Case Studies
Adobe: Improve performance of leading Enterprise Document software and add Section 508-compliant accessibility features
CHALLENGE #1. Adobe’s LiveCycle is one of the industry leading software suites for managing enterprise document output, information assurance, and workflow. In enterprise software, performance and response time is key. Not only does performance effect end-user productivity and degrade usability, but to the customer it’s a reflection of the overall quality of the software. Adobe wasn’t happy with the overall performance of the next version of LiveCycle, and decided to seek expert help.
SOLUTION. Adobe had made a number of performance improvements, however they had reached a plateau. Wanting to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of the product, they hired Macadamian to perform a more detailed performance analyzer. Macadamian’s architects performed a code audit, an architecture review, and profiled the application with a performance analyizer.
RESULT. Macadamian’s analysis uncovered a number of opportunities for performance improvements that could be implemented prior to release. Our architects worked hand-in-hand with the Adobe LiveCycle team to make recommendations and advise on design changes, and the end-result was a noticeable performance increase. Feedback from users about the speed and responsiveness of the new version was overwhelmingly positive.
CHALLENGE #2 - Implement accessibility features in a form-designing program. When a client asked Adobe to implement Section 508 U.S. government accessibility standards into their form-designing program, they wanted to provide the software their client needed. However, they were on the critical path for their next release and couldn’t afford to divert developers. They needed a team that could take on the challenges of implementing Section 508-compliance in an application based on ATL and C++ templates.
SOLUTION The company turned to Macadamian to make their application into a Section 508-compliant product. The challenge of implementing 508-compliance is knowing how users with visual and auditory disabilities will use the product: keyboard shortcuts, tab navigation, screen reader interface, and Braille display device compatibility.
Technologies used included Microsoft Active Accessibility API, Freedom Scientific JAWS, Braille Display Device, C++, ATL
THE END RESULT Partnering with Macadamian allowed the company's developers to focus on their critical release while providing their client with 508-compliant software. As a result, they were able to create a 508-compliant version of their form-designing program, as well as delivering the next version of their flagship product on schedule.
