Technologies

ASP and Microsoft
Our preferred development platform is Active Server Pages (ASP) running on a Microsoft Windows server.

ASP is a server-side scripting environment that you can use to create and run dynamic, interactive Web server applications. With ASP, you can combine HTML pages, script commands, and COM components to create interactive Web pages and powerful Web-based applications that are easy to develop and modify.

ASP is a Microsoft developed technology, hence our preference for using windows servers, however third parties have developed Active Server Page add-ins for other web servers (see www.chillisoft.com) so Linux servers can also be accommodated.

XHTML and CSS
Increasingly, we separate the semantic content of our sites from the design. We can produce tableless layout with strict XHTML compliant code that meets AA standard accessibility guidelines.

Databases
Data driven sites will usually be linked to a database by ODBC. We recommend SQL Server for large multi-user applications and Access for smaller websites but any data source can be used. In the past we have used MYSQL, Excel and XML feeds.

Hosting
We use a Windows 2000 server managed by Pipex. If you wish to have us host your site the cost is £20 per month.

Flash
"Macromedia Flash reaches over 516 million users ...98.4 percent of all Web Browsers can readily view Flash content without the delay and hassle of a download!" NPD Online, IDC.

Macromedia Flash is the largest acceptable technology for designing high impact, stimulating and animation rich websites to retain your website visitors. Flash is the industry standard for designing website introduction, corporate presentations and interactive banners.

While we feel Flash is not appropriate for all websites, when used judiciously it can have a significant impact on the user's experience. Common uses include: menus, banners and presentations.

Video
Streaming video content is fast becoming the standard for online product and service demonstrations. Using talented and award winning directors, animators and sound designers Green-square can produce and edit cinematic HD video presentations to a very high standard, then compress them for web presentation.