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We originally wanted to do this for web developers, but we didn't find it to be very useful without the visual component. With web design, you can very quickly

by dhh 17y ago

We originally wanted to do this for web developers, but we didn't find it to be very useful without the visual component. With web design, you can very quickly scroll through a lot of portfolios and find a style you like. That wouldn't work at all with web developers and backend code. We're going to be launching the index page shortly and it'll become even clearer why this form only works for visual works.

grinich 17y ago
How are you doing the image generation for the "portfolio" shots? Via submitted images or urls or something else?
- dhh 17y ago
  People upload their own images. We just resize them.
adamhowell 17y ago
What's the plan for preventing the uploading of other people's work?
- dhh 17y ago
  If you see your work uploaded under someone else's account, you can write support for Haystack and we'll investigate. Doubt it'll be a major problem.
  - vaksel 17y ago
    you should require people to provide references for each work completed.
    - unalone 17y ago
      Adds too much of a hassle for too small a problem to be worth it.
sachinag 17y ago
I'm not sure you need the visual component for developers - the hard part is getting a sense for what things cost, how long they take, and how people work. Turns out those things are really hard to get a feeling for in isolation, but in comparisons, people are really good at it. I know I want an iPhone app; I come across http://www.flingmedia.com/ http://www.flingmedia.com/, and the contact us form gives me his rates. Then you try to see if Brian's rates are valid; the pricing itself gives a marker of credibility. If Brian's rates are in line with what I see elsewhere, and his portfolio seems directionally suggestive enough that he can build what he says he can build, at the very least, I'm going to contact him. The conversation with Brian will tell me, as a client, if he'd be good to work with. Sure, it takes more work - you can't make judgments based so heavily on portfolios - but I really think Haystack would be really helpful to both clients and developers. (So, please, add developers!) Semi-related, I'll bet you a dollar that people will be looking for local designers before they look at portfolios (rather than starting with portfolios) because you give them that option. For developers, I bet they'd do the same. You'll be able to track that relatively easily.
- arnorhs 17y ago
  Yeah, you're right, but you can probably also agree that honing in a certain market segment (graphics designers) is a better idea / opportunity than to go into competition with other typical job-related bulletin boards...
- dcurtis 17y ago
  Just curious: why do you think people care about geography more than skill?
  - tptacek 17y ago
    I don't know about Sachin, but we like working with locals so we can meet them face to face without paying thousands for travel expenses.
    - alabut 17y ago
      To keep the logic going (that Dustin may have been implying) - why meet face-to-face and pay thousands for travel expenses?
bootload 17y ago
"... matching designer’s work so they can hone in visually: ..." Interesting to see the contrast b/w 'visual' search to search by 'algorythm'. Less work involved, product gets out quicker and works. Will the machine, the algorythm make selection better (easier for users). I'm thinking of Demand in particular ~ http://stephenlaughlin.posterous.com/demand-media-uses-algorithm-for-distributing http://stephenlaughlin.posterous.com/demand-media-uses-algor...
matthewcford 17y ago
Well EY launched https://www.railsdevelopment.com/ https://www.railsdevelopment.com/ - only Rails development specific.

by dhh 17y ago

grinich 17y ago

How are you doing the image generation for the "portfolio" shots? Via submitted images or urls or something else?

dhh 17y ago
People upload their own images. We just resize them.

adamhowell 17y ago

What's the plan for preventing the uploading of other people's work?

dhh 17y ago
If you see your work uploaded under someone else's account, you can write support for Haystack and we'll investigate. Doubt it'll be a major problem.
- vaksel 17y ago
  you should require people to provide references for each work completed.
  - unalone 17y ago
    Adds too much of a hassle for too small a problem to be worth it.

sachinag 17y ago

I'm not sure you need the visual component for developers - the hard part is getting a sense for what things cost, how long they take, and how people work. Turns out those things are really hard to get a feeling for in isolation, but in comparisons, people are really good at it. I know I want an iPhone app; I come across http://www.flingmedia.com/ http://www.flingmedia.com/, and the contact us form gives me his rates. Then you try to see if Brian's rates are valid; the pricing itself gives a marker of credibility. If Brian's rates are in line with what I see elsewhere, and his portfolio seems directionally suggestive enough that he can build what he says he can build, at the very least, I'm going to contact him. The conversation with Brian will tell me, as a client, if he'd be good to work with. Sure, it takes more work - you can't make judgments based so heavily on portfolios - but I really think Haystack would be really helpful to both clients and developers. (So, please, add developers!) Semi-related, I'll bet you a dollar that people will be looking for local designers before they look at portfolios (rather than starting with portfolios) because you give them that option. For developers, I bet they'd do the same. You'll be able to track that relatively easily.

arnorhs 17y ago
Yeah, you're right, but you can probably also agree that honing in a certain market segment (graphics designers) is a better idea / opportunity than to go into competition with other typical job-related bulletin boards...
dcurtis 17y ago
Just curious: why do you think people care about geography more than skill?
- tptacek 17y ago
  I don't know about Sachin, but we like working with locals so we can meet them face to face without paying thousands for travel expenses.
  - alabut 17y ago
    To keep the logic going (that Dustin may have been implying) - why meet face-to-face and pay thousands for travel expenses?

bootload 17y ago

"... matching designer’s work so they can hone in visually: ..." Interesting to see the contrast b/w 'visual' search to search by 'algorythm'. Less work involved, product gets out quicker and works. Will the machine, the algorythm make selection better (easier for users). I'm thinking of Demand in particular ~ http://stephenlaughlin.posterous.com/demand-media-uses-algorithm-for-distributing http://stephenlaughlin.posterous.com/demand-media-uses-algor...

matthewcford 17y ago

Well EY launched https://www.railsdevelopment.com/ https://www.railsdevelopment.com/ - only Rails development specific.