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Jeff, et al --
...and then Jeff Snoxell said...
%
% Hi,
Hi!
%
% I suppose this may be slightly off topic and not really relevant to a mysql
% mailing list, sorry... but...
*grin* I agree that it is but at least it isn't a flame war. This
probably belongs on an independent consultant list, even though you are
working within a company, because of the nature of ongoing learning
without a large infrastructure, but I don't happen to know of one of
those. [If anyone does, I'd be happy to hear about them, since I am an
independent... But now we're drifting even further OT :-]
%
% I've spent the last month getting up to speed with MySQL with much help
...
% at max throttle. I proposed that I convert their setup to work with MySQL
% and said that I would not charge for my time spent learning how to use
% MySQL.
How nice of you. I don't know that I would go *that* far if the need to
learn something new is driven by a client, but I've come close... Of
course, there's always the matter of doing whatever it takes to keep the
client happy.
%
% My question is: when developing _any_ software it's almost always a bit of
% a learning process. I'm always referring to reference manuals etc. etc.
% whenever I'm developing, even in the languages I'm most familiar with. So
% where do I draw the line?
A good question, and a good point. I'd say to take a look at the sorts
of things you already do and try to quantify how much you do in a time
period (hour, day, month) in a given language (so many lines of php code
or so many tables in a database design or whatever; it will be tricky).
Then apply that same measure to the new language, and evaluate your level
in the same sort of context (how much work you get done in a time period
(and nobody get picky and remind me of the physics definition of work,
OK? :-) versus how much time you're thrashing or reading or thinking).
%
% How can I identify a reasonable point at which it's fair to start logging
% some hours down to my client?
You can take two approaches (well, a huge number of them, but I use two
for most things):
- - If it's core learning and no arrangement has been made, then it's on
your time. That's just for core learning, though; once you can start
to do some things the client starts to pay (see next, though).
- - If a learning arrangement has been made, or once you are starting to
do work for your client even if you're not yet up to expert speed, bill
them for the proper number of hours but either at a reduced rate or
with a credit back. The client needs to see the time you're spending
and understand some of what's going on, but at the same time shouldn't
pay the full rate for less-than-full-speed work.
- - Once you're comfortable in the language, reduce the discounts. When
you're proficient, stop altogether (discounting/crediting, that is ;-)
Because I started with the discounted-rate model (rather than credits
back), I've evolved to a SysAdmin rate multiplier of 1.0, a php and perl
multiplier of 0.5, and a mysql multiplier of 0.25. I was doing php (and,
since I was rusty, perl) at 0.25 until recently and have just made the
jump; yay :-) Meanwhile, if you're tracking your pro-bono and/or learning
time, it may be better for you to credit back the hours because you can
then count up what you've given away.
%
% Many thanks,
HTH HAND
%
% Jeff Snoxell
mysql query,
:-D
- --
David T-G * There is too much animal courage in
(play) [EMAIL PROTECTED] * society and not sufficient moral courage.
(work) [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health
http://justpickone.org/davidtg/ Shpx gur Pbzzhavpngvbaf Qrprapl Npg!
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