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For comparison, I write Alexa skills (close enough IMO). I charge about $1200/day so $5k would be about a weeks worth of work. Seems reasonable to me given the

For comparison, I write Alexa skills (close enough IMO). I charge about $1200/day so $5k would be about a weeks worth of work. Seems reasonable to me given the scope described in the post.

Houshalter 9y ago
Christ what have I been doing with my life...
- throwmenow_0140 9y ago
  Seems reasonable for a freelancer. If you're doing less, you can work easier and worry-free as an employee. I'm 19yo, building software as a freelancer and earn 520$/day. If it would be less, I would try to get an employment. If you factor in employer's contribution to your pension plan and health insurance, sick days and insurances for freelancers e.g. IT liability insurance and income protection, this money is spent before it's earned. And you have to make sure that you always have enough contracts and that they don't interfere with each other. I don't think everyone has to live such a life. It's a great relief to be in an employment without having to think about making money all the time. I chose freelancing because I want to choose what to work on and don't need any security for now, but I can imagine to work for $4,500-5,000/month in the future when I have kids and mortgages to pay for and need security. The problem I have with freelancing is that you start to measure your life time in your hourly rate, because the time = money equation is ever-present. One has to be mature to resist this temptation, sometimes I'm not able to do it. It's a constant fight between the attitude that money isn't everything and the impression that it actually is.
- Raphmedia 9y ago
  Probably living somewhere that allows you to rent a room for less than half a bazillion dollar per day.
jedberg 9y ago
I have an off topic question that you might be able to answer. Have you figured out any programatic way to configure your Alexa skills? It's not supported by CloudFormation. It seems like the only way to do it is via the console. Thanks!
vacri 9y ago
I wouldn't go to a $1200/day developer for a slackbot... it's not like a slackbot is going to be central business logic, almost by definition.
newbear 9y ago
How did you get into this? Do you have clients? Is there a market for Alexa skills? Etc.

For comparison, I write Alexa skills (close enough IMO). I charge about $1200/day so $5k would be about a weeks worth of work. Seems reasonable to me given the scope described in the post.

Houshalter 9y ago

Christ what have I been doing with my life...

throwmenow_0140 9y ago
Seems reasonable for a freelancer. If you're doing less, you can work easier and worry-free as an employee. I'm 19yo, building software as a freelancer and earn 520$/day. If it would be less, I would try to get an employment. If you factor in employer's contribution to your pension plan and health insurance, sick days and insurances for freelancers e.g. IT liability insurance and income protection, this money is spent before it's earned. And you have to make sure that you always have enough contracts and that they don't interfere with each other. I don't think everyone has to live such a life. It's a great relief to be in an employment without having to think about making money all the time. I chose freelancing because I want to choose what to work on and don't need any security for now, but I can imagine to work for $4,500-5,000/month in the future when I have kids and mortgages to pay for and need security. The problem I have with freelancing is that you start to measure your life time in your hourly rate, because the time = money equation is ever-present. One has to be mature to resist this temptation, sometimes I'm not able to do it. It's a constant fight between the attitude that money isn't everything and the impression that it actually is.
Raphmedia 9y ago
Probably living somewhere that allows you to rent a room for less than half a bazillion dollar per day.

jedberg 9y ago

I have an off topic question that you might be able to answer. Have you figured out any programatic way to configure your Alexa skills? It's not supported by CloudFormation. It seems like the only way to do it is via the console. Thanks!

vacri 9y ago

I wouldn't go to a $1200/day developer for a slackbot... it's not like a slackbot is going to be central business logic, almost by definition.

newbear 9y ago

How did you get into this? Do you have clients? Is there a market for Alexa skills? Etc.