What is the True Cost of Software Development?

Cost of Software Development Podcast

Episode Summary We build software. Great, so what is the actual cost of software development? There are plenty of reasons you may want to build custom software, but you probably have some questions about how much money you’re going to have to throw in to get exactly what you want. We go through how we […]

What does Digital Transformation Look Like Right Now?

How are we using digital transformation right now?

Episode Summary After COVID-19 hit, we ran a webinar about how companies could accelerate digital transformation. Now we’ve seen a ton of companies do just that. From small retailers hopping online to everyone moving to the cloud – digital is here to stay and here to reign. How can your business stay abreast of these […]

Why is Using a Lean Startup Methodology Important?

The Importance of a Lean Startup Methodology

Episode Summary Today on Ask an Innovator we discuss the Lean Startup Methodology. We get into what is is, how to use it, and why it’s so dang important to us here at CIL. We talk through company examples – who has used it and why? And what role the customer plays, how it could […]

Why is Agile Software Development More Effective?

Agile Development Feature Image

Agile Software Development Agile Software Development is a quick and compelling way to respond to change. It is incremental and iterative and allows for a fast turnaround. Solutions come from collaboration and allow the development process to be customer-centric and proactive to the ever-changing environment. At City Innovation Labs – we use agile software development […]

What is the Importance of Lean Software Development?

CIL uses Lean Software Development to build the right products

What is Lean Software Development? What does lean mean and why would we use it in our software development process? Lean Startup is important to us here at CIL because it is a core belief in how businesses should be run and software should be built. Lean means we follow a build, measure, learn cycle […]

How to Get Started with Postgres Full Text Search

Postgres Full Text Search Blog

Search is a common feature in many products today. The time to build and deploy a fully realized search feature can take weeks. If your product already uses Postgres the time to build a search feature can go from weeks to hours by using Postgres’s built in full text search features.

Are You Wasting Time in Your Software Development Process?

What Software Development Process Time Wasters Can You Avoid?

The minutia of your software development process is problematic. It wastes time under the guise of being productive or enhancing the quality of the software. Unfortunately, many developers personally identify with certain designs or tendencies. This causes them to defend their position while not recognizing or realizing that it doesn’t matter. Here are some of […]

How to Contract the RIGHT Software Development Company

Contracting a Software Development Company (& the pitfalls!)

I wish I could say these pitfalls rarely happen when choosing a software development company. However, in my 15 years of experience, they are more frequent than not. To give your business the best chance of success you must be aware of these pitfalls. They can cause catastrophic financial problems or leave your software system […]

Story Mapping for Your Internal Team

Our team uses story mapping to strategize with customers. It allows for collaboration by creating a story of what a product will look like and how it will be built. From a Project Manager’s internal perspective, story mapping is incredibly helpful. Not only does it help your Design and Development teams move quickly, but it […]

Understanding Scaled Agile Framework

As companies aim for digital disruption, implementing change as fast as possible is integral. Agile Development allows for timely feedback and quick iterations. While this is easy for small companies to achieve, it may be more difficult for larger organizations. This is where Scaled Agile Framework can help. Below is a transcription of a Business […]