ThoughtPatterns
ThoughtPatterns is a small company based in Canberra, Australia, dedicated to the art of fine software engineering.
We are interested in, and have expertise in
- enterprise software development
- architecture and technical consulting
- open source expertise and support
- software framework development
- configuration management
- fixed price system development
Our philosophy and approach has already delivered substantial benefits to our clients. Using a mixture of time proven design patterns, contemporary architecture and leading-edge tools, a large system was developed for approximately one-tenth of the cost of comparable systems in Australia. Other examples of work we have done recently are listed below.
Our philosophy
Many software companies are encumbered by their size, high management overheads and a unempowered workforce. All too frequently the company itself contributes nothing to the success of a software project - it's all about the individuals that happen to be involved in the team.
ThoughtPatterns believes that excellence in software engineering comes from the ground up. That's why we strive to attract the best technical people we can, and keep an optimal managerial/technical ratio.
We also believe that people work best when they are enjoying what they are doing. Computer programming is unique amongst the arts because the programmer works with an infinitely malleable material - pure "thought patterns", if you will. We encourage our technical staff to look for ways to improve their practice. Each project is a catalyst for reflection and improvement of our software engineering techniques for the next job.
In the 25th anniversary edition of "The Mythical Man Month", Brooks suggests that reuse will be the key to improving the productivity of the software engineering industry in the future. We agree. We also think that reuse can take many different forms - reuse of software, of patterns and frameworks, of process, of experience.
Experience
We have experience in many areas of software engineering and programming practice. Our principals have been designing and implementing systems for decades. This breadth of experience across disciplines means that our people have broader horizons for solution design and less chance of repeating mistakes.
ThoughtPatterns people have been delivering web-based applications for more than fourteen years, and developed their first service-enabled application in 2001. This length and depth of experience gives them a unique understanding of the "do's and don'ts" of these styles of applications, from a user-experience perspective, down to the technology itself.
The following are areas in which we have particularly strong skills.- System and Software Architecture including Service Oriented Architecture
- Systems Integration
- Java/Java EE
- Unix/Linux administration
- Use of open source products and tools
- Rich web application development
Our people bring deep and diverse IT backgrounds to current technologies, architectures and approaches. Over the years our people have also undertaken
- Use of learning algorithms and Predicitive Analytics
- IBM Mainframe programming
- Programming of assembly line and manufacturing systems
- CORBA application development
- Embedded software development
- Scientific/mathematical programming
Recent projects
Central de Reservas
Central de Reservas is a prominent hotel booking website operating from Spain and handling hotel reservations worldwide. ThoughtPatterns is responsible for the design, implementation and ongoing maintenance of the hotel booking engine. ThoughtPatterns implemented the system when Central de Reservas was commencing business and hence needed a modest system. The business has been a great success, growing exponentially, and the booking system has successfully scaled with it.This project required use of machine learning techniques to efficiently merge and maintain unformatted data from a disparate range of backend data sources.
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
ThoughtPatterns have undertaken a number of projects at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. We have:
- Designed and lead the implementation of a predictive analytics system using R and Java that was integrated into a Service Oriented Architecture for realtime risk scoring.
- Designed the architecture for a network (social) analytics system that is integrated into a Service Oriented Architecture.
- Developed a new Java Application Framework, which was credited by the department's management as having produced a substantial improvement in developer productivity.
- Designed and lead the implementation of a central identity repository that integrated eight other systems and incorporated facial images in readiness for the use of a biometric matching engine.
- Filled the role of Principal Services Architect as the department embraced a Service Oriented Architecture.
rego.act - ACT Road User Services
ThoughtPatterns filled the roles of Solution Architect and Technical Lead on this multi-million dollar project. In addition to other functions, this system is responsible for processing all driver licences, vehicle registrations and infringements for the ACT. The application framework was instrumental in the success of the project. The cost of the ACT system was in the order of one-tenth of some other Australian states which has followed through into maintainence as well. The system processes almost $1M per day and integrates with eighteen other systems.
Green Vehicles - ACT Road User Services
ThoughtPatterns undertook fixed-price application development work for the Green Vehicles project. This project introduced differential stamp duty for new cars registered in the ACT, based on their Green Vehicle Rating. The functionality was integrated into the existing motor vehicle registration system smoothly and on time.
Australian Karting Association
ThoughtPatterns has been working with the Australian Karting Association for many years designing and delivering a licensing administration system and integrated race management system. The licensing system has replaced a paper-based system with a fully electronic one, saving significant time and effort. The systems are used by 6000 members and run at 100 tracks around the country. A sophisticated synchronisation mechanism allows functionality to run at race tracks without an Internet connection. Race results and licence requests are synchronised with the central database when connectivity is available.
Speedway Australia
ThoughtPatterns have implemented an online licensing system for Speedway Australia including backend integration with a payment gateway. The system has significantly reduced the time taken to process a licence and staff costs.
Testimonials
From our work with the Australian Karting Association
"It has been a very enjoyable journey, made so by the principals of the company Mr. Scott Daley, and his accomplice Mr. James Gifford. Both these gentlemen are extremely capable, very professional, and a delight to work with.
At all times they make all our people feel very comfortable, and they have a unique ability to understand the limitations of others and to painlessly extract the necessary information from them that they need to make the required project succeed. Our licence system section is now complete... The painless introduction of the completed system is a tribute to the personal attention and dedication of the ThoughtPatterns team.
We are aware of some absolute Disasters of other sporting bodies in attempting the task we required, however with all sincerity I am now delighted to see that the rollout of our system is totally acceptable to all that need to use it, and I believe this would not have happened without the dedication and knowledge of the ThoughtPatterns team."
Max Laybutt, Treasurer, Australian Karting Association Inc.
From our work with the ACT Government
"The work [for Green Vehicles] was commenced in January 2008 and successfully delivered on time and on budget...The outsourcing arrangement for urgent software development has proven to be cost effective. Should the need arise in the future, I would engage ThoughtPatterns again..."
Brett Swale, Manager, Road User Services, Department of Territory and Municipal Services
From our work with the Campbell After School Activity Centre
"Thank you very much with your assistance to enhance the Campbell After School Activity Centre's budgeting system. The changes are user-friendly and have strengthened our capacity to track revenue and expenditure, and undertake projections."
Rachael Spalding, CASAC Treasurer
