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I've seen deals like this posted on HN a couple of times. The major difference between those offerings and my own is the fact that I'm willing (and capable) of

I've seen deals like this posted on HN a couple of times. The major difference between those offerings and my own is the fact that I'm willing (and capable) of doing the design portion of the project as well. Let me know if you have any questions :)

CSDude 12y ago
Why don't you use any frameworks? Not that you have to, but don't you feel you have been reinventing the wheel most of the time? At least a simple ORM would not hurt.
- 23andwalnut 12y ago
  I have a mini framework of my own that I've been using, so I usually don't re-invent much, if anything. I want to eventually learn backbone and laravel, but there hasn't been a need since my mini framework has worked well on everything I've thrown at it.
  - pan69 12y ago
    Your offer is to build an MVP and I guess it's reasonable to assume that further development of the application happens without you. Sure, an MVP is an MVP but that doesn't mean it has to be thrown away. You're using your own "mini framework" which I don't think is fair to your clients. Anyone coming in after you will have to work with this "mini framework" regardless of how good or bad it is. There are so many well constructed and documented frameworks out there (+community) for PHP already available that it's almost a crime not to make use of them. If you build an MVP with a popular framework, e.g. Symfony or Laravel, then this can be used as a feature in selling your service in that your clients will not be stuck with some undocumented bespoke framework but instead they can hire a developer who already has expertise with the framework.
- nostrademons 12y ago
  PHP is a framework.
bshimmin 12y ago
What's your capacity? Are you just looking to do one of these every two weeks, or do you have a team? Assuming the former, it seems to me like an absolute nightmare way to make $130,000 a year - assuming you were fully booked. Given the specification stage of each project (which realistically is probably a week of emails, phone calls, baffling sketches from your potential client, etc.), it doesn't sound like you could really book these back-to-back anyway. I'm also interested by your payment clause - are you really expecting people to have paid 100% of the cost without your having finished the project? I'm used to a half upfront, half on completion model, but it seems very ballsy to me to ask for all the money when you're only half done! Best of luck with it, anyway.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- 23andwalnut 12y ago
  It's just me and I'm only doing 5 of them. Regarding payment, it's the same way I bill for my freelance work. Each week of work is paid at the beginning of the week.
  - pbreit 12y ago
    After you max out the 5 are you still be available for MPV work? Can you give us a rough cost in that case?
    - 23andwalnut 12y ago
      Sure. Just shoot me an email and we can discuss.
  - bshimmin 12y ago
    Ah, you do state that on the page and I totally missed it. Apologies. Five sounds like a reasonable target, and gives you time to scope things out properly with the client to mitigate any potential disasters. I normally bill, as a contractor or when freelancing, at the end of the time period, ie. when the work is completed. Perhaps I'm doing it wrong!
azeirah 12y ago
What does your workflow look like? After two weeks, what have you actually made to aid you in making the app, I'm talking about models, diagrams, mockups, pseudocode etc. You're building apps in such a short timeframe. I'm currently building my first serious app for a client, and I'm already a few months in, and I'm far from done, it's not an unreasonably complex app either. Also, if you don't mind, may I take a look at your mini-framework? I'd love to see it.

CSDude 12y ago

Why don't you use any frameworks? Not that you have to, but don't you feel you have been reinventing the wheel most of the time? At least a simple ORM would not hurt.

23andwalnut 12y ago
I have a mini framework of my own that I've been using, so I usually don't re-invent much, if anything. I want to eventually learn backbone and laravel, but there hasn't been a need since my mini framework has worked well on everything I've thrown at it.
- pan69 12y ago
  Your offer is to build an MVP and I guess it's reasonable to assume that further development of the application happens without you. Sure, an MVP is an MVP but that doesn't mean it has to be thrown away. You're using your own "mini framework" which I don't think is fair to your clients. Anyone coming in after you will have to work with this "mini framework" regardless of how good or bad it is. There are so many well constructed and documented frameworks out there (+community) for PHP already available that it's almost a crime not to make use of them. If you build an MVP with a popular framework, e.g. Symfony or Laravel, then this can be used as a feature in selling your service in that your clients will not be stuck with some undocumented bespoke framework but instead they can hire a developer who already has expertise with the framework.
nostrademons 12y ago
PHP is a framework.

bshimmin 12y ago

What's your capacity? Are you just looking to do one of these every two weeks, or do you have a team? Assuming the former, it seems to me like an absolute nightmare way to make $130,000 a year - assuming you were fully booked. Given the specification stage of each project (which realistically is probably a week of emails, phone calls, baffling sketches from your potential client, etc.), it doesn't sound like you could really book these back-to-back anyway. I'm also interested by your payment clause - are you really expecting people to have paid 100% of the cost without your having finished the project? I'm used to a half upfront, half on completion model, but it seems very ballsy to me to ask for all the money when you're only half done! Best of luck with it, anyway.

deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
23andwalnut 12y ago
It's just me and I'm only doing 5 of them. Regarding payment, it's the same way I bill for my freelance work. Each week of work is paid at the beginning of the week.
- pbreit 12y ago
  After you max out the 5 are you still be available for MPV work? Can you give us a rough cost in that case?
  - 23andwalnut 12y ago
    Sure. Just shoot me an email and we can discuss.
- bshimmin 12y ago
  Ah, you do state that on the page and I totally missed it. Apologies. Five sounds like a reasonable target, and gives you time to scope things out properly with the client to mitigate any potential disasters. I normally bill, as a contractor or when freelancing, at the end of the time period, ie. when the work is completed. Perhaps I'm doing it wrong!

azeirah 12y ago

What does your workflow look like? After two weeks, what have you actually made to aid you in making the app, I'm talking about models, diagrams, mockups, pseudocode etc. You're building apps in such a short timeframe. I'm currently building my first serious app for a client, and I'm already a few months in, and I'm far from done, it's not an unreasonably complex app either. Also, if you don't mind, may I take a look at your mini-framework? I'd love to see it.