Our software development process from concept to working solutions
Development phase
Your project manager assembles a development team matched to your technical requirements, timeline, and scope. Team composition varies by project complexity—from focused specialists for template-based implementations to full-stack teams for custom-built systems.
Web projects: template-based vs custom builds
Template-based websites follow the selected theme’s structure with targeted modifications recommended by our design team. Development focuses on integrating your business logic into the existing framework while maintaining performance and compatibility.
Custom-built websites and web applications start with mockups created from scratch by 1902 Software’s design team. Every interface element, workflow, and interaction pattern is designed specifically for your requirements. If you have an internal design team, we can develop from your specifications.
For mobile apps, we always create mockups from scratch unless you provide approved designs from your creative department. You can learn more about our design process here.
Core development activities
During this phase, our team:
Programs your system's primary functions
Integrates third-party services through APIs, modules, or plugins
Installs and configures required dependencies
Tests major functionality incrementally to catch issues early
Project visibility and communication
Your project manager monitors development progress through daily standup meetings with the team. You receive updates through:
Weekly status meetings with your dedicated project manager
Access to our online project management system
Regular progress reports
Why we don’t provide access during active development: Based on decades of experience, early access to incomplete systems creates more problems than it solves. Users report errors in features still under development, and answering questions about unfinished work interrupts developers mid-task. We grant access once development reaches testable completion.
Initial functionality testing happens continuously as we build to ensure errors don’t cascade into later phases.
Testing and quality assurance
Once development completes, your system moves to our QA department for comprehensive testing.
Web project testing (ecommerce, website, custom web apps)
Our QA team evaluates your web application on the staging server for:
Functionality verification
Every feature, form, workflow, and integration point is tested against specifications
UI/UX compliance
Visual design matches approved mockups or selected templates precisely
Cross-browser compatibility
Testing across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge to ensure consistent behavior
Responsive design validation
Layout, navigation, and functionality work correctly across desktop, tablet, and mobile screen sizes
Mobile app testing
App projects undergo testing, by default, on the three most recent iOS and/or Android versions at the time of testing. Depending on your project, we can identify more or less versions to test for. Mobile testing presents unique challenges:
Diverse device models and screen sizes
Network connectivity variations (WiFi, cellular, offline scenarios)
Built-in phone features (camera, GPS, push notifications, biometric authentication)
Platform-specific behaviors and permissions
Our QA process accounts for these variables before submission to app stores.
Conversion and user experience focus
Testing doesn’t just verify that features work—we evaluate whether workflows make sense, whether users can accomplish their goals efficiently, and whether the interface guides them toward desired actions. We proactively suggest UX improvements when testing reveals friction points.
Automated testing for frequent updates
Systems that change regularly—particularly ecommerce platforms with constant product updates and seasonal modifications—benefit from automated testing environments.
Automated tests run every time code changes, catching regressions immediately without manual testing cycles. This approach:
Reduces testing time by 60-80% for routine updates
Lowers ongoing maintenance costs significantly
Provides instant feedback on code changes
Currently available for websites and webshops (not mobile apps)
We recommend automated testing when update frequency justifies the initial setup investment.
Deployment and launch
Web projects: from staging to production
Hosting selection — You choose your hosting provider—we provide recommendations based on your technical requirements, traffic expectations, and budget. Together we determine which hosting plan delivers the performance your application needs.
Server configuration — Our technical project managers install your website or web application on your chosen server, configure necessary settings, and verify the environment matches your specifications.
Technical SEO, AEO, and GEO preparation — Before launch, we conduct a technical SEO, AEO, and GEO review to ensure that your site is ready for search engines, answer engines, and AI systems. This covers:
- Proper crawlability and indexability settings
- Correct robots.txt and XML sitemap configuration
- Semantic HTML, meta tags, and structured data implementation
- Structured data that matches the visible page, with no conflicts such as availability or pricing that disagree with what the page shows
- Page speed optimization
- Mobile-friendliness validation
- HTTPS configuration
The same structured-data work that helps search engines also helps engines and AI systems read and represent your content correctly, which is what AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) describe.
In addition to technical work, we also suggest that you optimize your content and follow best practices when you do so. For example, you might want to do a keyword analysis and then optimize page titles, page descriptions, and texts, or you may want to start doing link building (after you have gone live).
Content finalization on staging — We provide access to your system on the staging server where you can update content, meta tags, product information, and imagery. When you confirm everything is ready, we coordinate the switch to production.
Live verification — Our QA team tests the live version immediately after launch to confirm everything transferred correctly from staging to production without environment-specific issues.
Mobile app deployment
App store submission
For mobile applications, we submit the completed app to Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or alternative distribution platforms based on your requirements.
Approval and publication
Once Apple or Google approves your app (approval timelines vary by platform), we coordinate the public release according to your launch schedule.
Post-publication testing
Our QA team downloads and tests your app directly from the app store—verifying installation, first-run experience, and core functionality in the production environment.
Project completion and handover
At this stage, the project reaches completion. We deliver:
All source code files
Design assets and graphic materials
Handover documentation (optional maintenance guide for custom projects)
Any additional technical documentation discussed during the project
Post-launch support
Handover documentation — For bespoke applications and custom-built systems, we may provide comprehensive documentation covering system maintenance, administration, and common tasks. When working with established platforms like Magento, WordPress, or Umbraco, we document only the custom work we’ve built—the platforms themselves already have thorough official documentation that covers core functionality.
Ongoing availability — Your original project manager and development team remain available to:
- Troubleshoot issues as they arise
- Implement modifications or new features
- Provide technical guidance for system expansion
- Support scaling and performance optimization
Our ad hoc support structure ensures continuity—the team that built your system remains your go-to resource for changes, enhancements, and troubleshooting.
Why our process works
This structured approach to custom software development emerged from delivering thousands of projects since 1998. We’ve refined each phase based on what actually works:
Phased development with continuous testing catches problems early before they become expensive
Dedicated QA before launch ensures quality rather than hoping users won't find bugs
Technical SEO, AEO, and GEO before deployment means your site launches ready for search engines, answer engines, and AI systems
Team continuity from build through support eliminates knowledge transfer gaps
Whether you’re building a new web application, modernizing a legacy system, or launching a mobile app—this is how we ensure successful delivery.
Ready to discuss your project?
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Commonly asked questions
Why don't you provide access to the project during active development?
Based on decades of experience, early access to incomplete systems creates more problems than it solves. Users report errors in features still under development, and answering questions about unfinished work interrupts developers mid-task. We grant access once development reaches testable completion on the staging server—where you can review, update content, and provide feedback before launch.
How long does each phase of the development process typically take?
Timeline depends on project complexity and scope. Template-based websites, for example, move faster than custom-built systems because they follow existing structures. Custom web applications and mobile apps require design, development, testing, and deployment phases—each taking days to weeks depending on feature count and integration requirements. Your project manager provides a detailed timeline during planning before development begins.
What happens after the project launches—do you provide ongoing support?
Yes. Your original project manager and development team remain available for troubleshooting, modifications, new features, and technical guidance. The team that built your system stays your go-to resource—no knowledge transfer to different teams or explaining requirements repeatedly.
What documentation do you provide at project completion?
You receive all source code files, design assets, and optionally for complex systems, handover documentation covering system maintenance and administration.
Do you handle hosting, technical SEO, AEO, and GEO, or do we need to arrange that separately?
You choose your hosting provider based on our recommendations for your technical requirements and budget then we handle server configuration and installation. Before launch, we conduct a technical SEO review covering crawlability, semantic HTML, meta tags, structured data, page speed, mobile-friendliness, and HTTPS configuration. The structured-data work also supports AEO and GEO, helping answer engines and AI systems read your content correctly. Content optimization, such as keyword analysis, page titles, and link building, falls outside of our service scope and happens separately after you’re live.
Book a consultation to explore how AI and 1902 Software can transform your next ecommerce project — faster, smarter, and more cost-efficient.