Web developer required

[Internet Gift Store]

I'm not sure if this is the right section to post. btw you should have a section for requesting services.

I am looking for a developer who is experienced in using oscommerce software.

[Bob]

Can I ask what has happend to your current developer. The site looks great and I would keep working with the person that developed this. Apologies for being nosey - just curious...

Thanks for your feedback about the new section. It is a good idea and something the forum could benefit from.

[Parin]

My sentiments exactly. Just been on the site and like what has been done. I guess from a continuity perspective it would be good if you can maintain the relationship with youur current developer espically as your are just launching the business.

[Internet Gift Store]

Both of you are right BUT you fail to see what the big problem is with developers that are good. Other people hook onto them and offer them more money pricing them out of my league.

With the budget I have I cannot afford local web developers any more - local being in London. So what I am really looking for are developers in more "developing" countries. And before anyone tries to flame me for doing this and exploiting cheap services outside of the UK - answer this...Here I get quoted rates of upto £60 per hour. Quotes that I have recieved from developers in India go up to $10 per hour. If the quality is the same for the end result which one would you go with...Not rocket science...just business.

Regards
IGS

[Parin]

You are right, it is alot cheaper outsourcing from India, but then this comes with its risks. The main gripe I have heard of is communication, its difficult to put your points across when 2 people do not have a common language. But saying that there are setups where your point of contact is based here who then translates your requirements to the developers abroad. This again will increase your cost.

[Internet Gift Store]

Parin, not sure I agree with you. The indian developers I have spoken to seem to communicate a lot better than the local ones here. I think th ebig problem with places like India is that they can be so hungary for the work that they over commit and say yes to everything. This can be very dangerous when developing a website...

[Parin]

I think what i was trying to say was that with a local developer you can have one on one sessions where you can gain some synergies, develop a relationship and gain an understanding, which can be done via email, phone etc.. but takes a lot longer and you never get that same feeling of confidence when you talk face to face.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by Parin

I think what i was trying to say was that with a local developer you can have one on one sessions where you can gain some synergies, develop a relationship and gain an understanding, which can be done via email, phone etc.. but takes a lot longer and you never get that same feeling of confidence when you talk face to face.

I agree totally. There is a lot to be said for face-to-face meetings. You can never develop the same kind of business relationship when you outsource. It is a much bigger risk and that is factored into the price.

[JenniP]

I know very few people who have had good experiences from "developing countries" outsourcing, those that do have the following

• Absolutely nailed down specs
• Technical advisors in their own country that can check the quality of the work coming back
• Pay a premium (In your case say $15 an hour instead of $10)
• A good set of testers in your location who can find any issues quickly

The nailed down spec is the essencial bit, my experience of Indian workers is they are hard workers, churn out code like there is no tomorrow however they will follow the spec no matter how bad it is they wont question it, they will rarely say no to you when a western developer would (Sometimes a good thing but normally gets you into trouble).

As for the £60 per hour thats fairly reasonably, on the rare times I do freelance work I normally charge £700 a day, or £1000 per day for certain types of project.

Jen

[james]

Originally Posted by JenniP

I know very few people who have had good experiences from "developing countries" outsourcing, those that do have the following

• Absolutely nailed down specs
• Technical advisors in their own country that can check the quality of the work coming back
• Pay a premium (In your case say $15 an hour instead of $10)
• A good set of testers in your location who can find any issues quickly

The nailed down spec is the essencial bit, my experience of Indian workers is they are hard workers, churn out code like there is no tomorrow however they will follow the spec no matter how bad it is they wont question it, they will rarely say no to you when a western developer would (Sometimes a good thing but normally gets you into trouble).

As for the £60 per hour thats fairly reasonably, on the rare times I do freelance work I normally charge £700 a day, or £1000 per day for certain types of project.

Jen

Spot on. I think that those of us who do some work in computing in the UK will have to get used to the fact that there will be more and more outsourcing. The economic logic is compelling.

The problem lies in the fact that having in house developers, who usually have a good idea of the products, is that it generates a certain laziness. It's all very well to say to a programmer "fill in this form" when the programmer can always come back and ask for how exactly you wanted the form to be filled in, but it's not that easy when the programmer is a continent and a few time zones away.

You can save money on outsourcing but e prepared to get the specs absolutely right - or hire a business analyst to write those specs and check the programming.