A Practical Look at Accelerated Product Development

This piece is devoted to explaining how the Impressit team brings burning clients' ideas to life without sacrificing quality. Accelerated product development, or APD, is our internal approach to swift and effective product creation. But it stretches beyond merely being a technical solution; it offers an integrated framework for delivering high-quality outcomes at speed. 

Let us explain.

Impressit's APD Ideation

The APD framework emerged from a comprehensive audit of our clients' most common requests and most pressing needs. The primary one is going public with their solution asap. Another recurring thread is a sought-after holistic system that could adapt to evolving requirements while ensuring high-quality outcomes.

The analyses of our past projects made us realize that we can deliver that. A simple yet powerful idea emerged: offering fully developed, tested, and production-ready services as standalone code solutions. To align with the needs of startups, we moved towards an integrated architecture, combining these services into a foundation-based monolith. While the monolith housed all functionalities within a single server application, it retained the modularity needed for adaptability. 

Using DDD principles, parts of this monolith could be extracted into separate microservices, enabling scalability and flexibility while maintaining a microservice-ready architecture. This foundation allowed for further innovation. New features and services could be added more efficiently than building from scratch. We had developed numerous detailed components across modules, so to preserve their value, we consolidated them. The resulting solution offers startups a flexible yet comprehensive backend system catering to a wide array of application needs.

Note: the pre-built modules are tightly integrated, offering flexibility without necessitating microservice architecture upfront. However, they're designed as microservice-ready, meaning modules can operate independently if scaling is required. For instance, if a user management module becomes the most heavily loaded, it can be seamlessly deployed as a standalone microservice to handle demands, enabling elastic scalability for hundreds of thousands of simultaneous users.
 

APD's Value for Startups 

When discussing startups and product development, a key concept that frequently emerges is the Minimum Viable Product (MVP). For startups, an MVP isn't just a stripped-down version of their final product; it's a focused, cost-effective way to validate an idea with minimal resources. However, how MVPs are developed and perceived has changed drastically over the last few years. Investors today are cautious, prioritizing products with tangible proof of value before pouring their funds. This change has given rise to a demand for more efficient and cost-conscious MVPs.

The framework facilitates the creation of MVPs tailored to startup needs, offering lean, efficient development tailored for early-stage entrepreneurs. By understanding the critical pain points—limited budgets, a need for speed, and demonstrating tangible results—APD optimizes development processes to create products that genuinely enable startups to test ideas and attract interest.

Furthermore, many startups lack the luxury of time and resources to build systems from scratch. APD simplifies the technical challenges by offering a plug-and-play approach. With APD, startups can significantly cut development timelines, reduce costs, and deliver high-performance applications capable of immediate scalability—all while maintaining the agility to evolve alongside their business needs. For instance, with prebuilt modules, a working back-end can be set up in just five days, significantly cutting development time.

APD Foundation

So, the foundation of APD lies in reusable, pre-built modules. These are self-sufficient building blocks that address frequent development needs. For instance, our user management systems module is designed to provide seamless, secure access, allowing for the robust account creation, authorization, and personalized system settings. Meanwhile, our notification systems come with versatile options for push notifications, in-app alerts, and multi-channel communications that ensure clients can choose to implement whatever they see fit.

Since security seems to be an ever-scaling issue, we've put in a lot of effort to ensure our APD framework is stuffed with a comprehensive suite of security features. We offer sophisticated infrastructure to manage API tokens, action tokens, and other critical security measures, safeguarding organizational assets against potential threats.

Efficient infrastructure management is key. We ensure that our systems are scalable and easily deployable. The goal is to meet client demands with agility and precision. A flexible design is instrumental in adapting to market dynamics and, more importantly, in seizing the opportunities appearing and aging rapidly.

APD Components

Our APD framework embodies a series of principles and methodologies developed internally. It integrates general Agile development processes and tailored advancements in setting up infrastructure. Our technological stack is built on AWS, supported by scripts that facilitate fast and straightforward infrastructure deployment through GitLab CI. We also have a suite of modules written in our standard stack—Node.js—that can be implemented efficiently.

We utilize diverse programming approaches and architectural solutions, in part, technical concepts of Domain-Driven Design (DDD). This methodology enables clear coding practices by categorizing code into specific domains or areas of responsibility. The result is a solution that is almost microservice-ready. If the product scales significantly and requires additional logic (such as independent microservices), our solution enables seamless enhancements. Applying DDD in a simplified form allows us to streamline development rather than complicate it.

Additionally, we follow the onion architecture pattern, allowing us to organize our code into four distinct layers:

1. Domain Layer is the core of the system, containing entity definitions, necessary logic, and various domain-specific components of the product.
2. Infrastructure Layer implements essential logic, including database operations, database architecture, and service implementations.
3. Application Layer is responsible for the CQRS (Command Query Responsibility Segregation) approach. This layer separates the logic of read and write operations. Commands handle modifications within the system, while queries respond to data retrieval requests. The Application Layer implements these commands and queries, interacting with databases and repositories from the Infrastructure Layer.
4. UI Layer: serves as the entry point to the system. It contains controllers that execute commands or queries, functioning as the framework for the API.

By combining these principles and practices, our development process ensures efficiency, clarity, scalability, and adaptability.

The APD Framework in Practice

When clients approach us with a specific app idea, it's almost always about making it asap. Our process is designed to deliver a functional backend within, sometimes, just one week. During this period, we collect the necessary requirements, adapt pre-developed code modules, enhance them as needed, and deploy the solution to a server.

The APD framework integrates flexible modules alongside a scalable and adaptable technical architecture. Key elements of this framework include:

• Core Modules: Covering essential features such as Core APIs, User Management, Security, Notifications, Admin, and Workspace functionalities.
• Custom Modules: Providing a simple way to incorporate specialized solutions, such as meeting management tools, into the architecture as needed.
• Entry Points: Supporting various platforms, including Mobile, Web, or Admin portals, for seamless user interactions.
• Database and Infrastructure Flexibility: We typically employ PostgreSQL for our database needs but ensure adaptability across other systems through the use of TypeORM. Infrastructure is supported through AWS, with prebuilt Terraform scripts enabling efficient service setups on IAM, AWS RDS, S3, CloudFront, ECS, and more.

This architecture achieves a monolithic appearance while maintaining modular functionality. Each module is independent and editable, offering flexibility and reliability.

All modules are connected via the CORE API but remain independent, so they don't interfere with one another. This structure ensures seamless scalability. Whether you're looking to transform your monolithic system into a microservice architecture or expand your platform to handle higher loads, APD's modular foundation makes it easy.

Our code is designed for flexibility. It integrates smoothly with any architecture your business might need in the future. Using libraries like TypeORM, for example, we can adapt almost any database to fit our modules, though PostgreSQL is our default choice. The infrastructure is further strengthened using AWS services, set up with pre-configured Terraform scripts for quick deployment of platforms like IAM, AWS RDS, S3, CloudFront, ECR, and ECS.

Note: our APD approach focuses primarily on backend development. Frontend development, on the other hand, often involves diverse and unique requirements across different projects. For instance, the frontend architecture for mobile applications differs fundamentally from that of web-based solutions despite both being capable of integrating seamlessly with a shared backend.

Streamlined Processes for Maximum Efficiency

APD isn't just about technology; it also optimizes management processes. By combining roles such as project manager, business analyst, and scrum master into a single position during early development phases, APD simplifies workflows without compromising quality. This approach works particularly well for MVP and early-phase projects, where speed and adaptability are critical. However, for larger post-MVP builds, specialized roles remain crucial to navigating project complexities, industry-specific challenges, and long-term scalability.

Key Values of the APD Approach

The primary advantage of APD lies in its ability to significantly accelerate development while reducing costs. Instead of building a solution entirely from scratch (an often lengthy process requiring setup of infrastructure and custom creation of modules), APD provides pre-built, reusable components. This can save one to four months of developer time, depending on the specific project requirements.

APD supplies clients with:

• A Robust Foundation: inclusive of a scalable and cost-efficient architecture.
• Pre-Built Modules: enabling functionalities such as user registration, profile settings, login/authentication systems, notifications, and more—all ready to be customized.
• Parallel Development Opportunities: while backend configurations are implemented, frontend developers can begin their tasks immediately, reducing overall project timelines.

Technical Applications

APD is particularly effective for projects being developed from scratch, as it consolidates critical infrastructure and code—representing approximately 80% of the framework—while also including 20% alignment to our optimized processes. To meet evolving industry demands, we’ve integrated APD into Python, offering seamless compatibility with rapidly growing AI-focused projects.

Note: Python's prevalence in artificial intelligence and the rise of startups highlight the need for faster product development in the modern business landscape. For organizations exploring AI-driven applications, APD provides the tools needed to begin efficiently while maintaining scalability and quality.

The Imperative for Accelerated Product Development

The ability to innovate rapidly is always an advantage. Now, with AI startups rising here and there, the demand for swift, high-quality product development has never been more pronounced. We anticipate that our approach will come in handy for those who want to outsmart competitors.

So, why accelerate product development?

1. Meeting Consumer Expectations: The evolution of technology has led to a steep rise in expectations; customers want innovative features and improvements delivered at an unprecedented pace. Companies can harness APD strategies to meet these expectations, ensuring a competitive edge and staying on the top within their respective markets.
2. Evolving Market Conditions: The business environment has always been volatile, particularly in the tech and AI sectors. Companies need agility to be able to shift across market demands and emerging trends. 
3. Resource Optimization: By deploying the ready-to-use modules, businesses can maximize their resources. This optimization not only reduces time-to-market but also allows teams to focus on innovation rather than repetitive tasks. In a world where talent is scarce, efficient use of human capital becomes paramount. 

The Rise of AI and New Startups

According to a report by McKinsey, AI has the potential to add $13 trillion to the global economy by 2030, underscoring its transformative power. The AI sector is overloaded with investments and new applications proliferating across industries. As this trend continues, startups that can deliver AI solutions quickly will have a substantial advantage in capturing market share.

The thing is, startups should not only innovate but also scale their solutions efficiently to attract investors and users alike. The APD framework's emphasis on modular development and integration with Python—widely recognized for its versatility in AI development—helps create scalable solutions that can evolve alongside technological advancements and user demands.

Let's not forget that collaboration and ecosystem building are important for any industry. The AI landscape thrives on collaboration among startups, established companies, and academic institutions. Accelerated product development encourages partnerships and the sharing of resources, fostering ecosystems that can drive collective innovation. By adopting APD, startups can align more effectively with partners, accelerating joint ventures and collaborative projects that push the boundaries of what AI can achieve.

Future Outlook

Our APD framework stands as a testament to Impressit's dedication to empowering organizations through innovation. Importantly, it continues to evolve. Our objective is to help clients not just keep pace with current clients on the market but predict and shape them. 

Impressit's long-term vision extended beyond simple module deployment. Our aim is to create a "business logic constructor" that would allow companies to assemble entire workflows using our microservices, fully integrated and operational within their infrastructure. This concept minimizes technical barriers and empowers companies to focus on innovation rather than infrastructure.

While our competing priorities have temporarily paused development, the idea persists as a promising opportunity. It is a concept that remains close to our interests and one we intend to revisit when circumstances allow. The potential to transform how businesses approach development is significant, and we are optimistic that this vision will evolve into an impactful reality in the future.