Fixed Rate Software Development Projects

Fixed Rate Software Development Projects

Know your demon before you edit him

Often the first words from the client  "I can only afford this much" or "it should only take an expert like you ten minutes" which is rational thought gone wild.  The reality is software development is costly, takes hours of review before you can touch the code but worse a simple mistake will cascade out of control sending the consultant into an all night session fixing unread code.  Programming is memory, reading and writing, repeated 100 times per project times the quality of development launguage, the predecessor who's vanished which is why were there in the first place.  Point to be taken in considering touching existing code is often it's broken for a reasons unknown.

Every developer knows and should know that coding is never rushed, that more programmers don't necessarily produce more code, that a larger team doesn't generate more lines but again being extremely cautious by NOT making changes to a live site or project.  Every project requires steps, the development space, a parallel test box, a sandbox and depending on external users one or two stages of release before you subject your users to an upgrade.

The best  approach is to create a realistic budget with realistic objectives.  The smaller the company the more deliberation required as failure can destroy the company or consume the owners paycheck.  When that happens you go from hero to zero but with some business people you become the bain of their demise.  A contract is required that prevents you from becoming a litigation target.

Please see my Contract Samples for more information.