More about website development

Dave Hrynkiw
October 15, 2019

A decent website is a core of a web-centric store like ours. Back in the early days, I hand-coded HTML (yeah, go back to waybackmachine to admire that work), and what you got is what you got. Since then, we rebuilt Solarbotics.com through 3 more iterations of totally refactored hand-coded platforms, and then 2 aborted attempts as re-releases on Magento and then WordPress/Woocommerce. Those last two attempts cost us the ball-park of a really really nice Tesla with nothing much to show for it, with a devastating website hack in-between to kick us in the nether-regions. Many expensive and painful lessons were learned in this process.

Since then, we've released unsatisfactory consultants, brought the development management in-house, and piece-mealed specific development aspects to consultants with MUCH better results. It's come at the cost of letting our internal R&D coast for the better part of a year while we focus our top-talent on getting the website reworked, but its something that needed to be done.

We are about to re-release Solarbotics.com on a WordPress/Woocommerce platform, with some new features added, and some others removed. We'll be staging out further enhancements as we get comfortable with the platform, and hope you'll continue being good customers of Solarbotics.com.

MORE POSTS

September 5, 2006
Turbot Review @ StreetTech!

Just got the word that Gareth Branwyn posted a review of our Turbot on his website at Streettech.com. Thinking of getting a Turbot? Here's a straight-shooting review! While you're there, take a look at the Solaroller article that was just posted. Neat stuff!

April 1, 2004
New Kits: The Spazovore and the SunSwing...

Yup, we've got a few new kits ready, the Spazovore beginner's kit, and the SunSwinger Pendulum kit. We're pretty happy with both of these kits, so scroll down a bit, and read about them below!

May 18, 2014
The Marble Machine at Solarbotics

Aaaand this is a quick note to remind everyone that the Solar Marble Machine is now fully available for purchase from our website. Enjoy!

November 17, 2009
3D Printed frame for Line Follower

Ohhh, we like 3D printers. We're working with the local Protospace to fund-raise for a Makerbot. I want to see one of these Line Follower chassis (especially as some of the parts look particularly familiar!). LOVE open source hardware!

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Solarbotics has been operating for more than 25 years, bringing electronics know-how and supplies to both the electronics professional and hobbyist. We'll be happy to help you too!

Solarbotics, Ltd. is not responsible for misprints or errors on product prices or information. For more information, please see our Terms and Conditions.

Warning: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov for more information. This item was manufactured prior to August 31, 2018.

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