Enhancing Solar Calculator Tools

CASE STUDY: Enhancing Solar Calculator Tools

Client Overview

Client: Charge Solar

Industry: Solar & Energy

Project: Fast Rack Ultra Builder & Fast Rack GMX Builder Upgrades

Objective: Modernize WordPress plugins (UI & backend), enhance PHP compatibility, security, and user experience—all within a tight timeline and budget.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Enhancing Solar Calculator Tools for Charge Solar

Charge Solar engaged Codibly to modernize two critical solar calculator tools—Fast Rack Ultra Builder and Fast Rack GMX Builder—used by clients and installers to design and order solar systems for specific sites. These WordPress plugins needed a refreshed UI, improved PHP compatibility and security, and an overall better user experience. Despite a limited budget and strict timeline, Codibly delivered a scalable, future-proof solution that drastically improved usability and performance.

CHALLENGES

Key Obstacles

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User Experience

• Outdated interface hindered installers and clients
• Needed a modern, intuitive design to boost efficiency

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Compatibility

• Required operation on PHP 8.3+ and various hosting environments
• AJAX calls needed standardization for cross-platform stability

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Security Concerns

• Risk of SQL injection demanded prepared statements
• Overall protection needed for WordPress plugin vulnerabilities

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Strict Deadline & Budget

• Two-week window to deliver and deploy updates
• Limited budget required efficient, targeted solutions

SOLUTION

Our Approach to Modernizing Solar Calculator Plugins

1. Initial Assessment & Refactoring
• Streamlined analysis of existing code and data flows
• Refactored codebase for improved quality and longevity

2. UI Design Upgrade
• Integrated a user-friendly, modern interface provided by Charge Solar’s design team
• Ensured intuitive workflows for installers and clients

3. Compatibility & Security
• Standardized AJAX calls and upgraded plugins for PHP 8.3+
• Reinforced security using prepared database statements

4. Test Automation
• Deployed automated tests to ensure consistent functionality
• Streamlined QA processes to quickly identify and fix potential bugs

IMPLEMENTATION

Key Steps to Delivery

Codibly’s self-directing team focused on agile best practices and efficient communication to meet the aggressive timeline and budget constraints.

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Agile Sprints

• Weekly iterations with continuous feedback
• Rapid prototyping for UI and security enhancements

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Co-located Workflow

• Integrated remote dev and QA teams for round-the-clock progress
• Frequent standups to address blockers quickly

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Close Collaboration

• Regular check-ins with Charge Solar to align on UI/UX updates
• Transparent progress tracking and shared milestones

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DevOps Best Practices

• Automated testing pipelines for reliability
• Shift-left approach to security and performance checks

TECHNOLOGIES & FRAMEWORKS

Tools and Standards Applied

Codibly leveraged a modern approach tailored to WordPress plugin development, ensuring a smooth update path and robust security.

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WordPress Plugin Architecture

• Refined plugin structure following best practices
• Compatibility with core WordPress updates and new PHP versions

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PHP 8.3+

• Upgraded codebase for improved performance and security
• Strict typing and advanced error handling

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Security Hardening

• Prepared statements to prevent SQL injection
• Adhered to OWASP guidelines for plugin development

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Automated Testing

• Unit and integration tests for reliable deployment
• Faster debugging and reduced maintenance overhead

TIMELINE

Rapid Delivery in 2 Weeks

A tight two-week window required precise planning, daily progress checks, and minimal bottlenecks.

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Days 1–3

Kickoff & Assessment: Analyzed existing plugin code, gathered requirements.
Planning: Created sprint backlog and established testing strategy.

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Days 4–7

UI Overhaul: Integrated new design and improved user flows.
Refactoring & Security: Implemented prepared statements, standardized AJAX calls.

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Days 8–10

Testing & QA: Ran unit, integration, and UI tests. Fixed identified issues promptly.
Performance Check: Ensured plugins were stable under typical user loads.

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Days 11–14

Release & Handover: Deployed final plugins to production environment.
Client Training: Provided documentation and walkthrough for Charge Solar’s internal team.

RESULTS & FINAL OUTCOMES

Impact on Charge Solar’s Workflow

Improved UX: A modernized layout significantly boosted user satisfaction for installers and clients.
Enhanced Security & Compatibility: Adoption of PHP 8.3+ and secure coding best practices made the tools more robust across environments.
Streamlined Development: Refactored code and standardized processes reduced future maintenance overhead.
Quick Turnaround: Completed within two weeks, meeting urgent client needs without compromising quality.

Clients testimonial

What Our Partners Say

“We at Charge Solar are thrilled with the enhancements Codibly has brought to our solar calculator tools. Their team not only understood our vision but also delivered a solution that exceeds our expectations in terms of usability, security, and performance. This project has significantly improved the experience for our clients and installers, allowing them to design and order solar systems with unprecedented ease and confidence.”