What We Do — Services

.NET Development

We've sorted out the paper and plastic from our project files and found all the good technical junk. Enjoy!
Project: Association Membership Web Site
Duration: 2002-Present Team Size: 2-4 Type: Outsourced

Technical Environment: 1200+ pages, mixed ASP and ASP.NET, SQL Server and MS Access, some stand-alone Windows Forms components.

Brief Description: Stout provides outsourced Web development services, complementing the work of client's in-house Web and database development teams.

Recent ASP.NET work includes publication searching and purchase, continuing education support, online membership renewal, and enhancing and updating the client's convention registration process. Stand-alone components include a self-service registration kiosk and a complementary registrar system for use at conventions.

Microsoft's C# and .NET technologies, such as ASP.NET, LINQ, Windows Forms, WPF and Web services are used to implement Web applications involving complex database functionality and structure, payment validation, point-of-sale customer interaction, and interfacing to existing legacy technologies.

Buzzwords: .NET, C#, ASP.NET, SQL Server, MS Access, LINQ, Windows Forms, WPF, Web Services, Payflow Pro, DAL, Google Analytics

Project: FormPost for Independent Insurance Agency SW
Development Firm
Duration: 3 months Team Size: 1 Type: Outsourced

Technical Environment: 1200+ pages, mixed ASP and ASP.NET, SQL Server and MS Access, some stand-alone Windows Forms components.

Brief Description: Stout provides outsourced Web development services, complementing the work of client's in-house Web and database development teams.

Recent ASP.NET work includes publication searching and purchase, continuing education support, online membership renewal, and enhancing and updating the client's convention registration process. Stand-alone components include a self-service registration kiosk and a complementary registrar system for use at conventions.

Microsoft's C# and .NET technologies, such as ASP.NET, LINQ, Windows Forms, WPF and Web services are used to implement Web applications involving complex database functionality and structure, payment validation, point-of-sale customer interaction, and interfacing to existing legacy technologies.

Buzzwords: .NET, C#, ASP.NET, SQL Server, MS Access, LINQ, Windows Forms, WPF, Web Services, Payflow Pro, DAL, Google Analytics

Project: ASP.NET Engineering Application
Duration: 1.5 years Team Size: 7 Type: Outsourced

Technical Environment: ASP.NET, .NET 3.5, C#, AJAX, SQL Server, .Net Charting, DynamicPDF

Brief Description: Client had highly technical Windows based C++ engineering application�a workhorse but not a very attractive one. Stout was engaged to completely re-write it as a Web application with a user base ranging from the novice to the R and D scientist.

Stout provided the initial human factors/usability team to analyze the expected user base and provide the initial design concepts and wireframes. From there, a design phase was conducted to provide a prototype application for user review and management buy-in. Concurrently, the technical design and architecture was performed.

During the first implementation phase, Stout converted the calculating engine of the legacy application into a freestanding DLL in a C# wrapper. The calculating engine can be called by any source. A test engine was written to compare tens of thousands of calculated configurations between the legacy engine and the new engine, the verifying accuracy of the new engine.

During the second implementation phase, the presentation layer, the middle tier and the database were implemented, along with an administrative Web application for the performance of maintenance and update functions. The presentation layer required extensive use of AJAX to provide the feel of the desktop application we were replacing. The AJAX work included numerous custom AJAX controls. The application's scientific charts and graphs were recreated. A highly customizable and professional output report in PDF format was created.

Buzzwords: .NET 3.5, ASP.NET, C#, AJAX, Human Factors/Usability, .NET Charting, DynamicPDF, , SQL Server, Legacy application

Project: VB.NET Laboratory Information Management System
Duration: 6 months Team Size: 1 Type: Staffing

Technical Environment: VB.NET

Brief Description: Two previous attempts at a Laboratory Information Management System had failed�one custom implementation and one of-the-shelf implementation. Client looking for a strong VB.NET Windows Forms developer with equally strong UI design talents. N-tier application exclusively using T-SQL (often complex) stored procedures with both Windows and SQL Server Authentication and Authorization. Highly processed-based system with multiple intuitive user interfaces and reports for administrators and end-users. Includes the ability for administrators to create custom forms from application.

Buzzwords: .NET, VB.NET, SQL Server, Windows Forms, N-tier, T-SQL, Windows Authentication, SQL Server Authentication.

Project: Sales Performance and Incentive Web Site
Duration: 2008-Present Team Size: 2 Type: Staffing

Technical Environment: Oracle 11g (PL/SQL), Windows 2003 Server, ASP.NET, C#, Visual Studio 2008

Brief Description: This system gathers and warehouses information from disparate data systems and third party sources to analyze trends and calculate sales incentives for a large producer of OEM and aftermarket automotive parts.

Some features:

  • Data visualization of sales, traffic and inventory patterns
  • Trend and data analysis of millions of records weekly
  • Creation of sales targets and incentive payments
  • Recognition and categorization of competitive and non-competitive sales
  • A tool to compare dealer business practices and research invoice line item data

Some challenges:

Erroneous and missing data is very common when gathering information from disparate and disjoined systems especially when collecting information from the end user. We had to build substantial automated error detection and analysis tools to be able to detect and exclude information.

Buzzwords: .NET, C#, ASP.NET, Oracle, ETL

Project: Document Management Web site
Duration: 3 months Team Size: 1 Type: Outsourced

Technical Environment: C#, ASP.NET (Visual Studio 2005), Windows 2003 Server (using Active Directory), Microsoft SQL Server 2005

Brief Description: Document management site for a civil engineering firm that tracked technical drawings, engineering equity, compliance procedures and documentation for its many sites.

Some features:

  • The ability to upload and view version-controlled documents
  • The ability to control access to sites, documents and features based on roles
  • Online compliance and sign-off procedures with workflow management
  • Recognition and categorization of competitive and non-competitive sales
  • Change notifications, including acknowledgement and escalation procedures

Some challenges:

Documents were stored off site. Client wanted to navigate documents like a file system and control access to document types and versions. The solution was to create a virtual file navigator that streams the documents from a secure location. This protects the documents since they are not directly accessible by the Website. It also controls access with a file type and folder access manager.

A notification system was created that was smart enough to nudge just the right amount to compel the appropriate person to acknowledge and handle tasks without becoming overly burdensome. This reduced the need for escalation.

Buzzwords: C#, ASP.NET, Microsoft SQL Server, Active Directory, Document Management