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Building a modern web app: Unveiling the magic behind the scenes

In today's digital world, having a robust, scalable, and secure web application is crucial for businesses aiming to stay ahead of the competition. Here’s a glimpse into the magic behind the scenes of our web app development process.

Emmanuel Tissera

23 October 2024

4 minute read

At Luminary, we specialise in creating custom web applications tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Our approach integrates cutting-edge technologies and best practices to ensure that our solutions are future-proof and highly effective.

Cloud native architecture

At the core of our development process is the utilisation of cloud computing. We architect and build most of our custom web applications to take full advantage of Microsoft Azure (or alternatively Amazon Web Services), leveraging its infrastructure-as-a-service model. This ensures high availability, fault tolerance, and scalability, allowing our applications to adapt to varying demands while optimising cost and performance. With continuous delivery and automated updates, we minimise disruption and maximise security and uptime, ensuring a seamless user experience.

A good example of this is the Clipspec Electrical Design Application built for and hosted on the cloud where we make use of cloud features such as serverless functions, Azure AI Search, and auto-scaling.

Clipspec diagram

API-first approach

Our API-first development methodology is a cornerstone of our strategy. By prioritising APIs, we ensure that the functionality of the application is accessible and reusable across different platforms. This approach makes it easier to introduce and modify functionalities, allowing for seamless integration with other systems. An API-first mindset ensures that our applications are versatile and ready for future technological advancements.

An API-first approach held Melbourne Airport in good stead when we built its flight status and travel times modules as discrete APIs. Over a period of six years, though Melbourne Airport changed their underlying CMS, the flight status and travel times modules were left untouched.

Security first

Security is paramount in our development process. Our applications adhere to the latest OWASP standards, providing robust protection against common vulnerabilities. We prioritise encryption of data both at rest and in transit and ensure explicit consent for collecting personally identifiable information (PII). Additionally, we implement comprehensive offline security measures, ensuring that our applications remain secure in any scenario. We use both manual and automated security scanning tools to ensure the security of our code and third-party libraries.

Web-centric development

We build our applications as Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), harnessing the power of modern web technologies. PWAs offer numerous benefits, including offline functionality, push notifications, and cross-device compatibility without the need for app store downloads. This approach ensures that our applications are accessible and provide a seamless user experience across various platforms and devices.

Extended offline capabilities

Our applications are designed to function optimally even without an internet connection. This includes secure offline access and the ability to perform complex tasks such as video processing locally. Once reconnected, the application seamlessly synchronises data, ensuring uninterrupted usability and enhanced user satisfaction.

Multi-device support

We ensure that our applications provide an optimal experience across a wide range of devices, from mobile to tablet and desktop. The software is designed with a mobile-first, touch-enabled mindset, ensuring that it meets the needs of modern, mobile-first users. This also dictates browser compatibility and minimum device specifications, ensuring a consistent experience for all users.

Australian data residency

For our clients in Australia, we ensure that their data is stored in compliance with local privacy laws by using Azure services hosted on Australian soil. This not only ensures compliance but also improves performance through reduced latency, providing a faster and more reliable user experience.

Comprehensive development practices

At Luminary, our development practices are grounded in industry standards and enhanced by our own best practices. Our team of certified professionals and ISTQB® certified testers work collaboratively to ensure the highest standards of code quality and functionality. We enforce rigorous code reviews, utilise static code analysis tools, and follow strict coding standards to deliver exceptional results.

Continuous integration and delivery

Our CI/CD pipelines ensure that deployments are automated and seamless, with real-time monitoring to alert our team of any issues. Automated testing and phased deployments minimise disruptions and ensure that our applications are always in a state of readiness, allowing us to deliver continuous improvements.

Post-deployment support

Our commitment to our clients doesn’t end at deployment. We provide post-deployment support and a warranty period to address any issues that arise. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that the transition to the new system is smooth and that the application continues to meet the client’s needs, providing ongoing support and maintenance.

Final thoughts

At Luminary, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver custom web applications that are not only tailored to meet current needs but are also scalable and secure enough to adapt to future challenges. Contact us to learn how we can help your business achieve its digital transformation goals and experience the magic of modern web app development.


Not sure what kind of web app you need? Or not sure if you actually need one at all? Check out our web app services page to learn more about the pros and cons of different types of web apps.

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