Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor)

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO/Founder of BarnManager

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

BarnManager is a cloud-based software solution that provides horse owners and managers with the tools they need to streamline and simplify their daily management responsibilities. 

The program offers digitized record-keeping for the many facets of horse care as well as simple business tools to make small business management accessible and easy. Access from a computer, smartphone, or tablet to create detailed horse profiles, track medical records, schedule appointments, and more. I'm a Founder & CEO at Barnmanager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor) to accomplish?

• Proxet took over support and maintenance of our application from a prior technology provider.
• Proxet objective is to provide comprehensive support for the Barn Manager application, ensuring that operational and development issues are effectively managed. This approach enables us to maintain a high-quality user experience and ensure continuous application availability.
• We requested Proxet to develop an invoicing and billing application that enables tenant-owners to create and send invoices, track them and receive payments from varying customers. While the application may be implemented in a standalone manner, it will integrate with the main application via API.

SOLUTION

How did you find Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor)?

Referral

Why did you select Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor) over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor) were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

BarnManager and Proxet are working together for four years, developing web applications and communicating directly in the process. We jointly gather requirements and adapt them to minimize the costs of development and maintenance in a pragmatic manner. Our work also involves communicating with the engineering teams of our partners to discover integration strategies. 

Our core product development scope includes backend, mobile, web, and UX/design. The project relies on AWS /Digital Ocean for its infrastructure and utilizes Ansible for automation of deployment and server configuration. 

Technologies: 

• Back end: Angular, Angular JS, GoNative, JavaScript/Typescript, NGRX/Redux/Akita, EST, Responsive layouts, JWT, Bootstrap/Material Design, UX Design, Accessibility, Node, Apache Cordova 
• Front end: Java, J2EE, PostgreSQL/MariaDB, Web services, JPA/Hibernate 

We worked on: 

• Transition code base from the previous vendor, and setting up new deploy process and tools 
• Product Management services 
• Product Development including bug fixing, small feature development, maintenance, and support. 
• Front end bug fixing and feature implementation 
• Back end bug fixing and feature implementation QA

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Released a new version of BarnManager with the invoicing function and payment gateway integrations, among other improvements. (August 2022) 
• Created and released a new version of the BarnManager mobile application on Go Native for iOS and Android devices. (November 2022) 
• Migrated user uploads to the cloud. (S3) (November 2022) 
• We have ongoing work to refine the web and mobile applications, working on functionalities such as authorization, notification modules, etc.

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

We use an Kanban approach with Trello boards, which allows the business to prioritize tasks effectively. The team is highly responsive.

What was your primary form of communication with Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor)?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They have been quite flexible as the needs of the company have changed. The talent that they attract is phenomenal, and they take great care of their people.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor) could have done differently?

NA

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

TogetherLabs (metaverse company). Engineering manager

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor), and what were your goals?

Development of a management platform for a metaverse app; Developing core 3D avatars and room service, mobile app, and data engineering services support

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We have been working with Proxet for more than 3 years — not just my team, but TogetherLabs in general. They were referred to us as an experienced engineering service company. We chose the company based on the excellent soft and technical skills of their engineers, proactive approach, and their ability to work effectively in our timezone.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We started from an MVP and continuously added new features and improved the performance and stability of the accessory and skins management platform. Application for skin, accessories, and artifacts management, including pricing, discount, bundles, and special offer management

Technology stack:

• Java, Spring, MongoDB
• JavaScript, Angular
• AWS
• IaC Terraform
• Jenkins
• App deployment, scaling, and infrastructure automation

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

In our subteam there are 5 engineers from Proxet: 2 senior back-end Java engineers, a senior front-end JavaScript engineer, a senior DevOps engineer, and a Python automation engineer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We are able to release new versions quickly despite having a small team thanks to the outstanding teamwork and performance of each member.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The engineers from Proxet are a significant part of our team with seamless integrations. They are able to follow our standards, ceremonies, and processes. We follow the lean startup methodology with small teams. We also use Scrum and Kanban.

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

They are all proactive engineers with great technical proficiency. Perfectly accommodates our timezone. All in all an outstanding team.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

All good.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Director of Product at a tech-enabled service company operating in the connected home vertical.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor)?

We have eight engineers on our team all provided by Proxet as part of our long-term staff augmentation agreement with them. We engaged with Proxet because we trusted their expertise in finding and placing the right engineering talent for our company on a long-term basis.

SOLUTION

How did you select this agency and what were the deciding factors?

Our CEO and Proxet's CEO have had a long-term relationship so that's how we found about them. I was initially skeptical that outsourced engineering would work well for our needs, but I have been consistently impressed by the quality of the team members they bring us and how quickly we are able to scale up when we're ready to hire.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

They have provided one tech lead and a mix of full-stack, backend, and frontend developers to our team. All Proxet hires are treated just like in-house employees here (we hire for the long-term, not on a project basis). We started small and have continued to scale up as we grow and as we became more comfortable with the relationship and the quality of people they have brought to our team.

Describe the recruitment process in detail.

For me, as a Director of Product, the recruiting process couldn't be easier. I tell them what I need and within days or weeks at most, I have interviews scheduled with pre-qualified candidates.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the engagement that demonstrate progress or success?

Proxet has helped us transform from a company that was struggling to meet our own technology needs using low-code solutions into a company that is thriving by building our own custom software.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely effective. I can't say enough good things about how easy Proxet has made it for us to bring on exceptional engineering talent.

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

I'm most impressed with Proxet's company culture. A lot of my skepticism about outsourced engineering talent early on was driven by a fear that we'd be getting "hired guns" who didn't actually care about our mission. The opposite has been the case. All of our Proxet team members do quality work and care deeply about our long-term success, not just about pushing code to production.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

The only thing I might suggest is more communications about the internal goings-on at Proxet. We don't have much of a view into the ongoing development of Proxet's offerings. But this is a minor quibble to me because overall, everything is working great and I don't feel like need to know how they do it so long as the results continue to be what they have been to date.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Head of Engineering, Management at a 150-person startup. With headquarters in NYC, and offices in LA and Chicago we serve over 700 million users a day.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Rails Reactor?

We employ Rails Reactor for a variety of ongoing projects, including: - Working with our on-site platform teams to complete our efforts to break up our monolith into microservices, and continue to support new features on those services. - Building ML-based models and deploying new features based on those features.

What were your goals for this project?

Most of the projects we employ RR for are ongoing. They help to keep our lights on, and build help build many new features!

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A member of our team had worked with them previously and had a good experience.

Describe the project in detail.

One notable project that many Rails Reactor employees contributed to was our gRPC migration. This was an epic project that spanned 2019 and is still ongoing today. It affected many services written in several different languages, which means that we were ultimately entrusting the stability and performance of our entire platform to all who contributed to these efforts.

This work required heavy cross-team collaboration, meticulous attention to detail, careful and controlled deployment techniques, heavy communication, diligent monitoring, strong technical acumen, and insightful analysis of the results. Some of the heaviest contributors to this included Railed Reactor engineers.

One specific notable achievement involved discovering existing bugs in the PHP gRPC library and remediating those issues. Another specific example included gaining a deeper understanding of the underlying gRPC and HTTP protocols, which led to unearthing a slew of gRPC clients that were not setting deadlines on their connections as well as discovering that the PHP library wasn't capable of setting these properly, thus we had to manually specify these deadlines using headers based on the gRPC specification.

Time and time again the engineers from Rails Reactor implemented high-quality and performant code for the gRPC migration and were able to go above and beyond in discovering and solving technical problems that transcended the boundary of their own code, resulting in a stronger platform for us.

What was the team composition?

All told, we currently work with 9 engineers from RR on an ongoing basis. 7 on one team who work with legacy PHP and more modern Scala code. These remote engineers work with 3 engineers on-site. The other two RR engineers work to develop machine learning models with a product lead on-site.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We do not use RR on their own -- we always integrate them into existing teams. That said, they have contributed immensely to some of our most important initiatives, including offering new machine-learning based features for our end users, and converting hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of lines of code into more reliable, robust and better-tested code all while creating new features and proactively improving performance.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Despite the time difference, our work with RR has always been smooth. We have had a few hiccups, but on these occasions, RR has worked closely with us to resolve the issue

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I’ve been continually impressed with the engineers’ ability to work collaboratively to first establish the requirements and make sure they understand them, and build them. They are also extremely proactive, letting us know if they see an issue and often submitting PRs to other teams when they think something could be done better, or they have an idea how to fix something.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There is always room for improvement, however, we’ve been more than satisfied with RR’s willingness to work with us, communicate their needs, and collaborate on solutions when one of us finds something that needs to improve.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Product Manager of AllGrounds

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Allgrounds is a grounds management software company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor) to accomplish?

• Convert our current software from a single tenant to multi tenancy
• Enhance many features within the software to keep it cutting edge

SOLUTION

How did you find Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor)?

Referral

Why did you select Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor) over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor) were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The scope of work for our developers was extensive and transformative. They successfully converted the software from a single-tenant system to a robust multi-tenancy platform, enhancing scalability and accessibility. Additionally, they meticulously recreated our mobile app, enriching it with intuitive interfaces and seamless navigation. A significant milestone involved integrating translation capabilities into the app, broadening our reach to a global audience.

Furthermore, the developers implemented a range of new features, including advanced work order functionalities that streamlined our operational processes. The introduction of innovative invoicing systems enhanced our financial workflows.They also seamlessly integrated QuickBooks, providing a synchronized and efficient accounting experience. Amidst these major updates, the developers paid careful attention to detail, incorporating numerous small feature enhancements. 

These subtle yet impactful modifications significantly improved user experience and system efficiency. Their dedication and expertise ensured the successful execution of these tasks, delivering a software ecosystem that aligns perfectly with our organizational needs.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project's measurable outcomes have consistently demonstrated substantial progress and marked success. Each deliverable within our agile sprints has been a testament to the effective execution of our development project. The timeliness of their communication and the constant delivery of results have been key indicators of success. Our developers have maintained a strong focus on sprint goals and ensured that each milestone is achieved efficiently.

The ongoing nature of these achievements underscores not only their commitment but also the continuous improvement of our software and mobile app. These outcomes affirm our project's success by showcasing the regular, tangible advancements made in each sprint, as well as the project's strong communication and development efficiency.

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

Their project management has been exemplary. Deliveries were consistently punctual, adhering to our established timelines with precision. Their responsiveness to our needs was swift and efficient. They maintained open lines of communication, promptly addressing any queries or concerns that arose during the development process. 

Their proactive approach to managing the project ensured that all elements were well-coordinated, and their ability to adapt to changing requirements was commendable. Their project management style not only facilitated timely deliveries but also created a collaborative environment where our needs were not only met but exceeded. Their responsiveness and adaptability were key factors in the project's success.

What was your primary form of communication with Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor)?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What impressed me most about this company was their seamless integration of efficient sprints with remarkable adaptability. Their ability to adhere to structured sprints while also accommodating our evolving needs was truly awe-inspiring. It's rare to find a team that can maintain such a disciplined approach to project management while remaining flexible and responsive to client requirements. 

Their balance between structured methodologies and adaptability showcased their professionalism and dedication to delivering exceptional results.

Are there any areas for improvement or something  Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor) could have done differently?

There are no areas for improvement; Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor) has consistently impressed me with their exceptional work and dedication. Their performance has been outstanding, leaving no room for any suggested changes.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of a healthcare company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

healthcare and biomedical research

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor) to accomplish?

• Develop and Support Research Administrative Systems

SOLUTION

How did you find Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor)?

Online Search

Why did you select Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor) over others?

Good value for cost

How many teammates from Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor) were assigned to this project?

33

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

multiple module upgrades

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

low bug rate increase user satisfaction increase user adoption

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

They delivered on time. some delay of delivery for certain features high estimates for work

What was your primary form of communication with Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor)?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

skillset

Are there any areas for improvement or something Proxet (ex-Rails Reactor) could have done differently?

maintain open dialogue/communication transparency around rate changes increase accuracy of estimations