Polkadot JAM Slides - Token2049 - By Dr. Gavin Wood
Pixegon Introduction
1. Using agile practices, cloud infrastructure, and the latest technology
Building Meaningful Software
Email Me:
sebastian@pixegon.com
2. The Pixegon Story
We started our journey in 2012 when our CEO and Founder Brandon Trebitowski
incorporated a new company called Treb Studios. As a published author and
recognized leader in mobile software development, Brandon grew his consultancy
and later incorporated his software practice, now called “Pixegon.” What’s special
about us is our vision to build meaningful software. We do this specifically by
using latest trends and technology to build innovative platforms and software. In a
nutshell, that's Pixegon and we’d like to know your story…
3. Summary
● Modes of Operation
○ New Project Development
○ Maintenance & Support
○ Staff Augmentation
● Services
○ Design - Systems & UI/UX Design
○ AppDev - Application Development
○ CloudOps - Cloud Infrastructure &
Operations
● Agile Practices
○ Scrum Project Management
○ Kanban Management
● Contract Types
○ Fixed
○ Time & Materials
4. Let’s start with how we work...
Modes of Operation
● New Project Development
● Maintenance & Support
● Staff Augmentation
5. New Design, AppDev or CloudOps projects can include:
● New software systems or components to existing systems (AppDev)
● New cloud based infrastructure or augmentation of existing (CloudOps)
● Requirements gathering, system diagrams, user experience (Design)
● With most new projects, all three services are engaged
● You are assigned an Account Manager and Project Manager
● Your “Customer Experience Lifecycle” per sprint is as follows:
○ Project Kick-Off & Sprint Planning
○ Development Monitoring & Control
○ Sprint Reviews & Communications
6. Maintenance & Support
● We offer a variety of cost-effective plans
● Each plan covers both reactive support and proactive maintenance hours
● Plans have hour caps not to exceed and Time & Materials after
● Plans do not cover new application features or new infrastructure
● Quarterly payment options are available
● Account Manager is assigned to your account which is also added to our
internal Kanban-style management program.
● Plans come with pre-defined “response-times” to guarantee developer
availability
7. Staff Augmentation
● When you just need a development resource with the right skill-set for a
desired amount of time
● Pixegon staffs the resource and lends you available talent hours on-hand
● You can manage your developers time and activities within your allocated
schedule
● Pixegon staff members are not subject to isolation when performing work
● Staff have access to Pixegon resources and senior team members for quick
advice and knowledge transfer while working on your activities
● Hassle-free short-term staffing
● You are assigned an Account Manager, while an internal Project Manager
(PM) is aware of developer activity. This PM is for internal use only.
8. It starts with a plan by design...
The services we offer:
● Design: Systems & UI/UX
● AppDev: Application Development
● CloudOps: Cloud Infrastructure & Operations
9. Design: System Analysis & UI/UX
● Your Account Manager may engage the Design team for System Analysis &
Design of your User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX)
● Typically on new projects, this Design service is activated to discover and
design your new or existing system with respective components and
infrastructure
● Respective knowledge specialists are engaged to provide expert judgement
on architecture and technology selection
10. AppDev: Application Development
Pixegon offers two types of applications using various strategies and tooling
● Server Applications
○ Web services - Applications that exist on a server with or without a user interface for data
transmission and storage.
■ REST API Services
■ Real Time Applications
■ Single-Page Applications
● Client Applications
○ Applications that run on computing devices such as mobile phones and tablets
■ Device Native Applications
■ Hybrid Applications
■ Mobile Web Applications
11. CloudOps: Cloud Infrastructure & Operations
Allow us to make the “Cloud” simple by selecting the appropriate technology
matching your situation.
For Server Applications and Mobile Applications, Pixegon may engage the
CloudOps Team which offers:
● Cloud Native Applications
○ Applications that run in the cloud and built for optimal software distribution and data delivery
○ Developers can commit code, and let the “cloud” take care of deploying to stage and
production
● Continuous Integration & Deployment Strategy
○ Software testing strategy that promotes frequent code releases and deployment
12. Sprint to the finish line...
How do we manage our projects? (Agile Practices)
● Scrum Project Management
● Kanban Management
13. Scrum Project Management
What is Scrum Project Management?
● Our scrum projects are made up of time-boxed sprints
● Sprints allow us to focus on a specific features and produce a potentially
releasable increment by the end of each sprint
● At the end of each sprint is the sprint review meeting. This is a time for you to
review the progress made and provide feedback
● Since Pixegon focuses on your project one sprint at a time, your business
constraints can fluctuate as you need
● Our PM can help you identify the best strategy for your next project
14. Kanban Management
We use Kanban for internal use on Maintenance & Support Agreements, as well
as Staff Augmentation.
What is Kanban?
● Three-bin system: “To do, In-progress, and Done”
● No timeboxed sprints necessary
● Typical for reactive requests on existing software or proactive maintenance
that doesn’t require new features or components
● Ideal for staff augmentation internally to drive developer efficacy and time
management
16. Fixed Agreements (special conditions apply)
● After discovery and details about a project's activities are well known and
performed, we may offer a fixed price or hear fixed-price offers after we’ve
determined the scope of work with appropriate estimates
● Pixegon may offer Fixed projects under special circumstances
17. Time & Materials
● Time & Material (T&M) Agreements are standard for Pixegon
● T&M allows us to be flexible with our service offerings and reduces the risk of
scope-creep and miscommunications on cost to deliver software
● Most of our customers are happy with T&M and so are we
