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Ask HN: Gut instinct quote for this Android Project

2 points by michelleM 13y ago

Hi, I'm looking for suggestions on how much to offer/expect for an Android Project contract. I have a New Mum website which users can submit shopping tips to (it's mostly my friends at the moment). My boyfriend made an iPhone app for the website. It is basically a read-only app for my websites API (apart from login/register). I would like to offer my users an Android app also. The project description is: -Splash screen -Register screen (Facebook & Email) -Login screen (Facebook & Email) -Map screen showing ~100 icon markers (custom icon and popup) --Map marker icons can be filtered by category, and API searched by date and title/location -Detail screen, after you click on a map marker. It has 1 main image, hosted on my website and some details describing the item. -iPhone graphics would be provided, but the Android developer will have to manage all Android design (for phones and tablets etc) This isn't a job offer (just yet!), I would just like your 'gut instinct' quote, and any supporting comments or suggestions. I hope the app would be ready in 1 or 2 weeks, is that reasonable? If there are any questions, I'll be glad to answer where I can! You can also contact me at MichelleMarch8 at gmail. Merci, Michelle Update: while this is a Europe centric request, quotes from all over are welcome!

stray 13y ago
Depending on the quality of your API, $4,000-$10,000.
- michelleM 13y ago
  Thanks for your answer stray. The API is CRUD based, but the Android app will essentially only read the JSON data. May I ask why the large range of $4,000 to $10,000?
  - stray 13y ago
    Because it has been my experience that programming against a difficult api takes about 2.5 times the effort as programming against an easy one. And without the benefit of seeing the API spec, I have to provide the entire range.
    - michelleM 13y ago
      Thankyou for clarifying, that makes sense. Can I also ask, how your quote is weighted given the project description and time-frame that I stated? Are you using a base rate per hour and then compounding project difficulty or is it only given the project description? I'm a little unsure how such quotes are derived.
      - stray 13y ago
        The base rate is not directly related to effort. It is instead based on value. Sometimes this makes for easy money. Usually it does not. Almost every programming project turns out to be far more complicated than originally thought.

2 points by michelleM 13y ago

stray 13y ago

Depending on the quality of your API, $4,000-$10,000.

michelleM 13y ago
Thanks for your answer stray. The API is CRUD based, but the Android app will essentially only read the JSON data. May I ask why the large range of $4,000 to $10,000?
- stray 13y ago
  Because it has been my experience that programming against a difficult api takes about 2.5 times the effort as programming against an easy one. And without the benefit of seeing the API spec, I have to provide the entire range.
  - michelleM 13y ago
    Thankyou for clarifying, that makes sense. Can I also ask, how your quote is weighted given the project description and time-frame that I stated? Are you using a base rate per hour and then compounding project difficulty or is it only given the project description? I'm a little unsure how such quotes are derived.
    - stray 13y ago
      The base rate is not directly related to effort. It is instead based on value. Sometimes this makes for easy money. Usually it does not. Almost every programming project turns out to be far more complicated than originally thought.