Cheetah Project: a leap into the future for local administrations

At Centric, every project is a journey of innovation and dedication, and the Cheetah project is a great example of this. This ambitious initiative aims to migrate an OracleForms/Oracle Reports based application to modern technologies like C# and Angular. The primary goal is to ensure compliance with new legislation, allowing our business unit to continue participating in tenders while meeting the evolving demands of our clients from the local administrations in the Netherlands.

Transforming challenges into opportunities

The migration of Oracle forms presented significant challenges. However, our team, equipped with custom-built tools, turned these challenges into opportunities. We developed tools to transform PL SQL into C#, convert Oracle Forms UI into Angular, and translate Oracle Report UI into the Aspose model for PDF. Additionally, a tool mimicking Oracle forms' behavior in C# was created to ensure a seamless user experience.

For municipalities relying on this tool for financial administration, the migration offers significant advantages. The new system allows users to access the application directly in their browsers, eliminating the need for additional plugins. It features a modern interface that enhances usability and includes web accessibility certification, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of accessibility.

The success of the Cheetah project hinged on leveraging cutting-edge technologies like C#, .NET, Angular, and PL SQL. The team's deep understanding of Oracle Forms and Reports was essential in effectively converting these into new technologies.

Celebrating milestones and client satisfaction

A significant milestone was achieved with the release of a test version in the client's acceptance environment, which received positive feedback from beta clients. The next major release, scheduled for November, promises even more functionalities. Client feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with some expressing eagerness to install the new system in production despite it being only partially complete.

The Cheetah project is a testament to Centric's core values, particularly "Keep Improving" and "Act as One." Starting as a proof-of-concept pilot, the project has continuously evolved, with the team embracing agile methodologies and regularly introducing new ideas to meet deadlines and solve problems. The collaboration between our teams in Romania and the Netherlands has been crucial, highlighting the importance of working together towards common goals.

This project has solidified Centric Romania's reputation as a center of expertise. Team members have sharpened their skills in debugging, using AI tools like Copilot, and working with complex code conversions. The project has also opened up new business possibilities, demonstrating that such migrations can be handled in-house and setting a precedent for future projects.

Looking ahead

The successful conversion of PL SQL to C# not only opens new business avenues but also sets the stage for similar migrations across other Centric projects. This project has proven that we can achieve complex migrations internally, paving the way for future successes.

At Centric, we believe that our people are the most critical factor in our success. The Cheetah project exemplifies this belief, showcasing how the right people, equipped with the right tools and technologies, can achieve remarkable results. As we continue to push the boundaries of innovation, we remain committed to our core values, ensuring that every project we undertake not only meets but exceeds expectations.