How We Build Your Web Site

Antares Development has implmented structured processes to help us develop, deploy, and maintain web sites. This process ensures that a quality web site is built, that you are totally satisifed with the results, and that all work is done as agreed to.

1. The Initial Consultation

The purpose of the intial consultation is to answer your questions and gather information about the web site you are interested in building. We will provide you with enough information to make a decision about completing a written web site estimate.

The initial consultation is completely free and without any obligation.

2. Prepare Estimate

Upon completion of the initial consultation, if your organization decides to procede with an estimate, Antares Development will spend time to develop a detailed estimate of web site construction costs. The information gathering process may involve additional meetings, phone consultations, and e-mail messages.

Antares Development charges for estimate prepartion based on the complexity of the project. These charges are billed when the estimate preparation process begins. If a development contract is signed, the estimate preparation charges will be applied to the first invoice for the project. If your organization decides not to work with us, you will still receive a valuable set of specifications.

3. Contract Signing

Antares Development prepares a standard contract that details the work to be done and agreed upon terms. When the contract is signed, 1/3 of the estimated construction cost, less estimate fees, is due.

4. Gather Content

At this point in the project, text and graphical content (pictures, logos, multimedia) must be gathered. We will assist you and your organization with this process, but it is very important to realize that a web site construction project also requires work on the client's part.

5. Dynamic Application Design and Site Structure

While your organization is gathering content, Antares Development will finalize detailed plans for the site structure (how the site is laid out and how navigation will work) as well as for any dynamic content (database) applications.

6. Visual Design of Page Layouts

Page layout and visual deisgn now begins. Based on information provided during the information gather phase of the project, a draft layout of the site's main page is produced and uploaded to a private location on the Internet where the client may review the design. Feedback is solicited and this feedback is used to produce a second draft of the web site. Once more, client feedback will be solicited and this feedback will produce a second round of changes which should result in a final draft of the page layout.

This same process is used for any other page designs required by the web site construction project.

The project at this point in time is assumed to be half complete. Antares Development will invoice your organization for a second 1/3 payment based on the estimate.

7. Building of Dynamic Applications and Configure Databases

Any dynamic application code is now written. Databases as specified by the project are built and deployed. Application code is heavily tested.

8. Page Coding

The page drafts that were approved in step 6 of this process are now used as templates for text and graphical content. Pages are adjusted to achieve a perfect layout and dynamic application code is added if needed.

9. User Acceptance Testing

Your organization's web site will be loaded to a live private location on the Internet. You will be able to review the web site for corrections and minor changes. Antares Development will also be conducting testing on various platforms, with various browsers, and at different screen resolutions.

10. 3...2...1...LIFTOFF!

Site launch time! Your organization's web site is complete and loaded live to the Internet. Payment balance on the development project is due and payable when your site is loaded to the Internet.

11. What Next?

Web sites are not static creations that an organization can place on the Internet and then totally ignore. Our hosting plans provide for a level of on-going maintenance on a monthly basis. Minor changes, seasonal styling if desired, and similar changes will be performed. See our hosting plans for full details.

12. The Future

As technology changes, so must the Internet. In 1999 when Antares Development developed its first web site, sites were deliberate kept small in size due to most users connecting to the Internet via dial-up telephone. Today, a vast number of users connect via high-speed services. Plus the emergence of new technologies (Cascading Style Sheets, for example) has changed how web sites are built. You will need to pay careful attention to technology in the online environment and be prepared to re-build or re-design your existing web site as new technology emerges.