Our Software Development Process: How it works.

---

At CloudFlight Data, LLC, we follow a structured and methodical approach to delivering customized software solutions. Our process is designed to ensure that every project meets your specific needs, is delivered on time, and functions seamlessly. Below is an overview of our software development process, aligned with the most common phases of software development:

Our process begins with a complimentary consultation where we listen to your needs and discuss your goals. This initial meeting allows us to understand the challenges you're facing and helps us identify the scope of the project. We work closely with you to gather detailed requirements, ensuring that we have a clear understanding of your business objectives.

Following the initial consultation, we offer paid discovery sessions at $150 per hour, typically lasting between 1 to 3 hours. During these sessions, we dive deeper into the specifics of your project. This phase is crucial as it allows us to analyze your needs in greater detail and assess the feasibility of various solutions. The output from these sessions is a comprehensive requirement specification that guides the rest of the project.

Upon completing the discovery sessions, we create a Project Roadmap. This document serves as the blueprint for your project, detailing the proposed solutions, system architecture, and design elements that will be implemented. The Project Roadmap also includes a timeline for each phase, providing a clear plan for how the project will progress from start to finish.

Once you approve the Project Roadmap, we proceed to create a detailed cost estimate for each section of the roadmap. This estimate breaks down the costs associated with each phase of development. A retainer equal to 20% of the first phase of work is required to secure your place in our development schedule. This ensures that we have the necessary resources allocated to your project from the outset.

With the roadmap approved and the retainer in place, we move on to the coding and development phase. During this phase, our developers bring the design to life by writing the code that powers your software solution. We focus on building each module according to the specifications outlined in the Project Roadmap, ensuring that the final product meets your needs.

Once the development phase is complete, we rigorously test the software to ensure it functions as intended. This phase includes unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and user acceptance testing (UAT). Our goal is to identify and fix any bugs or issues before the software goes live, ensuring a smooth and error-free experience for your users.

After thorough testing and any necessary revisions, we deploy the software to the production environment. This phase involves releasing the application to live servers and configuring the environment to ensure everything is operational. At this point, your software is ready for use by you and your team.

Our commitment to your success doesn’t end with deployment. We provide ongoing maintenance and support to ensure your software continues to perform optimally. This includes regular updates, bug fixes, and the addition of new features as needed. Each phase of work may require an additional 20% down payment as a retainer fee for continued development.

Throughout our development process, we use Basecamp, a leading project management and team communication platform, to keep everything about your custom databases organized. Basecamp allows us to:

• Centralized Hub: Store all project-related information, including tasks, discussions, files, and schedules, in one place.
• Streamlined Communication: Utilize message boards, group chats, and direct messaging for effective collaboration.
• Task Management: Create to-do lists, assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress to keep the project on schedule.
• File Sharing: Share documents, images, and other files directly within the platform.
• Scheduling: Use the shared calendar to keep everyone aware of important dates.
• Automatic Check-ins: Set up recurring questions to get regular updates from the team without needing to schedule additional meetings.

For all feedback loop meetings, we utilize Zoom, a reliable video conferencing platform that enhances our collaboration. The advantages of using Zoom include:

• Ease of Use: Simple and accessible for clients to join meetings from any location.
• High-Quality Video and Audio: Ensures clear communication during discussions.
• Screen Sharing: Allows us to walk you through project updates, demonstrate features, and review documents together.
• Recording Capabilities: Provides the option to record meetings for future reference, ensuring that all details are captured.

Zoom’s features, combined with our structured approach, ensure that your feedback is heard and implemented promptly, keeping your project on track