Web Development Technologies We Use

Our Web development team in Kenya leverages a diverse array of cutting-edge web development technologies to deliver high-quality and scalable solutions for our clients. Our expertise spans both frontend and backend development, database management, version control, content management systems, e-commerce platforms, web hosting services, and DevOps tools.

Frontend Technologies

HTML (HyperText Markup Language)

HTML is the standard markup language used for creating web pages. It structures web content with elements like headings, paragraphs, links, and images, providing the foundation for web development. At CollinsMeroka, we use HTML to ensure that all web pages are well-structured and accessible.

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)

CSS is used to style HTML elements with layout, colors, fonts, and animations. We utilize various CSS frameworks to enhance our design capabilities and ensure responsiveness across different devices. Some of the key CSS frameworks we use include:

• Bootstrap: Currently using the latest version, Bootstrap 5, for creating responsive and mobile-first designs.
• Foundation: Known for its advanced grid system and responsive design capabilities.
• Bulma: A modern CSS framework based on Flexbox for creating simple and flexible web designs.

JavaScript

JavaScript is a powerful programming language that enables us to create dynamic and interactive web content. Our team is proficient in various JavaScript libraries and frameworks, including:

• React.js: This language was developed by Facebook. React.js is used for building user interfaces, particularly single-page applications.
• Angular.js: A popular JS framework maintained by Google. Angular.js is a comprehensive framework for developing dynamic web applications.
• Vue.js: This is a progressive framework for building user interfaces and its known for its simplicity and flexibility.

Backend Technologies We Use for Web Development

Node.js

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine. It is used for building scalable and fast server-side applications. At CollinsMeroka, we use Node.js to develop high-performance web applications that can handle multiple simultaneous connections with ease. Key frameworks we utilize with Node.js include:

• Express.js: A minimal and flexible Node.js web application framework that provides robust features for building web and mobile applications.
• Koa.js: A new web framework designed by the creators of Express.js, aiming to be a smaller, more expressive, and more robust foundation for web applications and APIs.

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor)

PHP is a widely-used server-side scripting language designed for web development. It is known for its ease of use and versatility. We use PHP to develop dynamic and interactive websites. Some of the key frameworks we use include:

• Laravel: One of the most popular PHP frameworks that is known for its elegant syntax and robust features. We are currently using the latest version, Laravel 10 and 11, to build scalable and secure web applications.
• Symfony: A PHP framework for web applications and a set of reusable PHP components.
• CodeIgniter: A powerful PHP framework with a very small footprint, known for its simplicity and ease of use. However, we rarely use this framework in favor of Laravel which has stronger capabilities.

Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails is a server-side web application framework written in Ruby. It emphasizes convention over configuration (CoC) and the DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) principle. We use Ruby on Rails to develop efficient and maintainable web applications.

Python

Python is a versatile programming language that is widely used in web development. It is known for its readability and efficiency. Our team utilizes Python to build powerful web applications using frameworks such as:

• Django: A high-level Python web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design.
• Flask: A lightweight WSGI web application framework. It is designed to make getting started quick and easy, with the ability to scale up to complex applications.

Java

Java is a high-level, class-based programming language that is designed to be portable and secure. We use Java for developing large-scale enterprise applications. Some of the key frameworks we use include:

• Spring: A comprehensive framework for enterprise Java development.
• Hibernate: An object-relational mapping (ORM) tool for Java, facilitating the development of database-backed applications.

Database Management Systems

• MySQL: An open-source relational database management system used for reliable and efficient data storage and retrieval in web applications.
• PostgreSQL: An advanced open-source relational database known for robustness and standards compliance, ideal for complex queries and high concurrency.
• MongoDB: A flexible and scalable NoSQL database using JSON-like documents, suitable for fast management of large and diverse data types.
• SQLite: A lightweight, disk-based database perfect for smaller applications, development, and testing due to its simplicity and low-resource usage.

Version Control Systems

Git

Git is a distributed version control system that allows developers to track changes in source code during software development. It provides powerful features for branching, merging, and collaboration, making it a staple in modern web development. Our teams use Git to manage our codebase efficiently and ensure seamless collaboration among our development team.

Platforms for Git:

• GitHub: A web-based platform for version control and collaboration, GitHub allows us to host repositories, manage projects, and collaborate with team members seamlessly. It also provides a range of tools for code review, issue tracking, and continuous integration.
• GitLab: Similar to GitHub, GitLab offers robust version control and DevOps features, including CI/CD pipelines, project management, and container registry. We use GitLab for its comprehensive suite of tools that enhance our development workflow.
• Bitbucket: A version control repository hosting service that supports both Git and Mercurial. Bitbucket is integrated with Jira for project management and offers powerful features for continuous integration and deployment.

Content Management Systems (CMS)

WordPress

WordPress is an open-source CMS that is widely used for creating websites and blogs. It is highly customizable with a vast ecosystem of plugins and themes, allowing us to build anything from simple blogs to complex websites. At CollinsMeroka, we use WordPress to deliver flexible and user-friendly web solutions that clients can easily manage.

Joomla

Joomla is a flexible CMS platform suitable for building a variety of websites and online applications. It offers extensive customization options and is known for its ease of use and powerful features. We use Joomla to develop websites that require more complex content structures and functionalities.

Drupal

Drupal is a powerful CMS known for its flexibility and scalability, making it ideal for complex and large-scale websites. It provides a robust framework for building sophisticated web applications with extensive customization capabilities. Our team leverages Drupal to create high-performance websites that can handle large amounts of data and traffic.

E-commerce Platforms We Work With

Shopify

Shopify is a hosted e-commerce platform designed for creating and managing online stores. It provides a range of tools for inventory management, payment processing, and shipping, making it easy for businesses to set up and operate their online stores.

Here at our agency, we use Shopify to build scalable and user-friendly e-commerce solutions that can be customized to meet the unique needs of our clients.

Magento

Magento is an open-source e-commerce platform known for its rich features and flexibility. It is ideal for medium to large online stores that require extensive customization and advanced functionality. We utilize Magento to create powerful e-commerce websites that offer robust product management, SEO optimization, and seamless integrations.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that transforms a website into a fully functional e-commerce store. It is highly customizable and integrates seamlessly with WordPress, allowing businesses to leverage the extensive WordPress ecosystem. Our team uses WooCommerce to develop versatile and easy-to-manage e-commerce solutions for a wide range of businesses.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a scalable e-commerce platform that offers a wide range of built-in features for managing online stores. It is suitable for businesses of all sizes, providing tools for product management, order processing, and marketing. We use BigCommerce to create robust e-commerce websites that can handle high traffic and provide a seamless shopping experience.

Web Hosting Services

• AWS (Amazon Web Services): Scalable cloud computing services for hosting web applications, including services like EC2, S3, and Lambda.
• Google Cloud Platform: Offers cloud computing services such as App Engine, Cloud Storage, and Compute Engine for deploying and managing web applications.
• Microsoft Azure: Provides a comprehensive cloud computing platform with services like Azure App Service and Azure Functions for building and managing applications.
• Bluehost: A popular web hosting service for WordPress websites, offering shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting options.

DevOps Tools for Our Web Development

• Docker: A platform for developing, shipping, and running applications in containers, ensuring consistent environments across development and production.
• Jenkins: An open-source automation server for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD).
• Kubernetes: An open-source system for automating the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.
• Terraform: An open-source infrastructure as code software tool that allows users to define and provide data center infrastructure using a high-level configuration language.