Tuesday, 30 December 2014

Software Testing World


Introduction
 
Software testing is a critical element of software quality assurance and represents the ultimate process to ensure the correctness of the product. The quality product always enhances the customer confidence in using the product thereby increases the business economics. In other words, a good quality product means zero defects, which is derived from a better quality process in testing.

Software is an integrated set of Program codes, designed logically to implement a particular function or to automate a particular process. To develop a software product or project, user needs and constraints must be determined and explicitly stated. The development process is broadly classified into two.

1. Product development
2. Project development

Product development is done assuming a wide range of customers and their needs. This type of development involves customers from all domains and collecting requirements from many different environments.
Project Development is done by focusing a particular customer’s need, gathering data from his environment and bringing out a valid set of information that will help as a pillar to development process.
Software Testing World
Testing is a necessary stage in the software life cycle: it gives the programmer and user some sense of correctness, though never “proof of correctness. With effective testing techniques, software is more easily debugged, less likely to “break,” more “correct”, and, in summary, better.

Most Software Development processes in the IT industry always seem to follow a tight schedule. Often, these schedules adversely affect the testing process, resulting in step motherly treatment meted out to the testing process. As a result, defects accumulate in the application and are overlooked so as to meet deadlines. The developers convince themselves that the overlooked errors can be rectified in subsequent releases.

The definition of testing is not well understood. People use a totally incorrect definition of the word testing, and that this is the primary cause for poor program testing.  Read More...

Source: CodeWebber

Friday, 26 December 2014

All About PCI Compliance

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a widely accepted set of policies and procedures intended to optimize the security of credit, debit and cash card transactions and protect cardholders against misuse of their personal information. The PCI DSS was created jointly in 2004 by four major credit-card companies: Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

Credit card issuers are aggressively enforcing the PCI DSS to safeguard cardholder information and prevent losses; non-compliance with the standard can result in significant fines or losing their ability to process credit cards. In addition companies are required to validate their PCI DSS compliance annually.

The core principles of the PCI DSS framework consist of twelve requirements categorized into six Control Objectives or Functional Areas. Organizations must comply with all the requirements to meet the overall objective of PCI DSS.

Organizations that are required to be compliant under the scheme must adhere to 12 PCI compliance requirements within 6 control objectives. 
These are:

1. Build and Maintain a Secure Network

Requirement 1: Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data.
Requirement 2: Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters.

2. Protect Cardholder Data

Requirement 3: Protect stored cardholder data.
Requirement 4: Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks.

3. Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program

Requirement 5: Use and regularly update anti-virus software.
Requirement 6: Develop and maintain secure systems and applications.

4. Implement Strong Access Control Measures

Requirement 7: Restrict access to cardholder data by business need-to-know.
Requirement 8: Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access.
Requirement 9: Restrict physical access to cardholder data.

5. Regularly Monitor and Test Networks

Requirement 10: Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data.
Requirement 11: Regularly test security systems and processes.

6. Maintain an Information Security Policy

Requirement 12: Maintain a policy that addresses information security.
It is a strict standard that applies to the cloud as well as in-store, providing security no matter where the information is held. In June of 2011 the PCI Security Standard Council stated that “any device that stores or transmits cardholder data is overseen by PCI DSS”. This includes all hardware and software programs in the cloud.

If your business or organization processes debit card or credit card information, and is considering moving to the cloud, make sure that you select a PCI compliant cloud company. This will keep your information and those of your customers in a secure environment.

Source: CodeWebber

Why the Latest PHP 5.5 is Impressive on Ecommerce Stores?

LAMP (Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP) platform is a successful alternative to commercial software for building and operating dynamic and high performance web systems. PHP has become one of the major player on the web development market in the last few years. For all Linux hosting packages, PHP 5.5 has recently become the standard version.

The upgraded PHP version 5.5 comes with lots of changes and value additions. Most of the changes are beneficiary for the e-commerce stores running on php.


Here’s a Brief description of what PHP version 5.5 has to offer your e-commerce store

1. Addition of keywords
In php version 5.5, the provided refinery keyword facility will allow a developer to define block code, cache block for better keyword search. It improves the result of the search based on keywords. Keyword search is very much helpful in the e-commerce online stores.

2. Availability of Generators

Availability of generators provides a way for iteration through the data. Because of which the function keyword will give the more appropriate results. In e-commerce online stores, it is important to get appropriate results for a particular search for keyword. Availability of generators in php version 5.5 provides this facility.

3. Class name resolution update

Updated class name resolution in the php version 5.5 provides easy and fast filtering through the class names. More options for the class name resolution and filtration in the updated php version. For e-commerce online stores more class name filtration gives better results.

4. Empty functions acceptability

Empty functions are used to determine the false or equal value false commands. Sometimes these empty functions won’t work properly and take the search result back to the original place. In php version 5.5, the acceptability of the empty function is improved. It won’t take the search result at initial position. In advanced version, the false value recognition is improved. It helps e-commerce online stores to get uninterrupted process of product selling after the false command entries. It helps the e-commerce online stores to gain more customers.

5. Security

Apart from core technical impact, the main impact of php version 5.5 is on security. This version makes the e-commerce online stores become more secure. For example, as Microsoft have decided to cut-off the support system of windows XP and other older versions, it is easy to crack the systems working with earlier. But it will not be an issue in php based systems as php 5.5 version does not function on the windows XP or older versions. So the firewall provided by the windows and security system of php will keep your e-commerce store intact.
For more information refer php.net

At CodeWebber, we offer comprehensive e-commerce development services to various SMEs and large scale businesses across the globe which help them offer their products and services vividly on the internet and outshine in the digital marketplace.

Source: CodeWebber


Saturday, 20 December 2014

Ruby on Rails 3.1 and Sprockets – A closer look

Ruby on Rails 3.1 uses a new technology called Sprockets to speed JavaScript execution. Sprockets compiles all the features that a Web application uses into a single file, that simplifies work for the developer and quickens the response time of the application. New features to look out for


Asset Pipeline

Asset Pipeline is the principal feature of the release (Ruby on Rails 3.1) . In simple terms it allows proper organization of CSS and JavaScript files. The asset pipeline helps to make it simple to organize and serve your assets.

Combining the pipeline with a well-tuned web and application server means that web sites being blazing fast! Also, browsers will load pages quicker than ever before, specially when used with the asset pipeline, because it’s just one file used throughout the app. Ideally, while the user is navigating through your website, his browser wouldn’t need to load the assets again since it’s cached; so loading time is only experienced at the first visit.

HTTP Streaming

HTTP streaming (Ruby on Rails 3.1 update) helps the server by sending data to the client in chunks. Rather then sending it only when the page has been fully rendered, it sends rendered content as soon as it’s produced.

jQuery is now default

The default JavaScript library for Ruby on Rails has been switched to jQuery. Users can easily change from the previous default library, Prototype, through a single command. Developers shouldn’t notice any difference, and going forward, Ruby on Rails will be able to harness the work being done on this popular library.

These are just some of the new features available to you with Rails 3.1. There’s a lot of other good stuff you can explore. Tell us which of the features listed here would most suite your needs. Happy coding!

Source: CodeWebber

Thursday, 18 December 2014

All About Scrum

Scrum is an iterative, incremental process for developing any product or managing any work. Scrum concentrates on how the team members should function in order to produce the system flexibility in a constantly changing environment. At the end of every iteration it produces a potential set of functionality.

The term ‘Scrum originated from a strategy in the game of rugby where it denotes “getting an out-of-play ball back into the game” with teamwork. Scrum does not require or provide any specific software development methods/practices to be used. Instead, it requires certain management practices and tools in different phases of Scrum to avoid the chaos by unpredictability and complexity

Key Scrum practices are discussed below

Product Backlog – This is the prioritized list of all features and changes that have yet to be made to the system desired by multiple actors, such as customers, marketing and sales and project team.

Sprints – Sprints are 30-days in length, it is the procedure of adapting to the changing environmental variables (requirements, time, resources, knowledge, technology etc) and must result in a potentially shippable increment of software.

Sprint Planning meeting – Sprint planning meeting is first attended by the customers, users, management, Product owner and Scrum Team where a set of goals and functionality are decided on.

Sprint Backlog – It is the list of features that is currently assigned to a particular Sprint. When all the features are completed a new iteration of the system is delivered.

Daily Scrum – It is a daily meeting for approximately 15 minutes, which are organized to keep track of the progress of the Scrum Team and address any obstacles faced by the team.

Source: CodeWebber

Top Open Source ERP Applications

Here I will be mentioning the top ERP open source applications.

1) OpenBravo

Openbravo, the agile ERP, is a modular, ready to use, 100% web-based open source and free business management system written in Java, that automates all of the core business processes for small and mid-sized companies. This makes an appealing alternative to SMEs. Openbravo is built on proven MVC & MDD framework that facilitate customization & maintenance of code. Openbravo already enjoys a growing customer clientele.

1.1) Features

a) Application Dictionary: Use the Application Dictionary Module to customize, modify, and adapt the application to your needs.

b) General Setup: Use General Setup Module to edit basic settings such as languages, currencies, menus, workflows, alerts, clients, roles, users, organizations, banks, and importing data.

c) Master Data Management: Use Master Data Management Module to define and edit information related to business partners, prices, and products.

d) Procurement Management: Use Procurement Management Module to manage requisitions, purchases, goods receipts, invoices, and analyze related reports.

e) Warehouse Management: Use Warehouse Management Module to create and edit warehouses, and manage inventory.

f) Production Management: Use production Management Module to create and edit your production processes, production control, and analyze related data.

g) Materials Requirement Planning (MRP): Use the Materials Requirement Planning Module to edit your production planning, inventory control, and purchasing activities.

h) Sales Management: Use Sales Management Module to create and edit sales orders, goods shipments, invoices, commissions, and analyze related reports.

i) Project & Service Management: Use Project & Service Management Module to create and edit services, projects, analyze related reports, and add employee expenses.

j) Financial Management: Use Financial Management Module to create and edit accounting, assets, and receivables and payables.

1.2) Pros & Cons.

Pros:

a. It includes necessary functionality for complex retail management process,

b. It allows for integration with Point of Sale equipment (barcode system, touch screens, fiscal printers, card readers etc.), which improves sale process,

c. Dynamic development – your software will always follow the current business trends due to free access to the latest updates,

d. Simple, intuitive and aesthetic graphic interface – you and your employees will not have any difficulties in getting familiar and using the software during your daily tasks,

e. Compatibility with Windows and free operation system Linux,

f. Detailed documentation – it allows for extending the system by any programmer, who is familiar with Java technologies,

j. Scalability – the system does not lose efficiency, even when its complexity grows.

Cons:

a. The support system and documentation are inadequate.

b. Some users complain that the system crashes a lot.

c. Limited customization possible.
2) Dolibarr

When it comes to open source ERP software built on PHP, Dolibarr is a competitive and modern product with an active community of users. Dolibarr is completely free, and it can be used as a standalone program from any computer or server, or it can be used online through a dedicated or virtual private server.
Documentation for the software can be found on a wiki website that is frequently updated by both developers and veteran users. Although the base program is free, many users opt to purchase additional modules and plugins from the Dolibarr store. Some of the most popular plugins are for project management, digital documentation, pricing tables and telephone management.

2.1) Features

a) Products and services catalog

b) Stock management

c) Bank accounts management

d) Customers, Suppliers or Prospects directory

e) Contacts directory

f) Commercial actions management

g) Orders management with PDF generator

h) Commercial proposals management with PDF generator

i) Contracts management

j) Invoices management with PDF generator

k) Payments management

l) Standing orders management

m) Shipping management

n) Foundations members management

o) Bookmarks management

p) Emailingq) Agenda

r) Point of Sale

s) Donations management

t) Reporting

u) Data export tools

v) LDAP connectivity

 2.2) Pros & Cons

Pros

A very capable software with features capable of running a medium company. Well designed so that the basic user is able to install and use it

Cons

To make maximum use of it’s potential you must know a bit of server configurations

3) WebERP

Although webERP is a powerful enterprise system, the developers admit that it is best suited for manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers. Retail businesses looking for a complete system have to combine webERP with third-party POS software.

Small and medium-sized organizations will find webERP to be surprisingly simple yet very effective, but it is not powerful enough to handle the needs of large businesses. A demo is offered for a quick overview of the system, and full downloads are available through Sourceforge.

3.1) Features

a)General
  • Entirely web-based
  • Runs on any web-server that can accommodate PHP – can use an ISP instead of having/maintaining own server
  • Minimal use of javascript for maximum compatibility with all web-browsers and web enabled devices. Some small amounts used to improve error-trapping and user interactivity.
  • Produces reports to Portable Document Format – PDF for accurate positioning of text
  • All reports and scripts easily modifiable PHP text
  • All processing on the server and no installation required on client machines
b) Security
  • Users can be defined with access to only certain options using a role based model
  • Options applicable to certain roles can be graphically configured and users defined as fulfilling a given role.
  • Incorrect entry of password (more than 3 times) blocks the account until reset by the System Administrator. This prevents password crackers from breaking the security.
  • Pages can be encrypted using SSL and webERP can be configured to only display pages using SSL to ensure that all information passing over the internet is encrypted.
  • Users can be defined to see only certain modules on the main menu – so menu options that they will not have access to are not even displayed on screen.
  • HTTP security can be configured over the top of the inbuilt security to provide two levels of security – the first to access the web-server at all and the second to actually get into webERP
  • An audit trail of which users did what is retained and is automatically maintained based on how long the information is required to be kept
  • All inputs are sanitized to prevent SQL injections and cross site scripting.
c) Sales and Orders

Quotations can be entered and printed as quotations then
  • changed to an order if the customer accepts without re-entering
  • Customer orders can be entered and maintained and referenced back to the customers order number.
  • The cumulative quantity on order for a stock item shows as a demand in stock status inquiries.
  • The cumulative quantity on order for assembly items shows the demand against its components in the stock status inquiries.
  • The quantity of the order left to invoice is maintained and updated for invoices and credit notes raised against the order.
  • The orders entered can be invoiced directly with little or no additional input.
  • Multiple dispatches are possible from a single order. Order retains references to each dispatch.
  • Differences from the order are logged when dispatches are not the same as the ordered quantities for reporting delivery in full on time.
  • Pricing automatically returned based on the customer sales type, branch and currency.
  • Pricing can be set to be effective from specific dates and to finish on a final date
  • Pricing is by currency
  • Any number of price lists can be maintained. Customers are defined to get their pricing from a specific price list. However, special prices can be defined as an exception for a given customer or even a particular branch of a customer
  • Quantity break discounts across a range of products are automatically calculated based on a discount matrix.
  • Packing slips printable on laser or pre-printed stationery.
  • User selectable inventory location to pick from.
  • Automatic freight calculations based on shipping method and delivery address. Orders calculate weight and cubic based on item unit weight and cubic.
  • Free form entry of delivery addresses defaulting to the customer branch physical address.
  • Automatically recurring orders can be entered and if the orders are for “service items” the order can also be automatically invoiced.
  • Daily sales reports and ad-hoc sales graphs
  • Delivery In Full On Time reporting
d) Taxes
  • Tax rates dependent on the type of product – using tax categories
  • Tax rates dependent on the location of the warehouse dispatched from
  • Tax rates dependent on the location of the customer
  • Multiple taxes payable to different tax authorities
  • Each tax posted to different user-definable general ledger accounts – if linked to AR/AP
e) Accounts Receivable
  • Overdue inquiry that takes into account delivery days to the customer’s branch and the actual (user definable) payment terms applicable to the customer, supported by detailed inquiry of actual invoices overdue.
  • Full on-screen inquiry on a customer’s account, complete with invoice details and narrative which appeared on the invoice. Drill down to source document  invoice or credit note.
  • Invoice can be emailed to customers together with pdf attachments dependent on items invoices eg. warranty, datasheets, instructions, manuals etc.
  • Inquiries on payments received will show how a payment was allocated to invoices and the difference on exchange attributable to each invoice.
  • Full integration with stock records and general ledger – a full trail o
  • f journals for each transaction is maintained a drill down to the general ledger transactions for each transaction on a customers account is available from the customer inquiry page.
  • Flexible general ledger postings for sales and if required as well cost of sales based on sales area and product category. General ledger integration is optional.
  • Open item – full analysis of the outstanding balance is maintained and printed on statements for maximum information to the customer.
  • Statements can show transactions settled this month or only outstanding transactions as at the date of printing.
  • Flexible user definable sales analysis reports to pdf or spreadsheet (csv comma separated values). Report definitions can be saved for re-running or automating email delivery from a scheduled job.
  • Retrospective de-allocation and re-allocation of receipts or credit notes agains charges with re-calculation of differences on exchange and corresponding general ledger journals.
  • Any number of branch delivery addresses can be added serviced by different sales people with different tax authorities and different areas for sales analysis purposes.
  • Unlimited accounts and unlimited number of branches (ship to addresses) for each account.
  • Shipping method updated by branch.
  • Customer accounts can be in any currency. Individual rate for each invoice, default to currency table rate.
  • Currency table can be set to be automatically updated daily from European central bank published rates.
  • Invoices and credit notes created in pdf.
  • Email of invoices and credit notes.
  • Credit notes can be produced from one click taking the details of a selected invoice for subsequent modification.
  • Transaction inquiries show sequence of invoices, credit notes and receipts entered.
  • Option to produce integrated google maps of customer locations (and suppliers)
Read More ...

Source: CodeWebber


Wednesday, 17 December 2014

CodeWebber Services Primer

CodeWebber offers services that are carefully crafted for the requirements of various customer segments starting from Small Businesses to enterprises, spanning multiple vertical industries. There are services specifically stacked along the development cycle too from Business Analysis all the way to Deployment, all optimized for maximum efficiency. This article offers a glimpse into services offered by CodeWebber so as to ease out the selection process and increase ROI for our customers.

At CodeWebber we take pride in offering an end-to-end enterprise class service delivery model backed by one of the best in class service delivery management application, Visioncarma.

The Team

CodeWebber has more than 100 software developers working in a 24 hours 365 days model.
The Process

The Agile methodology we follow helps us create apps in record time while, allowing us to maintain superior quality and usability.

Quality
The application developed by us are high on quality and are user friendly. The intensive testing methodology makes us capable of delivering the perfect app.

Facility
CodeWebber is housed in a 8000 sq ft office space with air conditioned working spaces and separate training and meeting rooms.

Industry Expertise
We have 10 years experience in delivering quality services around the globe.

Technology
We use the latest technology for developing applications for example RoR, CakePHP, PHP, .NET development.

Projects Handled
Numerous projects handled in a decade long pursuit of excellence.

Engagement Models
Numerous Engagement models ranging from resource based billing to turnkey application development.

Performance Based Contracts
Innumerable options  for clients to test our level of commitment. From demo projects to contracts based on performance. We do it all!
Customer Orientation
Driven by customers. For customers. This is our motto of project handling, as all projects we handle are based on the customer requirements.

Communication Systems
We utilize many communication systems such as video conferencing, voip local access numbers, Basecamp, Pivotal Tracker and other project management tools, Bug trackers, Versioning systems,etc.

Code Version Control
The version control helps our developers to track any change they made and redo it if there were issues in the working of the application.

Copyright
All our projects are carried out with complete client privacy in mind and the application we develop are compliant to HIPPA standards.

Open source Development
We develop opensource software in record time and have engineers specifically for such kind of development requirements.

Location of Operations
We have our offshore development center in Bangalore, India and our sales office is in US.

Events & Training
Constant training and support is provided to all the developers in terms of catching up to the latest technology trends and updates.
Climb.Edu

Our training wing Climb.Edu provides specific training to developers with respect to improving their language knowledge.

Source: CodeWebber