ThotSpots, Inc. (formerly Maxim Software Corp), has been in the business of developing web applications for hire since 2004. We specialize in providing cohesive, agile teams for the rapid creation and deployment of web sites, web services, and their related back-end systems. Whether you are just starting out with initial R&D, or seek to add new life to a legacy system, we can help. Our consultants and developers are also available individually to conduct group training, to provide one-on-one coaching, and to offer troubleshooting and other professional services.

How may we serve you?

ThotSpots provides software development consulting services to medium- and large-scale enterprises. We offer services at all levels of involvement, from the direct development of software projects that we manage, to training, coaching, and other support services to augment the software development efforts of our clients. In other words, if you have an IT department, we can help you make it more efficient, and if you don’t, we can bridge the gap.

ThotSpots project teams consist of in-house staff and associates with deep expertise in the following areas:

• software architecture
• agile software development
• data design and database administration
• quality assurance (engineered-in)
• copy writing and documentation
• graphic arts and web design
• staffing (technical interviews, resume screenings, etc.)

Industry experience

• Supply chain management
• Grocery retail systems
• Aerospace software systems
• In-flight entertainment
• Healthcare services
• Restaurant management

Agile practitioners and coaches

The members of ThotSpots have been practicing Agile development since 1999. We believe so strongly in Agile, that It is no longer our policy to offer fixed-bid pricing, nor to respond to RFPs. We certainly understand the motivation behind such requests – that is, the desire for cost-containment and predictable budgeting. However, we’ve found that those needs are actually better met by using Agile management methods.

By the very nature of fixed-bid pricing, especially with software development, there’s always the risk of an overrun, or even a late-stage project cancellation. Preparing a fixed-bid contract requires that valuable time is taken up in estimation efforts and then yet more precious time is spent negotiating and posturing over those estimates. This not only delays the actual development efforts, but it puts the parties in an adversarial stance from day one. An Agile approach, on the other hand, is much more efficient and entirely more cooperative.

• An Agile approach means delivering actual, working software early and incrementally.
• The software is exposed to feedback much sooner, allowing such feedback to be incorporated rapidly.
• Weekly opportunities for course-corrections means that the client retains an unprecedented amount of control over the project.
• Everyone remains focused on constantly delivering the “next biggest bang for the buck.”