[Coco] Expert C programmer wanted

[Roger Taylor]

At 12:30 AM 2/7/2005, you wrote:

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Allen Huffman" <alsplace at pobox.com>
>
>
> > Someone mentioned a $50,000 price tag to pay for a compiler these
> > days...
>
>Nope, not for a compiler, for most anything. I used to get guys who'd ask me
>to write a horse handicapping program or something of the sort - often for a
>whole $100. $50 K used to give them a wakeup. But that's only $50 per hour
>for 1,000 hours - 6 months, and $50 billing per hour means $16 per hour to
>the programmer. That's really cheap. REALLY cheap.
>
>I quote that to do a database transfer from something weird to MS Access for
>example.
>
>Regards,
>
>Neil Morrison


I've had to explain lots of programming/design bills.  In your example, 
with "1,000" hours of work comes the explanation for why it should take, or 
took, 1,000 hours.  That figure is just as important as the hourly wage 
which might be rounded off to $50/hour for no real reason other than it 
sounds good and looks good on paper.  1,000 hours x $50/hour for (insert 
job here) sounds like an unresearched figure.  I always like the retainer 
idea and installment payments, but even then there has to be a cut-off 
limit or a way to say, "your work stinks, it's taking way too long, and 
you're fired".  I would never hand over $50,000 to an independant 
programmer unless I've seen tons of his work and I have no doubt in my mind 
that he can and will produce the product.

Anyway, enough of that.  Here's some facts that we should all know by now:


Those who overcharge will only be paid by dummies.

The smallest bid usually wins.

There are other people who can do your work (and better?).


-- 
Roger Taylor