Development services and support

About this service

While most of the University’s new system deployments are Software-as-a-Service (Saas), IST also provides a number of custom development services, including application specific development (e.g. Quest, Learn), integration of systems, data warehousing and analytics, and development of systems from scratch. 

IST will engage the appropriate business owner (e.g. Registrar’s Office for Quest), as needed, and review existing functionality in systems before starting custom development. We’ll also help navigate any approvals needed (see below), as part of our overall Information Systems implementation and support capabilities.

Types of development

General development

• Microsoft .NET - .NET is a free, open source, development platform.  We use this programming platform to do both major software development (e.g. Portal, Housing HOME system), and minor systems.   We have developers with expertise in IST’s Information Systems group.  This is our preferred, general, environment in cases where there isn’t already an existing application specific environment. 

• We also have skills and experience across numerous platforms and languages (e.g. Linux, Apache, Mysql, PHP (LAMP)) typically to support systems which dictate a specific environment, or for other internal activities. 

Specialized development

• Quest – Quest is the University’s student information system, using Oracle Campus Solutions, and significant local customization using PeopleTools. Work is prioritized by the Student Information Systems Steering Committee. 

• Data, Integrations, Analytics – We have a team that provides analytics, reporting and data warehousing, using Microsoft’s Business Intelligence suite. The team also provides integrations between systems, and Advanced Programming Interfaces (APIs) to systems and data. Questions about reporting or requests for Power BI Data training can be submitted via the Jira Help Portal.

• Web resources – Web resources include UWaterloo Scholar and the Waterloo Content Management System (WCMS), which hosts the http://uwaterloo.ca web space. Both systems use the open source Drupal framework. Note, both WCMS and UWaterloo Scholar are under development freezes due to major upgrade work. 

• Learn - Learn is the University’s Learning Management System, using D2L. We develop integrations to other systems as needed. 

• Portal - Portal is the University’s student digital assistant, written in .NET. The portal can provide full featured applications for students, or integration with existing systems to provide easy access to commonly used features. 

• Other – IST supports all of the University’s major information systems, and most other applications. While many systems do not support customized development, per se, most systems have options and configurability that permit additional functionality to be exposed, or have API’s that permit extensions to be developed, or can have their data warehoused for advanced reporting and analytics. 

Notes

• All new systems, whether commercial or locally developed, that store or process personal information, or other sensitive information, require an Information Risk Assessment (IRA). 

• All systems that require access to University’s Administrative Information (e.g. student records) require data steward approval. 

• All systems must meet requirements for accessibility.

Additional service resources

Resources may be located within the IST Knowledge Base or on a website outside of this Confluence space.

• Information Systems implementation and support

IST KB resources that may be related to this service entry