Development Standards

Introduction

ADT continuously strives to provide quality applications in an efficient manner. We work to achieve standardization in technology and processes.

ADT Improvements

In order to meet the following standards ADT retains the right to implement improvements to applications as desired. ADT commits to providing advance notice of any major changes and how they will impact the customer.

Standards

Branding

ADT applications will implement aspects of the Western branding standards, such as shield usage, colours, links, etc. These standards come from the set of web standards defined by Communications and Public Affairs, which can be found at: http://communications.uwo.ca/comms/web_design/standards/index.html.

Accessibility

ADT applications will implement full accessibility as required by The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). AODA establishes accessibility standards for providing service to people with disabilities. Further information about the requirements that must be met can be found at: http://communications.uwo.ca/comms/web_design/accessibility/index.html. In order to meet the requirements ADT may need to impose certain functionality limitations within developed applications.

ADT Look and Feel

ADT implements a visual template over and above the Western branding and accessibility standards on all new web applications in order to:

  • Provide a standard look and feel to applications.
  • Improve the efficiency of application development.
  • Provide continuous improvements to an application throughout its lifetime.
  • Work to adopt new technology requirements such as responsive web applications for mobile platforms.
  • Adapt to accessibility requirements.

Examples of items covered by the visual template:

  • Headings and title styles, menu locations and styles, button styles and positioning, etc.
  • Form and field styles, table styles and functionality.
  • And more.

Infrastructure/Processes

ADT standardizes functionality, as needed, in all new applications such as:

  • All applications are run over Secure Socket Layer (SSL).
  • All authentication goes against Western authentication stores, using your Western Identity credentials or certificate based technology.
  • All applications are written in Java, using standard frameworks where possible and appropriate.
  • Applications and databases hosted on WTS infrastructure whenever possible and appropriate. Benefits provided by this set up include but are not limited to:
    • Disaster recovery architecture.
    • Performance management design.
    • Backups

E-Commerce

ADT integrates with the preferred payment gateway of the Western. For further information, please see our E-Commerce documentation.

Browser Support

Currently, ADT supports the following browsers:

  • Apple Safari - Version 8.0.5 and up.
  • Google Chrome - The latest version.
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer - Version 11 and up.
  • Mozilla Firefox - The latest ESR version (38.6.0) and up.

Processes

ADT strives to continually improve our application development such as, but not limited to:

  • Improving look and feel. E.g. buttons, layouts, field validation, etc.
  • Improving accessibility. E.g. JavaScript alternatives, etc.
  • Improving functionality. E.g. Captcha, Single sign-on, etc.

ADT will provide advance notice of implementation of major changes, including information about how they will affect applications.

Custom Designs

ADT strives to work with customers to ensure the application developed meets their requirements to their satisfaction. Alterations from the standards require more time to develop initially as well as maintain and therefore may result in higher costs, both initially and ongoing.

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