Questions regarding interactions with clients, including aspects of contract negotiation, requirements analysis, development, and maintenance.
0
votes
2answers
156 views
How do I explain the value of refactoring to stakeholders? [duplicate]
How do I convince project managers, product owners, business analysts, clients and various other stakeholders that refactoring is a worthwhile and productive part of the development process?
As ...
4
votes
5answers
245 views
Should Cross browser testing be explicitly mentioned in the scope of a project?
I do freelance web development and front end dev is not my strongest point. This question came to me in my recent fixed bid project.
Nowadays we use Jquery and Bootstrap and these take care of lots ...
-1
votes
0answers
21 views
Documentation for clients: what's a free-form document hosting package? [closed]
I'm looking for a very basic document hosting package in Python, PHP, or Java that I can host on my company domain as a place for my clients to view documents I have prepared for them -- PDFs, RTF, ...
4
votes
2answers
163 views
Important Questions to ask Client at Briefing (Web Development) [closed]
I am just moving into freelancing (my primary sector will be web design / web development). I've got a few projects for friends as well as one or two 'professional' projects in the pipeline. I would ...
0
votes
0answers
44 views
Buggy System Management [duplicate]
Recently I acquired support for an existing live system. The system is so BUGGY and every single change would break something else.
I am struggling to manage my time/effort between adding new ...
3
votes
5answers
558 views
If I hire you for “a day”, how many hours are expected? [closed]
I've seen a lot of advice for freelance programmers which advocates quoting your rates in periods of a minimum of one day. That means that when someone asks your rate, you would say "$500 per day" ...
4
votes
8answers
302 views
How can I give my client “full access” to their PHP application's MySQL database?
I am building a PHP application for a client and I'm seriously considering WordPress or a simple framework that will allow me to quickly build out features like forums, etc.
However, the client is ...
120
votes
15answers
7k views
Demonstrate bad code to client?
A client has asked me to do a redesign of their website, an ASP.NET Webforms application that was developed by another consultant. It seemed like a relatively straightforward job, but after looking at ...
4
votes
7answers
317 views
Large enterprise application - clients wish to use duplicate e-mails addresses?
I'd like to know people's opinions, reactions to clients and technical work arounds (if applicable), to the issue of an enterprise application where a client wishes to use duplicate e-mail addresses?
...
7
votes
1answer
221 views
Pair programming business logic with a non-IT person
Have you have any experience in which a non-IT person works with a programmer during the coding process?
It's like pair programming, but one person is a non-IT person that knows a lot about the ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
To refund or not to refund this client? [closed]
I'd really appreciate your advice on an ongoing project.
I presented my client with a proposal and design samples which he approved, and he paid in full instead of the 50% upfront deposit as I'd ...
-1
votes
1answer
137 views
What topics do I need to study for *web* client server programming? [closed]
I know about client server programming through sockets in C/C++.
What topics do I need to study for website related client server programming?
The database which we'll be using will be either MySQL ...
8
votes
2answers
399 views
I think client's project will be a flop; should I discuss with him? [closed]
I have a meeting with a prospective client tomorrow for a certain e-commerce project he wants to commission. I had an overview of it over the phone and from what I understand there are gazillion such ...
15
votes
9answers
665 views
How to convince a non-technical client that their application spec needs to be simplified?
Often times I am faced with the situation where a new client comes to me with an application that has literally 100s of unnecessary features and it is quite clear that things need to be drastically ...
2
votes
4answers
417 views
The different types of CMS - Pros and cons [closed]
As I understand it, there are three different "types" of CMS:
Proprietary: A CMS built and owned by a company, and altered to meet a client's needs.
Open-Source: An open/free version of the above. ...
14
votes
7answers
1k views
What to do when client have unrealistic expectations? [closed]
I've been working on a project for the past six months at a client site since they require data confidentiality and didn't want us to work at our own office.
When I showed up alone to this client ...
2
votes
1answer
314 views
What individual needs to be aware when signing a NDA with client? [closed]
I am very new to IT industry and have no prior experience. However I came into contact with a party who is gear to build a mobile application. But, they want me to sign NDA (No Disclosure Agreement).
...
3
votes
8answers
1k views
Should I pay my developers for bugs fixes for a project or work that's still in progress?
We are working with a group of developers on a project. The project is still in progress (not completed) and these developers charge us for time spent on fixing bugs on codes that were not written ...
3
votes
1answer
734 views
mysql, one connection vs multiple
On nodejs with node-mysql, should I create one connection for the service like this:
var client = mysql.createClient({
user: 'user',
password: 'pass'
}); // Create a new mysql Client
...
0
votes
3answers
255 views
Freelance Websites - Email Services [closed]
When doing freelance work on websites, as part of my service, I offer email addresses and inbox storage. I currently use a postfix/courier stack. I tend to point people towards setting up a separate ...
4
votes
5answers
297 views
What to charge for a ready-built piece of software?
Recently I was contacted by someone interested buying a piece of software that I wrote to automate a process. The 'client' knows little about the program, except what it outputs and how easy it is to ...
10
votes
9answers
802 views
Is it a responsibility of the software developer to understand what the customer meant with his request?
Kind of a yes / no question and why?
Is it the responsibility of the software developer to understand what the customer meant with his/her request or is it the responsibility of the customer to ...
8
votes
7answers
325 views
Choosing a rate to charge a client for training their programmer
We've been put in a bit of a difficult situation and I'm trying to figure out the best way to deal with it and how to charge for it.
We've built a custom web app for a customer and I've been ...
2
votes
2answers
250 views
How can I effectively discuss language limitations with a client?
I would like to know the ideas that are being used for explaining to the client the limitations of the language used for enhancement of the existing project.
Given a scenario was that the project ...
11
votes
7answers
2k views
How to break the “php is a bad language” paradigm? [closed]
PHP is not a bad language (or at least not as bad as some may suggest). I had teachers that didn't even know PHP was object oriented until I told them. I've had clients that immediately distrust us ...
0
votes
2answers
249 views
Is it OK for me to suggest ready-made scripts to a programmer? If so, how can I do it without offending him/her? [closed]
Is it ok to suggest pre-built scripts from a place like codecanyon to a programmer who is building a startup web app? Or is it more likely to offend?
I don't expect that a whole web app could be ...
1
vote
2answers
269 views
How do I “hand over the keys” to a webserver I'm hosting? [closed]
I only have a verbal hosting agreement in place with a customer. Unfortunately the relationship has deteriorated to the point of no return, and I'd like to end the hosting agreement and hand them ...
1
vote
2answers
510 views
Can a client sue you for “broken” software if you're a contractor paid hourly? [closed]
I've been working for a client for over a year and a half at an hourly rate. He's been pretty happy with the work thus far, and he has paid all invoices without objection, but his business has ...
14
votes
6answers
514 views
Getting users to write decent and useful bug reports
Does anyone know a good way to get users to write a semi-decent (read: useful) bug report?
We wanted to put up something that would make sense to most users (be easy to read and understand), yet give ...
7
votes
11answers
621 views
How to answer “When will it be done?”
We all have it, problems that prove difficult to fix and working out a fix through obscure code and bizarre unexpected functionality. Slowly, logically working your way through trying to find ...
-2
votes
1answer
932 views
iOS Server: HTTP/Apache Drawbacks?
I'm looking to create a client/server application for iOS devices, where client is the iPhone/iPad and server is hosted either at home (Macbook w/ Apache) or online. I've seen many methods suggested ...
4
votes
3answers
123 views
Transitioning from being a bespoke development to a COTS development house
Currently one of the major applications that our organisation produces would be regarded as bespoke software as it is specifically designed for one specific client organisation.
However, we have ...
3
votes
5answers
333 views
Tools to ensure clients expectations are met
I was in an interview recently and was asked if I use any tools to ensure a clients expectations for a project are met. I couldn't really think of any actual tools apart from stuff like JIRA to ensure ...
31
votes
18answers
5k views
What would you do if your client required you not to use object-oriented programming?
I am writing a program to simulate the activity of ants in a grid (PDF). The ant can move around, pick up things and drop things.
The problem is while the action of the ants and the positions of each ...
3
votes
1answer
170 views
Mobile (Client) to Amazon S3 (Server) - Architecture
let's start off with the problem statement:
My iOS application has a login form. When the user logs in, a call is made to my API and access granted or denied. If access was granted, I want the user ...
3
votes
1answer
169 views
Should your client be able to view your project management board?
We're making a bespoke software for our client and use Codebase for our project management. Is it a good idea to let our client view our project management board?
The advantages that we thought of ...
21
votes
5answers
1k views
What can I do to prevent taking on an unethical development project?
Back in my self-employment days, I've once taken on a small and rather well-paid project: "A newsletter system", the spec stated.
Everything was fine, invoices were paid with each milestone reached, ...
7
votes
2answers
355 views
How do I handle projects in which my project manager is the same as the client?
I am a freelance worker taking on a new project with a company I'm already familiar with. My boss (the company owner) previously gave me a website project to work at while he also assigns a project ...
1
vote
1answer
121 views
What's the best way to show a CLI CRUD app to client?
I'm developing a CRUD application on command line for a non-tech client. What's a simple (for both parties) way for me to demo the application remotely? A middle-ground between SSH (easy for me) and ...
3
votes
2answers
796 views
How to use a 3rd party web API
I am trying to understand the concept of using 3rd party web API.
From what I understand so far, web API look like regular URLs with some parameters etc. Will the client program need to download and ...
4
votes
3answers
3k views
Examples and resources for writing a development proposal for a client [closed]
We're looking into our processes and client relationships at work and part of this is creating a standardised template for our development proposals that we send to clients.
The development areas we ...
10
votes
9answers
595 views
When a client asks for Proof Of Concept and expects finished product
We have a client with whom we have a relationship of delivering proofs of concepts only. But when it comes the time to demo they expect an early version of what would be the solution. They want ...
17
votes
11answers
780 views
Dealing with change requests from clients for an old system that only take 5 minutes to implement [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How should I charge for programming things which take two minutes to fix?
On some systems I created, every now and then I get tiny change requests from clients that are ...
5
votes
10answers
570 views
How much should Developers interact with Clients?
A philosophical discussion has come up in my department that I'd like p.se's opinion on. We're a 6 person development department inside a 60 person IT shop. All other departments are growing FAST, and ...
24
votes
4answers
762 views
Is there an analogue to “FizzBuzz” for choosing clients?
This is for the freelancers.
In my past life as a full-time employee, I was involved in hiring and interviewed a good number of developers. I learned that it was much more valuable to see a developer ...
1
vote
1answer
173 views
Switch form paragraph mode to line break mode in WYSIWYG editor because of client request?
I'm building a website fro a client which uses TinyMCE as the main WYSIWYG editor. Now my client asked if it is possible to write a line and make a line break and then continue without leaving a ...
9
votes
5answers
404 views
How to approach the ol' “this will just be a small application”? Yeah right?
Ok I have run into this many times, but here is the worse case scenario slightly exaggerated.
A client says "hey can you make us this small module to do this small task"?
Me: "Sure no problem".
So ...
13
votes
7answers
855 views
What to do when your “failing” project is actually “successful”?
What would you do if you were in a situation where the project you are working on is obviously built poorly and will have failures in the future and be a nightmare to maintain...but it is considered a ...
5
votes
4answers
421 views
How much documentation should a client expect from a one-man team?
I work for a small electronics and support software company that just recently got a contract with a large company that's very strict on documentation (I do the support software, essentially Windows ...
3
votes
8answers
553 views
Do I Need To duplicate comments in Every File?
I have very similar code over multiple files in my project. If a client wanted some level of commented code, would I have to invest the time into duplicating the code for every file. I think it would ...
