Algiz & Brightsquid: From PHP to Java

Algiz’s “Base” Document Editing Tool

Algiz, a renowned design agency based in Glasgow, developed an innovative PHP document editing tool called Base, designed for seamless online editing with the ability to generate PDF documents. This tool became highly successful, catching the attention of major clients and establishing itself as a key product in their portfolio.

Brightsquid’s Dental Communication Platform

Brightsquid, a Canadian web-based platform, facilitates secure communication between dentists and dental laboratories. Their application, written in Java using Tapestry, Maven, and Hudson, is an essential tool for dental professionals and is still in use today. You can check out their platform here.

My Role: PHP to Java Conversion

I was tasked with converting Algiz’s PHP-based “Base” system into Java, so it could be seamlessly integrated into Brightsquid’s Tapestry-driven application. This involved understanding the intricacies of the PHP tool and translating its functionality into a robust Java implementation that met Brightsquid’s needs.

Challenges & Achievements

The project came with a significant challenge: an unmovable deadline set for a major dentistry exhibition. This required intense dedication, with long nights and weekend work, especially since Tapestry was a relatively new and under-documented framework at the time. Working directly on Brightsquid’s servers, I checked code into their Git repository, and continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) pipelines moved the code into a test environment for their team to validate.

Despite the tight timeline, we hit the deadline, and the result exceeded their expectations. Brightsquid was delighted with the integration, which has continued to support dental professionals to this day.

Continued Collaboration with Algiz

A few years later, Algiz reached out again, impressed by the initial work, to request further enhancements to “Base.” The tool’s success had opened new opportunities, and they were preparing to market it to major clients. This ongoing relationship underscored the quality of the initial work and the trust built through successful collaboration.