Vitalii Zdanovskyi | Digital Cossack

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Owner of a software development firm.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Custom sofware design and development

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Vitalii Zdanovskyi | Digital Cossack to accomplish?

• Architect and build full-stack applications with clean, maintainable layered architectures across multiple tech stacks (TypeScript/Node, React/Next.js, Vue, Ruby on Rails), ensuring long-term scalability and separation of concerns.
• Deliver production-ready systems end-to-end, including Docker containerization, CI/CD pipelines, AWS cloud infrastructure, database migrations, and authentication — not just writing code, but shipping deployable products.
• Integrate complex third-party services (Twilio, FreshDesk, FreshSales, Setster, AWS S3/SES, video encoding APIs) into cohesive applications while keeping core business logic decoupled and maintainable.
• Translate domain-specific business requirements into working software, including PDF specification report generation for architecture firms, real-time customer queue management for retail, and video content distribution with analytics for healthcare media.

SOLUTION

How did you find Vitalii Zdanovskyi | Digital Cossack?

Online Search

Why did you select Vitalii Zdanovskyi | Digital Cossack over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Vitalii Zdanovskyi | Digital Cossack were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

  Project 1: Video Platform (Feb 2020 – May 2023)

 Stack: Ruby on Rails 6, MySQL, AWS

  Scope: Built a full video content management system for distributing health/wellness video content to a tiered network of clinics.

  Key Deliverables:
  - Video upload pipeline with file validation (MP4/M4V/MOV, up to 1GB) and admin approval workflow (pending/approved/rejected states with email
  notifications)
  - Integration with Coconut.co for server-side video encoding (H.264 MP4) with async webhook callbacks and S3 storage
  - Integration with Impossible.io for dynamic template-based video rendering with custom variables (practice name, venue, date, start time)
  - 4-tier access control system (Wholesaler, Affiliate, Partner, MLHC) with regional filtering (USA/Canada) governing which videos each clinic sees
  - Admin analytics dashboard with login metrics, clinic activity tracking, most-watched videos, session duration analysis, and date-range filtering using
  Chart.js
  - Real-time session and video watch tracking via API ping system with background jobs (SessionTrackJob, VideoTrackJob) and idle session cleanup
  - REST API with token-based auth (7-day expiry) for client app video feed consumption
  - User invitation system (Devise Invitable), content flagging, audit logging, and automated video expiration (60-day window)
  - GitLab CI/CD pipeline deploying Docker containers to AWS ECR/Kubernetes (staging + production namespaces)

  ---
  Project 2: Kiosk Application Backend (Mar 2021 – Aug 2024)

 Stack: TypeScript/Express, Vue 2, MySQL, Docker

  Scope: Built an appointment booking and in-store customer queue management system for  showroom locations.

  Key Deliverables:
  - Customer check-in system supporting both drop-in and appointment-based visits with real-time queue management (in-memory JSON persistence with UUID
  tracking)
  - Queue sorting logic: assigned customers sorted by assignment time, unassigned sorted by check-in time (FIFO)
  - Customer-to-Sales Professional (PJ) assignment with automatic CRM ticket assignment
  - Visit completion tracking with outcome statuses (Purchased, Completed, Follow Up, Service/RMA, No Show, Canceled)
  - Setster integration: appointment creation, rescheduling, availability queries (daily/weekly views), service mapping (Bridal, Engagement, Wedding, Jewelry,
   Service, Virtual), status updates, and check-in
  - FreshDesk integration: automatic ticket creation on check-in, agent assignment, ticket closure, visit data sync (timestamps for check-in, associate assignment,
  completion), source tracking
  - FreshSales integration: contact lookup/creation/update, household management for couples, sales activity logging ("Walk-In Visit"), custom field sync
  (birthdate, anniversary, proposal date, purchase timeline)
  - Twilio integration: SMS notifications to customers
  - PIN-based kiosk authentication for in-store use with rate limiting (5 attempts, 10-minute lockout) and separate kiosk tokens
  - Vue.js admin dashboard (CoreUI Pro) for store CRUD, user management, and external integration configuration
  - Store capacity management, kiosk enable/disable toggles, and multi-store support
  - JWT auth system with three tiers: store user (PIN), store admin (PIN), superadmin (email/password)
  - Docker Compose local dev environment (API, Vue UI, MySQL, Adminer)

  ---
  Project 3: Design Specifier (Jun 2025 – Feb 2026)

Stack: TypeScript/Express, Next.js 15/React 19, MySQL, AWS

  Scope: Built a full-stack architectural product specification management tool for organizing, tracking, and reporting on building materials and products
  across construction projects.

  Key Deliverables:

  Backend API (Express/TypeScript):
  - Clean architecture with dependency injection (controllers → use cases → entities → infrastructure)
  - Full CRUD for 7 domain entities: Projects, Products, Templates, Manufacturers, Rooms, Divisions, Users
  - Product specification system with 15 dynamic custom fields per template (x1–x15 labels, y1–y15 values), manufacturer linking, room assignments, related
  product linking, and image attachments
  - Product lifecycle management: Progress → Issued status with date stamping, bulk issue/un-issue operations, revision tracking
  - 6 PDF report types generated with PDFKit:
    a. Specification Sheets — one page per product with image, custom fields, manufacturer info, related products grid, and client approval line
    b. Bill of Materials — products grouped by division
    c. Manufacturer Report — contact directory for all project manufacturers
    d. Purchased/Installed By — products grouped by procurement agent (Client/GC/Agent)
    e. Sustainable Qualities — environmental attributes by division
    f. Division Specs — filtered specification sheets by selected divisions
  - Image management: Multer upload → AWS S3 storage with CloudFront CDN delivery, automatic cleanup on delete
  - Role-based access control (Superadmin/Admin/User/Viewer) with JWT auth, bcrypt password hashing, and AWS SES password reset emails
  - 26 database migrations tracking schema evolution over 8 months
  - Joi input validation across all endpoints

  Frontend UI (Next.js 15/React 19):
  - 50+ pages using App Router with server and client components
  - Project dashboard with division-based product navigation and room management
  - Product creation workflow: template selection → form with dynamic custom fields → image upload → room assignment
  - Product copy-to-project functionality
  - Report generation interface for all 6 report types
  - Admin panel: user CRUD, role management, archive/restore, password reset link generation
  - Infinite scroll pagination with debounced search (500ms)
  - Manufacturer and template management interfaces
  - Active/inactive filtering across all entity types
  - TailwindCSS 4 styling with custom component library
  - React Context for lightweight state management (user, project, product contexts)

  Infrastructure:
  - GitHub Actions CI/CD pipeline (build → push to ECR → deploy via CloudFormation)
  - AWS App Runner (auto-scaling 1–3 instances) with VPC connector
  - AWS RDS (MySQL), S3, CloudFront CDN, SES
  - SSM Parameter Store for secrets management
  - Docker containerization (Node 24 Alpine)

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

  All four projects were successfully released into production, serving real users across distinct industries. The following outcomes are derived from the
  delivered codebases:

  ---
Video Platform (3+ years)

  - Shipped a complete video CMS processing uploads up to 1GB per file through automated encoding and rendering pipelines
  - Integrated 2 external video processing services (Coconut.co encoding, Impossible.io rendering) with async webhook architectures
  - Delivered a 4-tier access control system serving two regions (USA/Canada), enabling content segmentation across an entire clinic network
  - Built real-time analytics tracking user sessions, video watches, and clinic engagement — surfaced through 4 admin dashboard views with date-range
  filtering
  - Maintained and evolved the schema across 30+ database migrations over the project lifespan
  - Deployed via GitLab CI/CD to AWS ECS/Kubernetes with separate staging and production environments

  ---
Kiosk Backend (3.5 years)

  - Orchestrated 4 concurrent third-party integrations (Setster, FreshDesk, FreshSales, Twilio) into a single cohesive check-in workflow
  - Automated the full customer lifecycle from check-in through visit completion — syncing data across CRM, sales, and appointment systems in real time
  - Supported 7 appointment service types with real-time availability queries and rescheduling
  - Delivered PIN-based kiosk authentication with brute-force protection (5-attempt lockout) for secure in-store self-service
  - Iterated through 12 database migrations adapting to evolving business requirements over 3+ years
  - Shipped both a REST API and a Vue.js admin dashboard as a unified product

  ---
  Design Specifier — API + UI (9 months)

  - Delivered a full-stack application (Express API + Next.js frontend) from zero to production in under 9 months
  - Built 50+ UI pages and 30+ API endpoints covering 7 domain entities
  - Implemented 6 distinct PDF report types for professional architectural specification documents
  - Evolved the data model through 26 database migrations in 8 months, reflecting active collaboration with the client on requirements
  - Deployed on AWS with auto-scaling infrastructure (App Runner, 1–3 instances), CloudFront CDN, and automated CI/CD via GitHub Actions
  - Enabled 4 user roles (Superadmin, Admin, User, Viewer) with granular permission levels for team-based collaboration

  ---
  Across All Projects

  - 4 production systems delivered across 3 different tech stacks (Rails, TypeScript/Express + Vue, TypeScript/Express + Next.js)
  - 80+ database migrations total, reflecting sustained, iterative development against real-world requirements
  - 7 third-party service integrations implemented with proper error handling and async patterns
  - 7+ years of combined production maintenance across all projects
  - Every project containerized with Docker and deployed through automated CI/CD pipelines to AWS infrastructure

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Vitalii consistently delivered on time across all four projects, maintaining clear and proactive communication throughout. He demonstrated strong attention to detail and responded quickly to evolving requirements without sacrificing code quality or architectural integrity.

What was your primary form of communication with Vitalii Zdanovskyi | Digital Cossack?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What stood out most was Vitalii's ability to fully own a project end-to-end — not just writing code, but architecting infrastructure, integrating complex third-party systems, and delivering polished, production-ready products. Across four very different domains (healthcare media, retail, and architectural design), Vitalii has consistently translated unique business workflows into clean, well-structured software without needing hand-holding on the domain itself. This combination of technical depth and business adaptability is rare.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Vitalii Zdanovskyi | Digital Cossack could have done differently?

No areas for improvement come to mind. Vitalii delivered consistently high-quality work across every project, met deadlines reliably, and adapted to
  changing requirements without friction. I wouldn't change anything about the engagement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Founder of an advertising & marketing company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a workflow automation software built specifically for marketing agencies that manage paid advertising campaigns across multiple clients and platforms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Vitalii Zdanovskyi | Digital Cossack to accomplish?

• We're building a productivity tool for marketers, which allows them to create ads faster with AI features.
• Provide a digital marketing workflow automation to get client approval on creatives quickly, and with minimal back and fourth.

SOLUTION

How did you find Vitalii Zdanovskyi | Digital Cossack?

Online Search

Why did you select Vitalii Zdanovskyi | Digital Cossack over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Vitalii Zdanovskyi | Digital Cossack were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• System architecture design
• Backend development
• Frontend development
• Deployment
• Testing

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Closed beta-testing by a small group of marketers reported that ad creation/adoption speed was icreased by 200%, without loosing quality.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Campaign launch now happens 4x faster, according to beta-testers.

What was your primary form of communication with Vitalii Zdanovskyi | Digital Cossack?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App