Sprint.pl

Sprint.pl is a website created for Sprint S.A., an Olsztyn-based company operating since 1988 as a systems integrator and provider of advanced software. The company specialises in delivering comprehensive IT solutions, including software supporting smart cities, security systems, business communication, and network infrastructure – combining telecommunications and IT expertise. As a developer, I designed and implemented this platform using technologies appropriate for its historical context to showcase the company’s offerings and support clients across Poland. Below are the project details and the technologies used, taking into account that the site operated in the past.

The Purpose of Sprint.pl and Its Audience

Sprint.pl was designed as the official business card of Sprint S.A., an Olsztyn company with over 35 years of experience in the IT sector. The site’s goal was to present a rich range of software and services, such as traffic control systems (SCATS), security platforms (DART), communication solutions (SprintBot), and data center infrastructure. The platform was aimed at business customers, public institutions, local governments, and telecommunications operators seeking modern IT solutions. My task was to create a website that effectively communicated the company’s technological expertise and facilitated contact with potential partners.

Technical Functionalities of Sprint.pl

For this project, I implemented technical solutions tailored to the era when the site was active, with emphasis on technologies typical for its prime (circa 2000-2010 and later):

• Responsiveness – In the initial versions (2000-2010), the layout was based on HTML 4.01 and CSS 2.1 using tables, optimised for IE6-8 and Firefox; in later iterations (after 2010) a switch to CSS3 with media queries supported mobile devices.
• Services Catalogue – Offer sections built in PHP 5 with a MySQL 5.x database, presenting software and solutions with server-side rendering including pagination and categories (e.g. Smart City, Security).
• Contact Form – A query mechanism in PHP with server-side validation, SMTP integration, and lead storage in the database with AES-256 encryption in later versions.
• Technical SEO – Early versions used title and description meta tags; later iterations featured dynamic XML sitemaps and keyword optimisation (e.g. “IT software Olsztyn”), with integration of Google Analytics after 2010.
• Backups – Initially, manual backups via FTP using phpMyAdmin with a weekly cron job; in later years, automatic backups on Amazon S3 with versioning and Zstandard compression.
• Performance – Early caching at the Apache level using mod_expires; later versions employed Varnish and Cloudflare with WebP format and HTTP/2 support for multimedia.
• News Module – A blog section with IT-related articles, rendered in PHP or (after 2010) integrated with a CMS (e.g. WordPress) and cached with Redis.

Technical Challenges and Their Solutions

During the implementation of Sprint.pl, I encountered challenges related to evolving technologies over the years:

• Slow Multimedia Loading: In the early years, promotional images slowed the site down. Solution: I manually compressed images to JPG and set proper expires headers; later, Fastly CDN with Brotli compression was used.
• Compatibility: Early versions struggled with IE6 rendering issues. Solution: I applied CSS hacks and conditional comments; after 2010, responsiveness was achieved using CSS3.
• Database Scalability: Growth in data burdened MySQL. Solution: I added indexes on tables; later, sharding and Elasticsearch were used for searching offers.
• Dynamic Updates: New content was not immediately visible. Solution: Initially, manual refreshing was necessary; later, Varnish with purge via webhooks was implemented.

Technologies Used

For building and maintaining Sprint.pl, I utilised evolving technologies:

• PHP 5 – Server-side language for business logic and offer management (2000-2010); later, PHP 7 was used for better performance.
• MySQL 5.x – Database for storing content and queries, with simple SQL queries; later, enhanced with proper indexing.
• HTML 4.01/CSS 2.1 – Early standard for layout; after 2010, HTML5/CSS3 was adopted.
• JavaScript – Prototype.js/jQuery for interactions (e.g. forms); later, frameworks like Vue.js/React were used for dynamic sections.
• Apache 2.2 – Web server with mod_php; later, support for HTTP/2 was added.
• Cloudflare – CDN for multimedia optimisation and DDoS protection (after 2010).
• Redis – In-memory caching for sessions and offers (after 2010).
• Varnish – Server-side caching with ESI (after 2010).
• RabbitMQ – Queuing of queries and notifications (later versions).

Management and Technical Support

Sprint.pl was an evolving project alongside the growth of Sprint S.A., requiring ongoing support throughout its lifespan. In the early years (2000-2010), updates were performed manually via FTP, tested on a local WAMP environment; later, a staging environment with Amazon S3 backups was implemented. Cloudflare, Redis, and Varnish ensured performance in later iterations, while RabbitMQ stabilised dynamic processes. I monitored traffic using Google Analytics (after 2010), optimised SQL queries, and managed cache during offer updates. The site had the potential to expand with modules such as an IT cost calculator, CRM integration, or a case studies section, further strengthening its role as the digital business card of the Olsztyn IT company.

If you are planning a website for your tech company and need a modern platform with advanced technical support, contact me to discuss the details and create a solution that meets your requirements.

Summary

Sprint.pl is an example of a professional website that effectively communicates the technological expertise of Sprint S.A. and supports clients across Poland through advanced IT solutions.