The best RFPs are those that spark real conversations and set the stage for lasting partnerships. I’ve been reading requests-for-proposals from mission-driven organizations for years now, and a fundamental mistake I see repeated time and again is thinking of the RFP only as a functional checklist. Great RFPs go beyond bullet points, making the crucial first step towards a discursive, consultative relationship with a long-term partner.
This article explores how Cast Iron leverages Rails, GraphQL, and the dry.rb suite to build scalable APIs for complex web applications. By combining graphql-ruby's self-documenting schema definitions with dry-validation contracts and custom operation classes, our Backend team has developed a convention-based framework that consistently handles authentication, authorization, validation, and error handling. This approach maintains clear contracts between our frontend and backend teams, which makes our development process more efficient.
Translating a site after it’s been built can be costly and time consuming. Here at Cast Iron, when we start a new project we start with a base layer of translations, just in case our clients need to translate their site at a later date. This makes it so much easier to add new languages later, without the hassle of replacing all text with translation keys at a future date.
The Oregon Food Bank's Food Finder is a tool that helps people find food pantries, meal sites, and other food resources in their area. It uses a map-based interface to display nearby locations, including their addresses, contact information, and operating hours.
In a race to revamp their website, USRowing was looking to 'oarhaul' their online presence and attract a broader community of rowing enthusiasts. The result? A website that advances the legacy of rowing but also makes navigating the waters a breeze for coaches, athletes, and boosters alike.
Quality Assurance at Cast Iron is a practical, team-wide effort that starts early and continues throughout a project’s lifecycle. We focus on building sites and applications that work reliably across different devices, browsers, and conditions. QA means testing for accessibility, performance, and usability—not just in ideal cases, but in real-world scenarios.
Quality Assurance at Cast Iron is a practical, team-wide effort that starts early and continues throughout a project’s lifecycle. We focus on building sites and applications that work reliably across different devices, browsers, and conditions. QA means testing for accessibility, performance, and usability—not just in ideal cases, but in real-world scenarios.
This case study examines Cast Iron Coding's partnership with the Next Generation Library Publishing initiative to develop Meru, an open-source platform that brings together scholarly content from diverse systems.
The Middle English Text Series (METS) partnered with Cast Iron Coding to modernize its digital platform. Using modular architecture, TEI workflows, and accessible design, the project ensured long-term scalability and usability. The new platform preserves METS’ mission of open access to Middle English literature for diverse academic and public audiences.