Why Is There Such a Demand for Full-Stack Developers?

Whereas many people are either strictly front or back end app developers, a full-stack developer is a combination of both. These resources can work with different programming languages, are typically good at project management, can create an overarching web design, and understand the user experience well. For most full-stack developers, they know the full workings of the back and front end and tend to specialize in a select few areas within them.

How People Become Full-Stack Developers

Becoming a full-stack developer is not a quick process – it often takes developers many years of experience working in different positions (switching between the front and the back end). As they work through these positions, they naturally pick up all the ins and outs and store them in their minds. Eventually, they’ve become a full-stack developer when they know everything that goes in into the front and back end, as well as how to manage themselves and interact with customers to ensure a cohesive design. They can easily communicate and create a website design while taking into account the technical aspects that will alter the project duration, limitations, and resources.

Where does the Demand for Full-Stack Developers Stem From

At one point a few years ago, full-stack developers weren’t able to completely use their skills because apps were starting to become extremely complex. They required more than one person to work on them at a time to be completed. However, with the help of app frameworks and third-party components, full-stack developers now have the time to manage the entire process instead of creating everything from scratch.

The Current Need for Full-Stack Developers

As more and more businesses turn to mobile applications to reach their customers and get better ROI, the need for full-stack developers has skyrocketed. While having a front end or back end developer is nice to have, a full-stack developer is better able to see the big picture in terms of app creation. They can find and fix errors along the way without needing to consult with multiple people along the app development chain.

Think of it this way: You have the option to hire a chef to cook for you and your family every day. Would you rather pick the chef that only knows how to cook appetizers, or would you rather hire the chef that has years of experience in all areas (full meals, desserts, breakfast, etc.)? In the same way, hiring someone with across the board knowledge of app development is more applicable and efficient.

Using Charter Global As Your Full-Stack Development Team

Here at Charter Global, we don’t just focus on one aspect of app development – we are your go-to source for all things mobile! Whether you need an e-commerce site, new interactive, or informational app for your customers, get in touch with us today to see how we can be your full-stack developers for life.

React vs. Angular – Which one to use?

When developing an app, it can be hard to figure out which framework to use. Across the board, there are many different options to choose from with varying features and benefits. The type of framework used is what allows the developer to alter the design, enhance performance, integrate outside sources, and create responsive pages.

Two of the most popular developer frameworks are React and Angular. With that being said, they each have their perks as well as disadvantages.

React

This framework is the older of the two and utilizes JavaScript as its programming language. It was created by Facebook and is often seen as an easier option to learn and use because of the ability to reuse certain elements across development. Because React uses Virtual DOM, developers are better able to make changes without altering or needing to fix other aspects of the application.

Updates are easier to manage with the isolated components that can be reused, saving a lot of time for coders. Additionally, the framework allows for a lot of flexibility in terms of development. The testing level of app development is quicker to get to when using the React framework with its ease of building.

Angular

Angular utilizes a programming language called TypeScript to make the coding process a bit more streamlined and easier to use (resulting in better quality development). Pre-built template designs are offered through Angular to enhance the overall performance and look of the app being created. Like React, it offers reusable options to make the developing process more efficient.

Angular has quite the learning curve. Because it can offer many ways to fix errors and is constantly changing and updating, Angular can be hard to learn for someone just getting into app development. If someone is well versed in the inner workings of Angular, however, they will find that using this framework can be extremely quick.

All in all, getting into app development requires a bit of practice and quite a lot of time spent researching. Depending on the needs of the app itself as well as someone’s experience working with development will largely determine what type of framework to use.

As an app development company with years of experience working with different frameworks, Charter Global can help you choose the one that will be best for your company. If you are determining whether to build an app for your website, we offer many mobile solutions to improve customer experience, efficiency, upgrade to the latest version, business performance across multiple platforms, operating systems, and industries.

How to Turn Your Website into a Mobile App

Every business has a website and every business needs a mobile app. The benefits of having a mobile app can increase customer engagement, loyalty, and visibility of your service or product. There are two ways you can turn your website into an app – through a converter platform, or by using a development company specializing in mobile apps.

Use a Converter Platform

Converter platforms are a DIY (Do It Yourself) option for somewhat tech-savvy individuals. Building your app is typically easy to use with templates and different drag and drop options to choose from. However, many converter platforms only allow you to create an app that opens your website within a mobile browser (and that is the app). This doesn’t offer any new functionality or experience for your customers, so it’s important to know what type of result you’ll get when using a converter platform.

Converter platforms can be a cost-effective option for smaller businesses hoping to see a return before hiring an app development company for more unique app options. For the most part, a converter will only be used to copy over website information with no extra functionality. However, depending on the converter platform you use, you will be able to add a blog and/or social media sharing options.

Use an App Developer company

Businesses using an app development company will see many more customized options and greater functionality within the app than if they were to use a converter platform. These types of apps can be integrated within already existing company systems, will load faster than converter platform apps, and can grow with a business.

Instead of being limited to one type of app, a development company can create an app for whichever operating system you need (whether it’s Apple, Android, Google, etc.). A mobile app development team will be able to create an easy to use app that engages your customers in a way that isn’t possible with converter platforms.

The Charter Global Process

Our app development process includes five steps:

1. Our team collaborates with you to see what type of solution you need.
2. We will create a rough draft of wireframes to your specifications.
3. We start rolling out the first round of your functional, user-centered design.
4. We work with you to test, evaluate, and optimize your new app.
5. Your app is launched on the Play Store and App store once you’re completely satisfied.

Let the Charter Global team create the perfect app for your business! Contact us today for a free quote.

Digital Transformation: Four ways to prepare for post COVID-19 pandemic

During this period of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, companies may find themselves at a crossroads. Many industry experts had predicted that 2020 will be a year of major digital transformation initiatives across industries. The question is do companies move forward with digital transformation initiatives or put them on hold?

Some experts suggest that companies continue with their digital transformation programs. Many explanations are offered, but one resonates as a strategy to not only survive the pandemic but thrive on the other side of it. If a company accelerates its business digital transformation projects now, the company will be in a better position after the pandemic ends.

Here are four ways companies and organizations can take now to prepare for the post-pandemic world.

1. Increase IT spending 

 

This suggestion may seem radical in light of current events, but it can translate to a positive outcome. According to KPBG research, 80 percent of revenue growth hinges on digital offerings and operations by 2022, IT leaders should continue transforming their operating models.

Experts believe that companies that continue to invest in their digital strategies will maintain business continuity and resiliency that will provide a platform to emerge from this pandemic more competitive. Research suggests that using solid models that incorporate the best people, processes, and technologies can help companies recover faster. Moving forward with digital transformation initiatives covers a broad spectrum in areas such as e-commerce, AI, machine learning, mobile, and public cloud adoption.

2. Strive to retain and hire IT staff

 

The skills gap was a challenge for enterprise IT departments before the pandemic. That gap will continue during and after the pandemic. Filling in those skills gaps should escalate as a high priority during the pandemic, and most likely will continue after the pandemic.

IT leaders understand the importance and value of having strong IT teams. Through years of experience, IT leaders also know that it is difficult and time-consuming to build highly-skilled and experienced IT teams. But to survive the pandemic, companies will need a knowledgeable, powerful, and resourceful IT team.

 

3. Create a plan to support work-from-home as the new normal 

 

There is no question that work-from-home has become the solution of choice so that companies can continue to operate. Shifting to work-from-home was relatively simple for companies who offered to telecommute and had already adopted a work-from-home model. For many companies, this was a new way to work and required adjustments to the IT communications infrastructure. It also required psychological adjustments for employees who never worked from home as well as remote workers.

Remote access and videoconferencing significantly increased overnight. Companies must determine if these systems are adequately provisioned or secured for long term work-from-home functionalities. Also, companies may need to plan for the distribution of mobile hotspots and other alternative ways to get home workers online.

Some other factors to consider include providing ongoing online training for remote workers. Also, IT employees may need training related to new IT infrastructure, hardware, and software applications.

4. Provide a centralized source of communication

 

The need for central communication is greater than ever during this COVID-19 pandemic. Company leaders should provide information to employees clearly, transparently, and in as timely a manner as possible. Announce decisions, and detail how these decisions were arrived at and why.

Communication is the most important element of leadership. During and after the crisis, a return to successful operations will require leadership.

After the pandemic, a company’s success and growth will depend, in many ways, on what leaders do during the pandemic. Leaders should think long-term and guide their organizations through the pandemic and into a successful future.

When the pandemic ends, there will be a new digital normal. The digital strategies that are implemented during this pandemic will help companies navigate with digital transformation.

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What can machine learning do for your business right now?

Machine learning is a way for businesses to use artificial intelligence (AI) in their processes and systems to constantly improve and learn without any extra programming. As a business leader, you are always looking for the newest thing to take your business to the next level and right now, that is AI.

With that being said, a lot of people are afraid to make the jump to utilize machine learning because they believe that the cost isn’t worth the benefit. For some businesses that already know exactly what they need and utilize data analysts, that may be true. However, AI can help many businesses:

1. Draw more efficient conclusions

AI can analyze your data in large sets at a time to cut down on waste while predicting customer behavior and discovering hidden patterns. Machine learning can take an otherwise complex assignment and turn it into an easy task.

2. Gain more happy customers

Having great customer service is key to retaining customers. Machine learning services can be integrated into your website to help your customers get their questions answered faster and easier without your employees at their every beck and call.

3. Save employees’ time

You want your employees working on the things they need to be working on not wasting time passing customers back and forth on the phone. With AI, your phone system can have a system that predict what your customer needs based on their buying methods which means employees can focus their time and efforts on selling/supporting your service or product.

4. Make new hires transition smoothly in their new roles

Working a new job is not easy, especially when the training and resources are outdated. Machine learning can help organize and recommend the correct resources your new employee will need to succeed all based off of your past data. Because it’s continuously learning, the system can adapt to what your new hire uses the most to help them reach their goals in no time.

As more and more machine learning applications are being introduced into our everyday lives, it’s only natural that they become engrained in our businesses and workforces. AI can save us time and money while enhancing our customer service, data predictions, and overall efficiency.

Whether you need a small integrative system or a large, complex machine learning program, Charter Global can help you determine what AI is best for your business. To better predict future events or smartly monitor over business systems, machine learning just might be valuable solution you need.

COBOL Makes a Comeback

Imagine working on a technology that runs on an old mainframe computer. Imagine using a 60-year-old programming language, COBOL which stands for Common Business Oriented Language. This computer programming language was developed back in 1959, according to the National Museum of American History. Imagine in 2020 using a programming language that was used to create a very significant percentage of business systems during the1960s, the 1970s, and even into the 1980s.

This is not a movie scene flashing back to an era dominated by mainframes, printers with perforated computer paper, and vintage computer monitors with an occasional IBM electric typewriter. It is the reality facing programmers and state unemployment employees who are implementing The CARES Act which was signed into federal law on March 27, 2020, and will expand unemployment Insurance benefits. It is designed to provide financial relief for workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Implementation of this unemployment program will be performed by individual states.

Challenges facing state unemployment offices

States are incorporating new changes based on The CARES Act into their resource guides. Detailed and instructional information about the pandemic unemployment benefit extensions is still in the process of being released. States must follow guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor to implement The CARES Act.

Most states are trying to implement CARES as quickly as possible, but they are struggling to process the large volume of unemployment claims. More than half of the states in the US, including California, New York, and Pennsylvania, continue to run the decades-old programming language on mainframe systems—including critical unemployment claims systems. Therefore, processing and unemployment claims may take as long as two weeks because of the difficulty of using COBOL. In addition, many developers in today’s technical environment have never used COBOL. This is slowing the government’s effort to get billions of dollars in stimulus checks to millions of newly unemployed citizens.

COBOL programmer’s s are hard to find

Five decades ago, programmer’s s who knew how to use COBOL were in high demand. Fast forward to today’s laptop, tablet, cloud computing, and servers’ technologies and it is a drastically different technical environment. In fact, COBOL programs are generally much older than the average age of current programmers. Another factor that has contributed to the scarcity of COBOL programmers is that many American universities have not included COBOL in their computer science programs since the 1980s.

As a result, businesses have moved away from using the difficult-to-learn aging language, and have incorporated other current and technically relevant software programs.

Less popular, but COBOL is used in certain environments

The number of COBOL programmers has dwindled, but the technology is still in use. According to a 2017 report by Reuters found that there are still 220 billion lines of COBOL in use today. Forty-three percent of banking systems are built on COBOL and 95 percent of ATM swipes rely on COBOL code. COBOL is still used by the federal government, including the federal government, and agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Justice and Social Security Administration, according to a 2016 report by the Government Accountability Office.  The CARES Act was created to help Americans affected by the coronavirus. The economic impact has been drastic. Leaders realize the importance of moving the CARES Act, thus requiring the skills of COBOL programmers. This talent shortage has led to the need for COBOL programmers.

If you’re an expert in COBOL, you are suddenly in high demand because the 60-year-old computer language still powers some government office technology.

Charter Global’s Capabilities in Legacy Technologies

Charter Global is known for its expertise in providing top talent for legacy technologies. We have successfully developed and provided thousands of IT talent to our clients. Among the many services we render at Charter Global, we develop applications and tools using mainframe systems.

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How to use Karate while Microservices Testing

Choosing the best microservices testing framework for dealing with complex HTTP requests can be challenging at times. But with an open source tool such as Karate, you can get this done fast without breaking a sweat. Developed in 2017, Karate produces faster results and also enables teams to get feedback from the API in a matter of minutes. This ensures improved scalability because quicker feedback lets teams deploy faster.

A Gherkin-based API testing tool is ideal for quick prototyping and simpler testing to any depth of testing you want. Karate features a simple quick start mode, integrated dashboards, and other user-friendly designs that are gaining attention from the testing and developers community.

Why Use Karate for Microservices Testing?

1. Karate has a simple and intuitive DSL (Domain-Specific Language) format that allows developers to write tests with a minimum amount of effort. Karate also allows reusing test scenarios.

2. Karate enables parallelizable testing when you have to run multiple tests and as a result you can save time and reduce the CI/CD duration cycles. Hence, Karate relieves you from redundancy activities since test scenarios are independent of one another and thus running tests in parallel can readily be done with a lot of uniqueness and creativity.

3. Nowadays, JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is the most used format for parsing data across rest APIs, and in most cases, tests are written in most programming languages. For instance, JAVA requires a POJO (Plain Old Java Object) to convert such a test to JSON-based APIs using a serializer. Karate on the other hand offers diverse ways to create and declare JSON as-is and in the same way as it was sent from the calling side. This practice minimizes error and ensures optimal readability.