed, for interactive functionality, for database driven dynamic content, for security, and for a host of other things. Today, software engineering is a critical part of the entire web development process.

At Signal we employ our own top quality programming staff, just as we require an excellent graphic design staff. While many web development companies separate these two functions, we prefer to blur the separation. In our approach we bring programming and graphics professionals into close daily collaboration to totally integrate these two critical parts of our process.

Its all code All web pages are ultimately driven by code, so great programming is totally essential to web site success. But clients don't set out to "buy code"; they only buy code to realize their business ideas. Modern, state-of-the-art, web sites are increasingly dependent on a deep integration between complex business specific elements; elements like user input, database driven content, legacy system data; all of which are dynamic and refuse to 'stand still'.

What's more, the programming 'code' is inevitably constrained by carefully determined graphic specifications that are set by the graphic designers. Real integration of all these elements is a tall order for programmers and designers alike. When everything works right, the end result is a beautiful balance between technical, aesthetic and institutional goals; when these forces are not in balance the process can result in an ineffective and disjointed final product.

Programming at the heart of the new economy Increasingly, web sites are more than mere 'brochures' for products and services, and more even than just transaction systems that place orders and take money for products. Increasingly today we see web sites that present totally new kinds of services; services that were not possible before the internet; services that have emerged out of the inherent connected-ness of the global network.

These new kinds of web services typically rely on the programmed juxtaposition of previously un-connected layers of information, and thus satisfy end user needs in totally novel ways. This is where the new economy is most vibrant and exciting. It takes very creative programmers, and very tech savvy designers to meet the challenge of this new landscape.

Balance is everything Signal programmers have developed their craft to not only reflect the latest and best programming ideas, but also to accommodate the ever changing requirements imposed by clients. Like wise Signal graphic designers have learned how to shape web graphics to not only communicate effectively in today's marketplace, but also to take advantage of smart and efficient programming opportunities. 

Web site development at Signal has become an intense dialog between the ideal and the possible, and between beautiful pixels and beautiful code.