Why
N-Squared Software was founded in early 2008 by Jamie and Jonathan. We had previously worked for various other software companies, travelling the world for a decade (Jamie) or two (Jonathan).
Both of us were ready for a change of scenery, so we decided to take our skills and our families to Palmerston North to set up a software business. Sure, we could both have found nice safe jobs running an IT department somewhere nearby, but we wanted to do things the hard way.
We created N-Squared because it gives us the maximum freedom to do what we enjoy most in our careers.
- Writing great computer software.
- Making our clients happy.
Who
All together there's six of us here at N-Squared. That number is quietly increasing as our client base grows. We tend to be rather fussy about who we hire, which sometimes acts as a limiting factor on our expansion.
What
We use quite a wide range of software systems. After you've learned your first dozen programming languages, the next one doesn't seem such a big deal. So our tools and solutions are as flexible and varied as our client requirements.
Cross-Browser Solutions, Proprietary or Open Source Databases, Microsoft or Unix Servers, Google APIs, Microsoft Dot.Net - we match the tool to fit the problem, not the other way around. We know that in the end, good software design, thoughtful implementation and clear communication are the only truly common components in all good software systems.
A lot of what we've been doing recently is web-based applications, using Adobe Flex and JavaScript, along with powerful web-based toolkits like jQuery, ExtJS and Protovis/D3, along with tools like Jasper for reporting.
Naturally we're also up to speed with the major database technologies — Oracle DB, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL and such.
Of course, there's always new tools and libraries coming online all the time. Every new challenge has to approached with an open mind.
How
Our software development methodology is flexible and professional, incorporating and balancing aspects of 'classic', 'rational/iterative' and 'agile' according to the nature of the project. We're very fond of Literate Programming too.
In the end, we all know there's no 'silver bullet' out there. One size most definitely does not fit all in the world of software development.
But there are some constants: Communication= & Understanding, Planning & Design, Testing & Care, Respect & Goodwill. Omit any those from your project, and things will very likely not end well.
Where
We spend nearly as many waking hours in the office as we do at home. So we have a personal interest in finding great premises.
Currently we're in temporary lodgings up on the 9th floor of the State Insurance Tower. But we're actually in the process of building a new office for ourselves, down at Terrace End. There's plenty of free parking there, a couple of cafes within easy walking distance, and a pub across the road that's great for lunch on Friday.
Our new offices will have plenty of space for us to stretch out, plus a nice new kitchen. There's also room for our sofas, and a little garden out the back where we can sit and soak up the sunshine when we need a break from cutting code.
