We help global businesses
to grow and embody innovations.

We have been operating since October 2008. During this time we have completed over 85 projects, using a 100% Python/Django tech stack for development projects in Finance and Banking, Travel & Booking, and Taxi and Transportation, and E-commerce.

We provide turnkey web and mobile solutions from scratch to delivery (when we are responsible for the end result of a product). Maintenance is usually discussed as a separate option for the final stages, depending on your needs.‌

We use Python and Django with DRF (Django REST framework) on the backend and Javascript with React.js library on the frontend.

• a. In which location will the development process take place?‌
  • The Django Stars LLC HQ is located in Kyiv, Ukraine. Development takes place there.‌ The company is also registered in the USA and has representatives in the USA, UK, and CH.‌
• b. Can your developers work at our office?‌‌
  • This is negotiable. Usually, we recommend business trips for no more than 3 persons for a maximum of 2 weeks at a time.‌‌
• c. Does your teamwork from the office or from home?‌
  • Our in-house team is 100% co-located. All of our employees normally work from the local Kyiv office 40h a week, for 6-10 hours a day (with a flexible schedule).‌‌
  • We do not cooperate with third-party companies or remote subcontractors because we want to assume full responsibility for every project's success.

• Our cooperation starts with the first message you send us. From there:‌
  • We have an intro call, where we agree on and sign an NDA
  • W have the Q&A session with the client and our BA department to get all the needed details about the project in order to complete a quotation.
  • After the proposal is accepted, we mutually commit to the original development agreement and Start the cooperation when the contract is signed.
• However, some steps may be skipped or merged.‌

• The first stage we need to complete is the project investigation stage, which includes:‌
  • A project kickoff with the client.
  • Available initial requirements.
  • Form a backlog for the 1st development iteration.
  • Agree on details of an approach that will be comfortable for both parties.

We give a high-level overview of the project as part of our estimation process, along with some mind maps (the simpler, the better). Then we have a meeting to review the requirements and talk through the business problem and proposed solution.

We provide very precise analysis, research, and an overview before starting the project. Also, we set up teams such that the developers have relevant experience in the required domain, know what the weak spots are and which solutions are better, and always put quality over quantity. And thanks to our Agile methodology, you’ll get fully transparent progress overviews. These allow us to track success and decrease risk.

• Mostly, we have developed projects for domains such as:
  • FinTech
  • Real Estate
  • Travel & Booking
  • E-commerce
• We work with startup companies, existing businesses, and re-engineering projects.

We use classic SCRUM methodology with 2-week sprints. We constantly review our progress and provide demos to the client, starting from project initiation right through to the MVP release, further project growth, or maintenance.

• a. How do you ensure that all the necessary requirements within the project agreement?
  • We store all project documentation in a task management tool called Confluence. For each requested feature we create reasonable tasks, which are implemented by the development team step by step.
• ‌b. How do you realize the final hand-over of a project?‌
  • We conduct a project demo for the client
  • Share all developed documentation and code base with the client
  • Send all the reports the client requests

We’ve defined an approach for performance measurement:

• 1) Planning:
  • The PDPs of each employee are based on the company’s strategic goals (MBO approach);
  • Team Leaders provide intermediate reviews.
• ‌2) Performance Review:
  • A results checkup after each sprint;
  • An independent code review by a Tech Leader from other projects;
  • Strict task-management and reporting procedures are covered by the Project Manager.
• 3) We provide 360-degree feedback once every 6 months and track factors such as initiative, motivation, teamwork, result-orientation, time management, and self-sufficiency.
• 4) We have monthly one-on-one meetings to make sure each specialist is involved in the development process, highly motivated to work, and ready to handle possible challenges.

‌Sure. We often do this, especially at the pre-development stage.

Yes, we offer UX/UI design services including:‌

• User Interface design
  • Simple and sophisticated UI design requires an eye for detail and a keen sense of color theory and composition. An accessible aesthetic design on top of the technical architecture will translate into a user-friendly and appealing interface that will skyrocket the usability of your product.‌
• User Experience
  • Using a data-driven approach, we ensure that all the “what-ifs” and “why-nots” are answered, and each user who interacts with your product gets a seamless experience.‌
• Motion Design (for interfaces only)
  • To breathe life and motion into your product and visualize the interface’s behaviour, our high-calibre designers will infuse your product with motion design.

• a. (How) do you check the developed solution for security holes?
  • How we ensure the security of our clients’ data:‌
    • The project IP is 100% owned by the client;
    • Django Stars has successfully passed the ISO audit and was awarded an Information Security Management System 27001:2013 accreditation;
    • PullRequest audits from Google and Facebook technical representatives;
    • Security audits from Fluid Attacks and Cobalt.io;
    • Django as a framework provides several security tools that are widely used in our company.
• ‌b. (How) do you document your tests and results?
  • We develop testing plans, test cases, checklists, and test reports. ‌We use Confluence to record the process and the test results.

Yes. This person will be the Sales Representative before the contract is signed, and the Project Manager after the project has started. You are welcome to communicate with the dev team throughout the process.

• For remote cooperation/communication, we use the following tools:‌
  • Jira for issue-tracking and filling the gaps between project managers and developers.
  • Slack for internal messaging and notifications about progress, code updates, deployments, system alerts, etc.
  • Github for code management, using branches, code review, PEP8, and internal code conventions.
  • Confluence for management of project documentation. To build great products, we need a good understanding of how things work. As a result, we create rich documentation.
  • InvisionApp for design prototyping.
• How often should we communicate with you during the development process?
• Based on our experience, around 2-4 hours per day in the first two weeks after that, the client is welcome to attend daily meetings but doesn’t have to. The results-review meetings take place every two weeks. You can expect us to be available to answer your questions on a daily basis (it will take us no longer than 24 hrs to reply).

• The short answer is: “Everything you have!”. But to be more precise, we’d appreciate it if you could provide us with the information below (in full or partially):‌
  • The general business context and environment
  • Why you think your idea will be successful and is worth exploring (motivation)
  • What you have tried (current state)
  • Where you want to get to (future state)
  • Wireframes
  • Business process flow diagrams etc.
• We need to know as much as possible about your idea.

‌We hand over all project documentation to the business, terminate supplier contracts, release the project resources, and communicate the closure of the project to all stakeholders. If required, we can sign a separate agreement for maintenance and support.