Welcome to Sustainable Software

Sustainable Software Ltd

Services

We pride ourselves on providing expert know-how in the design, development and whole life-cycle maintenance of DB2 information systems. We are not a 'body shop', but an enabler. We will provide software, consultancy and advice on the practical issues in applying new systems and applications, and have a successful track record in implementing new projects and technologies. We will avoid jargon, and involve the customer at every stage in a project. Previous customers include blue chip businesses in the retail, banking, telecom, finance and electricity supply sectors.

We offer considerable experience in the design of large and small database applications, implementing them in a user friendly and innovative style, for middle tier and desktop applications, and with an eye to future robustness, maintenance and scalability. We can re-engineer existing systems to make them available as DB2 Universal Database server applications on Linux, Unix and Windows platforms. Typically we provide:

Data architecture - conceptual, logical and physical
Physical design of the database layer for external connectivity and optimum throughput
Storage, filesystem and mount point design with capacity planning
Logical and Physical data modelling
DB2 installation, version and Fix Pack upgrades
Expert assistance with partitioning and clustering; full experience of DPF (Data Partitioning Facility) on SMP and MPP systems
SQL query writing, tuning and user assistance
Expertise in implementing Information Integration solutions
TSM enablement for DB2
Training and mentoring of developers from non-DB2 backgrounds
Data Warehouse and transactional system project work, including structural design, modelling and ETL
Optimal configuration for ETL and report repositories
DB2 application and administrative code, in the form of dynamic SQL, PSMs, Stored Procedures, function libraries and CLI shell scripts
Performance tuning at code, database and instance level
Expertise in backup and recovery, including archive logging, data mirroring, HACMP and HADR solutions

Why DB2?

IBM invented the world's first relational database and released it in June 1983. They have been developing it as a flagship product for 30 years, on multiple platforms and dozens of languages. Isn't it great working with a database you can rely on, and building on 3 decades of RDBMS technology?

There was a time when IBM's DB2 was only for the 'big boys' and came with a 15 ton air conditioning unit - but not any more. It is a superb, functionally rich, high performance, cost-effective and extremely scalable database solution for any organisation of every size. Unlike other relational database products, you are not locked into proprietary software. We have been with this product since the early days and watched it mature into an exciting and effective database solution whose scope and grasp extends with each new release.

Why Sustainable ? - our company philosophy

'Green' IT is about more than reducing energy bills, cutting machine cycles or doing more with less. Those things alone are just common sense. Our holistic view is this: if software is fit for the purpose, then that purpose must be fit too. We define a fit purpose is one that leaves the world in a better condition. That's a judgement call we'll make when considering new undertakings. For example, we will not deal with anything that enhances or supports poor working conditions, job insecurity, oppression in the workplace, unfair trade or sharp practice. It's subjective, but we like to have a clear conscience!

Second, our philosophy is that technical proficiency is not enough - expertise is only at its most effective when it has a creative and ethical dimension. There is a method in all things. How does this translate into software?

If our software is any good, you will want to maintain it. To be maintainable, it must be well-written, logically natural, flexible, robust, portable and above all readable. Our source code is always fully commented, explained and documented clearly in plain English.
We eschew logical obscurantism; instead, and with a view to the reader, we make full use of the facilities available in the language, and new ones that come on stream at each release. Our software is modern!, but never faddish. For example we will never recommend peripheral IBM software released to market too early, until we are satisfied it is fit for purpose.
Our code is robust - we consider all likely eventualities and error conditions both at the time of code cut and in the future, and build in appropriate error handling.
We take a pride in our work and labour with a sense of craftsmanship - you will never get hacks, bodges or bits of string from us.
We will involve you at every step, flag up any issues or concerns promptly and offer alternative solutions where these exist (they usually do).