RE: Plurasight training
Thanks Gents, Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2013 12:08:07 +0800 Subject: Re: Plurasight training From: step...@perthprojects.com To: ozdotnet@ozdotnet.com I had a subscription but found spending the time to watch them took its toll . Content was/is great but I wasn't making the time to watch them. Great for skilling up in a new technology. I'll be using them again but for now will just use the courses they include for having an msdn subscription. They are definietely the best I've found around. Mobile apps are good too. Works a treat on tablets with offline capabilities. On 30/11/2013 11:47 am, "Richard Jones" wrote: Has anyone subscribed to the Plurasight online/On demand courses? are they worth the subscription ? are they relevant? http://pluralsight.com/training/
Plurasight training
Has anyone subscribed to the Plurasight online/On demand courses? are they worth the subscription ? are they relevant? http://pluralsight.com/training/
RE: Estimate Time and Cost before signing a contract
Scott, FK YOU PAY ME - very informative. Again, very good advice. Thank you. Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2013 14:18:27 +1000 Subject: Re: Estimate Time and Cost before signing a contract From: scott.bar...@gmail.com To: ozdotnet@ozdotnet.com Also consider the following - All code/IP is locked into escrow until both parties confirm delivery (protects you and them at the same time).- Fixed contracts are just that a contract based on fixed units of work. Any deviation whatsoever is a separate contract and don't just "give freebies" away as it can backfire on you given you're setting a tone / assumed & reasonable agreement precedent. - Place financial milestone rewards. Don't wait holding the "code" bag at the end, have the customer pay for each milestone as this will give both parties an exist strategy should the wheels start coming off.. Also bake in a % of the total cost (5%) as a carrot for final delivery + Severity #1 free to show customer you are sticking around for the long haul. - Identify a communication plan upfront. "We agree to have 1x meeting each XXX days...etc" if you ever go to Small Claims Tribunal for non-payment these sort of agreements hold more water than you think. As in situations like that you're trying to prove the customer had lost the faith and you were there all along. - FK YOU PAY MEhttps://vimeo.com/22053820 watch and learn.. this guy made me laugh but after retaining a lawyer for small jobs here & there.. his wisdom won me more $$ back then previous.. The amount of times customers would just fade away after I did the work made me almost broke at one stage in 2010. - Be clear what IP/Copyright you own before and after. I accidentally got in hot water with Aust Govt after I used a design i made on my portfolio. Turns out copyright law says I own all artwork unless done by govt ...its as if they did that deliberately .. but it caught me by surprise and from there onwards i carve the IP/Copyright cake upfront and cleanly that way no more of these "but i own the IP" shenanigans. Plus it reinforces trust some more around who gets what and why. - Make the customer pay for the discovery and delivery... its one thing to say "here's a brief overview of what i need now how much" as you can charge the client for the discovery phase as well as delivery. It also is a good milestone PRIOR to doing any "Agile" ... as that "feature" list doesn't make itself :) My 2c. --- Regards, Scott Barnes http://www.riagenic.com On Sat, Aug 3, 2013 at 10:03 AM, Richard Jones wrote: Thanks Paul for advice, This is really useful information. Richard From: p...@paulevrat.com To: ozdotnet@ozdotnet.com Subject: RE: Estimate Time and Cost before signing a contract Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2013 09:32:02 +1000 Richard, Great advice there from Greg. I do a lot of lump sum fee work, but as an independent project manager in property development and construction (coding my own web project ideas is a hobby yet to pay any dividends) In terms of how you go about it I suggest – 1.Write your scope / role in broad but concise terms to provide to the client (but this is just as much for your own benefit as follows); 2.List your deliverables and describe them. I guess for software you need to describe the functionality / limits of functionality to be achieved as well; 3.Determine your lump sum amount by listing in a spreadsheet, in sequence, every step and item of work you need to achieve the end result, and estimate your number of hours for each, then apply your hourly rate. The more you break this down, the more realistic it will be with respect to the real cost to do the work, and the less dependent the amount will be on the accuracy of your hour estimates for each item. If you know the client and they are straight forward people consider providing this to them and asking if that’s the way they see the task as well. As many times as I’ve had to cut the estimate to meet expectations or get the job I’ve also had good sensible clients say they believe more time would be required overall. Of course they may use your list to get prices from someone else but at least that helps prevent a less competent person getting the work by failing to identify all the work items required; 4.Work out the things to advise that will change the cost and the parameters you need them to work within ie; respond to my queries within 1 business day, provide a client rep responsible for that, reprice if project duration > X months through no fault of your own, no allowance for any matter becoming protracted etc. Use these qualifications in your offer. Lump sum fees can be very uncomfortable for you and the client (and ruinous to your financial wellbeing) if you don’t manage it every step of the way through the job. Maintain a good relationship with t
RE: Estimate Time and Cost before signing a contract
Thanks Paul for advice, This is really useful information. Richard From: p...@paulevrat.com To: ozdotnet@ozdotnet.com Subject: RE: Estimate Time and Cost before signing a contract Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2013 09:32:02 +1000 Richard, Great advice there from Greg. I do a lot of lump sum fee work, but as an independent project manager in property development and construction (coding my own web project ideas is a hobby yet to pay any dividends) In terms of how you go about it I suggest – 1.Write your scope / role in broad but concise terms to provide to the client (but this is just as much for your own benefit as follows); 2.List your deliverables and describe them. I guess for software you need to describe the functionality / limits of functionality to be achieved as well; 3.Determine your lump sum amount by listing in a spreadsheet, in sequence, every step and item of work you need to achieve the end result, and estimate your number of hours for each, then apply your hourly rate. The more you break this down, the more realistic it will be with respect to the real cost to do the work, and the less dependent the amount will be on the accuracy of your hour estimates for each item. If you know the client and they are straight forward people consider providing this to them and asking if that’s the way they see the task as well. As many times as I’ve had to cut the estimate to meet expectations or get the job I’ve also had good sensible clients say they believe more time would be required overall. Of course they may use your list to get prices from someone else but at least that helps prevent a less competent person getting the work by failing to identify all the work items required; 4.Work out the things to advise that will change the cost and the parameters you need them to work within ie; respond to my queries within 1 business day, provide a client rep responsible for that, reprice if project duration > X months through no fault of your own, no allowance for any matter becoming protracted etc. Use these qualifications in your offer. Lump sum fees can be very uncomfortable for you and the client (and ruinous to your financial wellbeing) if you don’t manage it every step of the way through the job. Maintain a good relationship with the client, don’t be talking fees all the time or much at all, try to accommodate errors and stuff-ups on their part generously, but when the scope changes be quick to say Yes, I can do that, it’s a great idea, and here’s an estimate of costs to implement it (include reworking costs). Paul .. From: ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com] On Behalf Of Richard Jones Sent: Saturday, 3 August 2013 6:52 AM To: ozDotNet Subject: RE: Estimate Time and Cost before signing a contract Thanks Greg, Very good advice provided, Greatly appreciated. I will review what you have written and come to a decision. RichardDate: Fri, 2 Aug 2013 22:47:56 +1000 Subject: Re: Estimate Time and Cost before signing a contract From: harris.gre...@gmail.com To: ozdotnet@ozdotnet.comHi Richard, Fixed price quotes can be a great way to make good money and to lose hard earned money, you have to take care and make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Businesses like them, because they know their maximum exposure. I find that there a far too many clients, who think that they can estimate software development time, but they have little (no) true experience in software development. Some thoughts… Make sure that scope is clear with at least one bullet point for every deliverable that you know they are expecting and also clearly state that anything not listed in the deliverables will be cost plus later. This also helps them make sure that they have asked for everything they want / expect. I also typically have a list of non-deliverables, where we have discussed some feature and agreed that it would be included in a later version. Make sure that the contract is not a one way street, if you are expected to take the risk on a late delivery, you should also get the reward of getting it in early. If the client is asking you for a fixed price, then you should have the option to do the work where, when and how you like. This also ties the client into waterfall development, once you give them a version for test / review, there will be a stack of change requests coming in AT THEIR COST! I have found that some projects more than double in size with the change requests, that is why they have to be managed. Take care doing a few for free, or you will set up an expectation. Look out for clauses like: “Must be easy to use”, “Must be documented to our standard”, “Must be fully commented”, “Must follow our coding standard”, “Must be approved by our standards group”, “Must be approved by our DBA”, “Must interface with our un-documented system”, these are all open ended non-objective unclear requirements. My standard
RE: Estimate Time and Cost before signing a contract
Thanks Greg, Very good advice provided, Greatly appreciated. I will review what you have written and come to a decision. Richard Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2013 22:47:56 +1000 Subject: Re: Estimate Time and Cost before signing a contract From: harris.gre...@gmail.com To: ozdotnet@ozdotnet.com Hi Richard, Fixed price quotes can be a great way to make good money and to lose hard earned money, you have to take care and make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Businesses like them, because they know their maximum exposure. I find that there a far too many clients, who think that they can estimate software development time, but they have little (no) true experience in software development. Some thoughts… Make sure that scope is clear with at least one bullet point for every deliverable that you know they are expecting and also clearly state that anything not listed in the deliverables will be cost plus later. This also helps them make sure that they have asked for everything they want / expect. I also typically have a list of non-deliverables, where we have discussed some feature and agreed that it would be included in a later version. Make sure that the contract is not a one way street, if you are expected to take the risk on a late delivery, you should also get the reward of getting it in early. If the client is asking you for a fixed price, then you should have the option to do the work where, when and how you like. This also ties the client into waterfall development, once you give them a version for test / review, there will be a stack of change requests coming in AT THEIR COST! I have found that some projects more than double in size with the change requests, that is why they have to be managed. Take care doing a few for free, or you will set up an expectation. Look out for clauses like: “Must be easy to use”, “Must be documented to our standard”, “Must be fully commented”, “Must follow our coding standard”, “Must be approved by our standards group”, “Must be approved by our DBA”, “Must interface with our un-documented system”, these are all open ended non-objective unclear requirements. My standard way of sizing a project is loosely based on (very loosely) function point counting, I count the number of database tables and simple screens and multiply this by a factor that I have worked out over the years of my realistic productivity, then I add on a margin for complex logic, complex screens, client liaison time, documentation, testing and general stuffing around that all projects have. Number one piece of advice, if you feel you don’t have enough information to make a meaningful estimation, then do your best (worse case) guess and at least double it. After I have done this, I look at the number and ask if it feels right or not, if not I adjust it. When you come to a final number, round it to a number that is not quite so analytical, the last two or three digits should always be zeros. If they say sign now or loose the contract, you say, that is fine, I will sign after I complete the analysis at $X per hour, if they don’t like that, you have to make the call on risk / reward ratio. Your analysis time should be charged or you are setting up an expectation that you will do work for free. Follow every conversation with an email to the client sponsor, CC to who you were talking to “As per my conversation with Fred, you need xyz and do not need abc. This will be provided with an increase in the project scope of X days and Y dollars. Please confirm your agreement by return email.”. Good luck Regards Greg Harris On Fri, Aug 2, 2013 at 7:51 PM, Richard Jones wrote: I have been asked by a potential client to work out time and cost estimate before I have signed a contract to perform the work. They indicated they didn't want a recruitment company. To me this seems a bit strange, as I have never experienced this before, I have usually signed a contract got in and did the work, however, this is different. They have indicated to me that they think this type of work will take 3 months, however, they would like me to confirm/demonstrate time and cost. Has anyone had this type of work?, any helpful comments/suggestions would be grateful.
Estimate Time and Cost before signing a contract
I have been asked by a potential client to work out time and cost estimate before I have signed a contract to perform the work. They indicated they didn't want a recruitment company. To me this seems a bit strange, as I have never experienced this before, I have usually signed a contract got in and did the work, however, this is different. They have indicated to me that they think this type of work will take 3 months, however, they would like me to confirm/demonstrate time and cost. Has anyone had this type of work?, any helpful comments/suggestions would be grateful.
RE: [OT] ying phones outright
Steve, I bought Samsung Focus unlocked from mobiCity. My experience was good. Address: http://www.mobicity.com.au/ From: ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com] On Behalf Of Stephen Liedig Sent: Thursday, 9 June 2011 2:32 PM To: ozDotNet Subject: [OT] ying phones outright Hello, Does anyone know a good place (either in Australia or in the USA) where one can buy Windows Phone 7 phones outright. Not sure if I need sim free or unlocked or what? Any recommendations would be appreciated. Cheers, Steve
RE: Which IoC container should I use?
Castle Windsor -Original Message- From: ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com] On Behalf Of Bec Carter Sent: Monday, 21 February 2011 10:23 AM To: ozDotNet Subject: Which IoC container should I use? G'Day, What IoC containers do you all recommend? There are so many around! Cheers, Bec
RE: Is Silverlight dead ?
On a side note,I have read about the ethos at Microsoft that they have teams battle it out for technologies such as LinqToSQL and Entity framework etc. Just been digging around and stumbled on this forum topic on Channel9: http://channel9.msdn.com/Forums/Coffeehouse/572877-Silverlight--HTML5-and-WPF Nothing more than some people stirring up the honeypot. -Original Message- From: ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com] On Behalf Of Craig van Nieuwkerk Sent: Wednesday, 22 September 2010 2:40 PM To: ozDotNet Subject: Re: Is Silverlight dead ? Microsoft is a very big company. Some people there prefer Silverlight, some prefer HTML5. There is no evidence that Silverlight is not being invested in going forward. On Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 2:15 PM, Richard Jones wrote: > I don't want to start a flame war however I have been talking to some > fellow developers and they mentioned that Microsoft is preferring to > support HTML5 over silverlight. I think this is speculation to say the > least. Anyway, I don't get it, when Microsoft are about to release > Windows phone7 which uses Silverlight. > Can anyone anyone confirm this is the case? > Regards, > Richard
RE: Is Silverlight dead ?
David, That's what I think as well, I'm getting into Silverlight for developing on the Windows Phone. From: ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com] On Behalf Of David Kean Sent: Wednesday, 22 September 2010 2:37 PM To: ozDotNet Subject: RE: Is Silverlight dead ? Silverlight is not dead. From: ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com] On Behalf Of Richard Jones Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 9:15 PM To: ozdotnet@ozdotnet.com Subject: Is Silverlight dead ? I don't want to start a flame war however I have been talking to some fellow developers and they mentioned that Microsoft is preferring to support HTML5 over silverlight. I think this is speculation to say the least. Anyway, I don't get it, when Microsoft are about to release Windows phone7 which uses Silverlight. Can anyone anyone confirm this is the case? Regards, Richard
Is Silverlight dead ?
I don't want to start a flame war however I have been talking to some fellow developers and they mentioned that Microsoft is preferring to support HTML5 over silverlight. I think this is speculation to say the least. Anyway, I don't get it, when Microsoft are about to release Windows phone7 which uses Silverlight. Can anyone anyone confirm this is the case? Regards, Richard
[OT] Websites listing uptodate rates for contracting
Does anyone know of any good websites that list up to date contracting rates for the IT industry. I know Seek.com.au has this functionality and some the agencies (Pimps) provide this on their site ? Reason why I'm asking this question is that when I do a search, I'm getting sites that have not been updated for some time. Richard
