building a platform help
- Started
- Last post
- 59 Responses
- Raybandana0
I have an experienced developer that said he would do it for 80/hr.
What it so wrong with code my concept? For the first launch ? I mean this guy doesnt have millions to spend... and he needs something... So what do I do... just not build it and shove shoes up my ass?
- ETM0
Alright. Let me run through just the tip of the iceberg as to why our skepticism.
You say you might have a dev @$80/hr with a $10k budget. That's only 125 hours. That's basically 3 standard work weeks for one guy to do even basic architecture/planning, implement the code, the database and testing.
Without even touching the basic data and table relationships when you connect records or members to other records or members I see forms. Lots and lots of forms to collect user input:
Member Type 1
-Signup form (likely shared with a filter by member type)
-Profile Form (of whatever complexity)Member Type 2
-Signup form (likely shared with a filter by member type)
-Profile Form / Edit Profile Functionality
-Product/service form for whatever they are having reviewed. You have been vague, but, Hi I'm Jane, here's my info (profile) this is my business to review (product/service form).Fiscal
-Billing forms/receipt generations (you said member 2 pays)
-Payment gateway/merchant account... maybe just PayPal
-Means to confirm payment for your system to approve member 2 statusCMS for admin user
-Sign in (likely shared with a filter by member type)
-Some sort of control panel for overview
-Here are new submissions for review
-Page or form for review/decline or editing review
-Admin profile / manage passwords etc.Customer Support/Contact
You have members and you are taking money, there will be support involved and you’ll likely want one of more forms to either collect in a database or ticket system or at minimum to force structure into the inquiries for relaying to email.This is just the basics.
- The 2 user flows / CMS are already completed by a IA. The planning and architecting is done.Raybandana
- Its going into design now.Raybandana
- pretty good for no details too!Raybandana
- ETM0
There is also how simple or basic the rating criteria is. 5 stars. 1/10. Single rating, multiple criteria with averages. How do ratings weight against a user? How does ranking affect filtering criteria for search or displaying results. etc. If 100 users, 1000 have 5 stars, but is filter 2/3/4 to make it relevant to the user?
If user 100 has 5 stars but is always at the bottom getting no impressions, do they still pay? Oh yeah, impressions. Record those because when people pay, they usually want to know how it's going.
- *what is filter 2/3/4...ETM
- Forgive the typos. It's late and I was at the pub earlier...ETM
- haha it okay - everything that you've said has been talked about and resolved.Raybandana
- Alot of planning and IA has already gone into this.Raybandana
- You could have mentioned that. You came off like you had NO idea or planning done.ETM
- I think we all assumed IA was still needed.ETM
- Raybandana0
Thanks for your overview.
Basically the developer will have all the PSD's he needs. Also I have the IA done. After a nice long meeting and assuming everything makes sense to him. He would basically have to turn those PSD's into a working site. Is that dooable in 3 weeks?
- the IA / planning has been going on for months. It's in a good spot now.Raybandana
- ETM0
Even if the IA is rock solid, and the dev is super competent, I would be concerned of what the end result is in only 125 hours. I see 3 outcomes if the dev is very skilled:
-They work for more than 125 hours and swallow a good amount of time to complete the project. But they may burn out on it.
-Similar to above, but charge you for every hour and budget is blown.
-Buggy and not fully functional. Not ready for client review. Budget spent.
Recommend considering the 'agile' development method for this. Have the dev get it working in little pieces at a time, rather than broad strokes. Empower him to make decisions. At least if you have to pull the plug, you come away with some working components rather than a 100% useless mess.
- How long do you think it would take?Raybandana
- 2 months?Raybandana
- Not knowing full scope, or IA, that's hard to say. But for testing and polish, I wouldn't be surprised to see another 50hrs easy.ETM
- 50hrs easy. Plus I don't know if this is supposed to be public ready at the end or just an alpha/beta.ETM
- And once in the wild, what budget you have to respond to and correct issues. The public is a bitch for finding flaws.ETM
- it would be publicRaybandana
- Raybandana0
Thanks for your help with this ETM... I've been a designer 6-7 years. I've been through enough... but I'm trying to do my own thing now. I've never had to worry about the development side to much. But I can do development myself. But I've never built or instructed developers how to build a platform. And this clients a real hot head.. but has money.... BUT I've quote him 25k because I'm not a full service agency. But now it seems like that my whole DEV budget... I'm still learning!
- I thought I might be able to get it done on the lean side.. for around 10k..Raybandana
- Next time get a dev quote BEFORE finalizing yours...ETM
- well the problem was the dev.. cant give me a quote until he see;s the wireframes... and the client wanted to know priceRaybandana
- right away... and my inexperience didn't fair wellRaybandana
- lambsy0
can you show us some of the blank wireframes you've designed so far, and list some basic functionality? hopefully someone here can help point you in the best direction before this ends up burying you.
- fadein110
http://www.buddypress.org and then try to manage your own expectations.
- vaxorcist0
you get these chicken and egg NDA situations....
i.e. we can't show you the wireframes because you'd steal the idea.... but then again, you can't give a meaningful estimate till you see the wireframes... and, the most important part, the WIREFRAMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE! no matter what you think! Why? because no wireframes ever survive contact with actual users without some sort of "we didn't think of that" moment....
One of the reason that open source CMS platforms are usually pretty robust is that they've matured and been used by many people and been hacked on by many dev's.... over years, not months...
- Raybandana0
So I've called the project off!! the guy ended up being a complete nut job.. he's not paying me for the wireframes because he doesn't think they are professional. I told him that because its a very conceptual idea - we both need to work together to create the wireframes... I can't possibly interpet what he wants. I gave him very rough wireframe as a base to start the idea.. and grow it out
- Raybandana0
Its not worth my time to fight for the money... because he's always talking about suing people... and he's super moody... I think taking it any further would just turn into a disaster. I'm glad I'm out.
- vaxorcist0
Congrats! It may not be fun for you finances for a short while but I think you escaped from a train wreck about to happen..... projects like these are why developers often seem to be cynical.... breathe deep you cn relax now
- fadein110
new client always 50% upfront. feel for you. but your original post wiffed of inexperience. learn from it and move on.
- ETM0
I am kinda glad to hear this. It sounded like you would be taking a loss on the project and that would drag out for some time. Project from hell, really, so glad you are out. Sucks to walk away from money, but mental health is better.
- Sorry I was harsh in some posts, but you were all over the map for a while there.ETM
- No problem mate... Your words are appreciated.Raybandana
- ETM0
There's lots of crazy clients out there too. Gotta pick them out early. When classmates.com was big, I once had a guy who wanted a clone of the functionality done in 2 weeks... over Christmas.
I also had a guy who wanted to create a "secret confessions" site. He said he'd be rich. He thought he was first to market. I told him numerous sites like that already exist. When I asked how we would monetize he said he'd charge $5 to post your anonymous confession, it's "therapeutic". The other sites are free, btw. He couldn't comprehend why I turned him down.
- why did you turn him down?omg
- Because when people with bad ideas they believe in fail, they can't possible believe it was their fault.ETM
- So then they blame you. And it's just not worth it. Plus it didn't interest me.ETM
- And their could be legal and privacy issues. If someone admits to a crime, and it might be true... and the cops want logs and IP adresses etc.ETM
- IPs and logs etc.ETM
- omg0
@ Raybandana
why don't you just install Wordpress?
- lambsy0
allright. since teh project is dead, what was his idea for the next Facebook? i bet it was an escort type site.
- sureshot0
You fellas are thinking way to fucking deep, maybe the dude was just gonna build an oil platform.
- mg330
This was a very interesting and thought provoking thread. Bravo to all.