Artisan Index
Our proprietary metric for evaluating artisan software quality. 7 dimensions, a score from 0 to 100, and a standard we apply to every project.
Because software quality should not be subjective.
Why do we need a quality index?
Software has no universal quality standard. Unlike construction, manufacturing, or even gastronomy, where internationally recognized certifications exist, software development lacks a unified metric that allows clients and teams to objectively evaluate the quality of a digital product.
Traditional metrics — lines of code, test coverage, sprint velocity — are insufficient. They measure activity, not outcomes. A project with 95% test coverage can have a disastrous user experience. An application with impeccable code can generate zero business impact.
At Soamee we faced this problem constantly: how do we prove to our clients that the software we deliver is genuinely superior? How do we measure what truly matters? That's how the Artisan Index was born.
The Artisan Index is a multidimensional evaluation framework that analyzes software from 7 complementary perspectives. It goes beyond code: it evaluates user experience, operational resilience, security, adaptability to change, and above all, the real impact on the client's business.
Each dimension is scored from 0 to 100, and the final score is a weighted average where Business Impact carries double the weight. Because at the end of the day, software exists to solve real problems and generate tangible value.
Our philosophy
Artisan software isn't just beautiful code. It's code that works, scales, withstands failure, adapts, and generates measurable results. The Artisan Index captures this holistic vision.
Inspired by the precision and aesthetics of Japanese art — the same spirit that gave Soamee its name in honor of the painter Soami — we created a system that values both technical elegance and practical effectiveness. The Artisan Index is not a theoretical exercise: we apply it to every project we deliver.
A complete analysis, not a partial one
Each dimension of the Artisan Index evaluates a critical aspect of software. Together, they provide a 360-degree view that no single metric can offer.
Craftsmanship
Code Excellence · Score 0-100
Code review depth, naming conventions, architecture patterns, and SOLID principles applied consistently across the codebase.
Measured by: Static analysis, peer review scores, tech debt ratio
Performance
Speed & Efficiency · Score 0-100
Core Web Vitals, API response times, bundle size, and server resource efficiency under real-world conditions.
Measured by: Lighthouse, server monitoring, load testing
Resilience
Fault Tolerance · Score 0-100
Error handling, recovery time, uptime, and the ability to operate gracefully under adverse conditions.
Measured by: Error rate, MTTR, availability percentage
Adaptability
Change Readiness · Score 0-100
How easy it is to change, extend, and maintain. Code modularity and documentation clarity.
Measured by: Coupling metrics, documentation coverage, onboarding time
Security
Trust Foundation · Score 0-100
OWASP compliance, dependency auditing, data protection, and robust access control policies.
Measured by: Vulnerability scans, SAST/DAST, penetration testing
User Experience
Human-Centered Design · Score 0-100
Accessibility, usability, design system consistency, and real end-user satisfaction.
Measured by: WCAG compliance, user testing scores, design audit
Business Impact
Value Generation · Score 0-100
Conversion improvement, time-to-market reduction, ROI, and alignment with the client's strategic objectives.
Measured by: A/B testing, deployment frequency, business KPIs
How we calculate it
The final Artisan Index score is a weighted average of all 7 dimensions, where Business Impact carries double weight due to its strategic importance.
Artisan Index Formula:
Where C = Craftsmanship, P = Performance, R = Resilience, A = Adaptability, S = Security, UX = User Experience, BI = Business Impact (2x weight)
Software with significant tech debt, no tests, difficult to maintain.
Functional but with clear areas for improvement in performance or security.
Good practices applied, active monitoring, committed team.
Excellence across all dimensions. Software crafted with mastery.
Artisan Index in our projects
Illustrative scores based on each project's public characteristics. The Artisan Index is applied as an internal tool for continuous evaluation.
Orquest
Resilience 95Workforce management platform operating in 42 markets with 24/7 high availability.
TrasterOne
Performance 92Spain's #1 storage comparison platform. SEO-optimized with 2,000+ indexed centers.
eEvidence
Security 98Digital certification platform with eIDAS compliance and legal validity across the EU.
Apply the Artisan Index to your project
Want to know what score your current software would get? Our team performs audits based on the Artisan Index to identify strengths, weaknesses, and a prioritized improvement roadmap.
The first audit is free. You'll receive a report with your project's score across all 7 dimensions, industry benchmarks, and actionable recommendations.
The methodology behind the Artisan Index
The Artisan Index didn't emerge from a theoretical exercise. It was born from the real need to establish a common language between our technical team and our clients' business stakeholders. After delivering more than 150 projects, we identified that conversations about software quality always stall at the same barrier: engineers talk about test coverage, tech debt, and response times; business leaders want to know if the software generates results.
The Artisan Index bridges both worlds. Each dimension has measurable technical indicators (which our team collects with automated tools) and a direct translation to business impact that any CEO or director can understand.
Craftsmanship: the foundation of everything
The Craftsmanship dimension evaluates the intrinsic quality of the code. We use static analysis tools like SonarQube, ESLint with strict rules, and peer code reviews with standardized rubrics. We measure adherence to design patterns, naming convention consistency, the ratio of technical debt to total code, and cyclomatic complexity. A project with a Craftsmanship score of 90+ has code that any senior developer can read, understand, and modify without needing a walkthrough session.
Performance: what the user feels
We don't just measure Lighthouse scores. We evaluate Core Web Vitals under real conditions (not just in the lab), API response times under load, JavaScript bundle size, Server-Side Rendering efficiency, and behavior on devices with slow connections. The difference between a Performance score of 60 and 90 is the difference between a user who waits and a user who converts.
Resilience: prepared for the unexpected
Resilience measures how software behaves when things go wrong. What happens when an external service goes down? How long does the system take to recover from a failure? What's the actual uptime over the last 12 months? We evaluate circuit breakers, retry systems, message queues, health checks, and graceful degradation mechanisms. Software with a Resilience score of 95+ can lose a database and still serve cached responses to the end user.
Adaptability: ready for change
How much does it cost to add a new feature? How long does a new developer need to become productive? Adaptability measures module coupling, technical documentation coverage, the existence of well-defined internal APIs, and ease of extension. A project with high Adaptability can onboard a new team member in days, not weeks.
Security: trust as a foundation
The Security dimension evaluates OWASP Top 10 compliance, dependency audit frequency, data protection policy implementation, HTTP security header configuration, SAST and DAST analysis usage, and penetration testing results. In regulated projects (fintech, healthtech, legaltech), this dimension may carry additional weight in the final evaluation.
User Experience: the user at the center
It's not enough for it to work: it needs to be a pleasure to use. We evaluate WCAG 2.1 AA compliance as a minimum, design system consistency, real user testing results, error message quality, main flow fluidity, and responsive adaptation. A UX score of 90+ means 95% of users complete their tasks without friction.
Business Impact: the reason for being
This is the dimension that carries double weight, and for good reason. We measure real conversion improvement, time-to-market reduction, successful deployment frequency, documented ROI, and alignment with the client's business KPIs. Software can be technically perfect, but if it doesn't generate value for the business, it cannot be considered artisan. Business Impact is what separates excellent code from transformative software.
Frequently asked questions about the Artisan Index
Is the Artisan Index an official industry standard?
No, it is a proprietary methodology developed by Soamee based on our experience with more than 150 projects. It combines recognized industry metrics (Core Web Vitals, OWASP, WCAG) with our own business impact indicators to offer a unique holistic evaluation.
How is the data collected to calculate the score?
We use a combination of automated tools (SonarQube, Lighthouse, security scanners) and human evaluations (code reviews, user testing, design audits). Data is collected continuously during development and in periodic post-launch assessments.
Why does Business Impact carry double weight?
Because software exists to solve business problems. Technically perfect code that generates no value is, in our opinion, incomplete software. The extra weight ensures we never lose sight of the ultimate goal: generating measurable results for our clients.
Can I request an Artisan Index evaluation for my existing software?
Yes, we offer Artisan Index-based audits for existing software. The first evaluation is free and includes a report with scores across all 7 dimensions, industry benchmarks, and a prioritized improvement roadmap.
What score is considered acceptable?
It depends on context. An MVP can be perfectly functional with a score of 50-60 (Standard). A production product with real users should aim for 60-80 (Professional). Our internal projects always target 80+ (Artisan), the level we consider truly artisan-grade.