Circle Dot, Factorial's Drupal CMS base install

Circle Dot is a comprehensive Drupal installation that includes multiple components styled in the Factorial design. It serves as a foundation for new projects, designed to be adapted and further developed according to the project's specific needs.

There were several reasons for the creation of Circle Dot at Factorial. Setting up a project often takes considerable time, especially when working on Drupal projects where the same tasks are frequently repeated: installing Drupal with various modules, setting up a component library, configuring Continuous Integration and deployments, writing standard components, and more.

Estimating and pricing projects is also challenging, as stakeholders need to know the costs, but these estimations are difficult to align with reality. Factorial maintains high standards for code quality, automated testing, and overall product quality, which adds significant value for customers but makes smaller projects less suitable for our approach.

Onboarding new developers is another challenge, as each company has its own methods, and new developers need to understand Factorial's way of working. Furthermore, customers prefer to see tangible examples of what they will receive, as hands-on demonstrations are more convincing than theoretical discussions.

Given this background, Circle Dot aims to achieve several goals:

First, it seeks to increase efficiency while maintaining high quality, allowing Factorial to offer projects at lower costs or provide more value for the same price, ultimately improving our financial position.

Second, it enables production teams to concentrate on the complex aspects of a project by providing a set of proven standards, thereby avoiding the need to constantly reinvent the wheel.

Third, it simplifies the process of estimating and pricing projects, as a substantial portion of the costs can be covered by a well-developed and priced base.

Fourth, it serves as a go-to resource for new developers, offering well-proven examples of Factorial's practices. Finally, it acts as a showcase of our work, making it easier to convince potential clients of our expertise by demonstrating a standard setup.