Building a piece of downloadable software
Discussion
Thinking of having built a simple bit of software that a user downloads onto their desktop and when opened it sits like a toolbar at the top of the screen (or wherever the user places it) and simply contains a series of buttons which open web based applications within size and position defineable windows.
Some of these applications will require login details to be stored in the toolbar to allow automated login once opened. The applications will also be a collection of inhouse and 3rd party systems.
Now, the big question is: Can anyone point me towards a reputable company, with proven experience, who could build this?
Some of these applications will require login details to be stored in the toolbar to allow automated login once opened. The applications will also be a collection of inhouse and 3rd party systems.
Now, the big question is: Can anyone point me towards a reputable company, with proven experience, who could build this?
You should be able to do this with a Windows Theme maker.
The buttons you need could easily be shortcuts installed into the taskbar.
I have done this for a client a while back, I may need a refresher on it, but it's doablefor sure that way.
Edit: I remember another cool thing I did for them was make a web page their desktop, all the buttons you need on your desktop.
The buttons you need could easily be shortcuts installed into the taskbar.
I have done this for a client a while back, I may need a refresher on it, but it's doablefor sure that way.
Edit: I remember another cool thing I did for them was make a web page their desktop, all the buttons you need on your desktop.
Edited by tossbag on Monday 30th August 14:15
DieselGriff said:
Apart from the fact that it sits on your desk top what advantage would this give over say FF with various add-ons installed?
Well, I made it for shop, they wanted their desktop to have four buttons, each linking to a program they used everyday (invoice, price list etc) without having the hassle of windows, can also be branded up to look good in a store environment for instance, and of course, touch screen stuff can use it too.Edited by tossbag on Monday 30th August 14:17
jardinec said:
can't build it for you, but it sounds like a VB (visual basic) job too me - might help your searching. Possibly Adobe Air if its to be cross platform.
Also - it does sound like a strange thing to have built...
Think of it as a control panel for a series of trading tools, some of which we own others will be 3rd party. The 'toolbar' is to tie them all together as a package.Also - it does sound like a strange thing to have built...
DonkeyApple said:
jardinec said:
can't build it for you, but it sounds like a VB (visual basic) job too me - might help your searching. Possibly Adobe Air if its to be cross platform.
Also - it does sound like a strange thing to have built...
Think of it as a control panel for a series of trading tools, some of which we own others will be 3rd party. The 'toolbar' is to tie them all together as a package.Also - it does sound like a strange thing to have built...
The other way I did it was to use a theme maker to make about 20 changes to windows then wrap it all up into an exe file.
You don't need a programmer really to achieve what you want.
DonkeyApple said:
Thinking of having built a simple bit of software that a user downloads onto their desktop and when opened it sits like a toolbar at the top of the screen (or wherever the user places it) and simply contains a series of buttons which open web based applications within size and position defineable windows.
Some of these applications will require login details to be stored in the toolbar to allow automated login once opened. The applications will also be a collection of inhouse and 3rd party systems.
Now, the big question is: Can anyone point me towards a reputable company, with proven experience, who could build this?
Its a pretty simple thing to do. There is a Windows API for doing exactly this in XP and later.Some of these applications will require login details to be stored in the toolbar to allow automated login once opened. The applications will also be a collection of inhouse and 3rd party systems.
Now, the big question is: Can anyone point me towards a reputable company, with proven experience, who could build this?
Is there any reason for wanting to go down the bespoke application route rather than simply use desktop/start menu shortcuts?
The desktop has to be downloadable and customisable by clients, must contain a login safe to auto login in to the 3rd party applications.
It must also be secure and robust to operate for between 5,000-10,000 users.
Plus, a user must be able to customise it from their side and even progam blanks and each time a user opens it must download any new functions we have installed.
We will also need it in the 5 main languages.
Security and user friendly are the two key words.
This is a simple task but will be ongoing and we need to contract to a firm to deliver this, hopefully someone does know of a good sized reputable firm that could deliver?
It must also be secure and robust to operate for between 5,000-10,000 users.
Plus, a user must be able to customise it from their side and even progam blanks and each time a user opens it must download any new functions we have installed.
We will also need it in the 5 main languages.
Security and user friendly are the two key words.
This is a simple task but will be ongoing and we need to contract to a firm to deliver this, hopefully someone does know of a good sized reputable firm that could deliver?
DonkeyApple said:
The desktop has to be downloadable and customisable by clients, must contain a login safe to auto login in to the 3rd party applications.
It must also be secure and robust to operate for between 5,000-10,000 users.
Plus, a user must be able to customise it from their side and even progam blanks and each time a user opens it must download any new functions we have installed.
We will also need it in the 5 main languages.
Security and user friendly are the two key words.
This is a simple task but will be ongoing and we need to contract to a firm to deliver this, hopefully someone does know of a good sized reputable firm that could deliver?
Edit: I have dealt with ever expanding briefs before.It must also be secure and robust to operate for between 5,000-10,000 users.
Plus, a user must be able to customise it from their side and even progam blanks and each time a user opens it must download any new functions we have installed.
We will also need it in the 5 main languages.
Security and user friendly are the two key words.
This is a simple task but will be ongoing and we need to contract to a firm to deliver this, hopefully someone does know of a good sized reputable firm that could deliver?
I'm ooot.
Edited by tossbag on Monday 30th August 14:55
tossbag said:
DonkeyApple said:
The desktop has to be downloadable and customisable by clients, must contain a login safe to auto login in to the 3rd party applications.
It must also be secure and robust to operate for between 5,000-10,000 users.
Plus, a user must be able to customise it from their side and even progam blanks and each time a user opens it must download any new functions we have installed.
We will also need it in the 5 main languages.
Security and user friendly are the two key words.
This is a simple task but will be ongoing and we need to contract to a firm to deliver this, hopefully someone does know of a good sized reputable firm that could deliver?
Edit: I have dealt with ever expanding briefs before.It must also be secure and robust to operate for between 5,000-10,000 users.
Plus, a user must be able to customise it from their side and even progam blanks and each time a user opens it must download any new functions we have installed.
We will also need it in the 5 main languages.
Security and user friendly are the two key words.
This is a simple task but will be ongoing and we need to contract to a firm to deliver this, hopefully someone does know of a good sized reputable firm that could deliver?
I'm ooot.
Edited by tossbag on Monday 30th August 14:55
tossbag said:
That was just me missing the point a bit, what you need is easily doable.
Don't want to sound like a t
t but it's small fry for the programmers I have, but good luck with it all.
Don't want to sound like a t
t but it's small fry for the programmers I have, but good luck with it all.I know that it is a small and esy project, the issue is that it must be legally very robust and needs to be build by a firm with foundations for it to meet our client requirements.
It's the heads up on a good company with a reputation for delivering financial solutions that I would greatly appreciate.
Can I be the one to point out the obvious flaw in this plan?
What you have fundamentally specified is a system to circumvent the security of whatever system you hook it up to.
Basically you will have a toolbar that will have say 10 links to secure websites. When you click this button you get access to these sites wihthout entering a username or password.
What If I have this installed on my computer and leave for an important meeting for which I'm late (or any one of a hundred different reasons), and forget to logout or lock the machine. Anyone now has free reign over any system linked to this toolbar.
Even if you need a password to login to the toolbar, it would not solve this problem.
Your basic problem is this requirement : "Security and user friendly are the two key words" [sic]
Security and convenience are pretty much polar oppposites. Any system you make more convenient, you will make less secure, whilst any system you make more secure you will make less convenient.
In my opinion, you need to think very hard about what you are proposing.
What you have fundamentally specified is a system to circumvent the security of whatever system you hook it up to.
Basically you will have a toolbar that will have say 10 links to secure websites. When you click this button you get access to these sites wihthout entering a username or password.
What If I have this installed on my computer and leave for an important meeting for which I'm late (or any one of a hundred different reasons), and forget to logout or lock the machine. Anyone now has free reign over any system linked to this toolbar.
Even if you need a password to login to the toolbar, it would not solve this problem.
Your basic problem is this requirement : "Security and user friendly are the two key words" [sic]
Security and convenience are pretty much polar oppposites. Any system you make more convenient, you will make less secure, whilst any system you make more secure you will make less convenient.
In my opinion, you need to think very hard about what you are proposing.
The Excession said:
As above...
There is a whole lot more thinking that needs to go into this one.
Precisely!!!!!DonkeyApple said:
small and easy project... legally very robust
Does not compute....There is a whole lot more thinking that needs to go into this one.
The question was whether anyone knew of a suitable software developing firm.
The first stage will be sitting down with those professionals and speccing out what can and can't be done.
This wasn't about seeking approval, just assistance in locating a reputable and large enough firm to design and execute the brief.
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