Hi, I have a job, for a programmer, advertised at a freelance site http://www.guru.com/emp/ProjectDetail.aspx?ProjectID=664727 Firstly, for some perplexing reason despite stating my preference for a php programmer, mainly beacause I want to use wordpress and have been learning the language myself, very few of them have bid on the job, the one "quality" applicant, can't finish the job in the time frame I want. The other applicants suggest using languages ranging from Java to Perl and everything in betwen At this stage I have narrowed it down to an actionscript programmer who is, based on his body of work, easily the most talented. But we all know the problems with flash, with Apple products being so popular. The other programmer, still in contention for the job, is a Perl programmer,. When I told him I really wanted to use Wordpress as the CMS he suggested I use Movable Type. instead. After a great deal of research I made my mind up that it was not for me as simple things like finding a designer to skin the site, in a short time frame, would be very difficult. Also IMHO Movable Type gives off the odour of a dying CMS Anyway, my question is: Because I am extremely pressed for time should I use either of the programmers currently in contention for the job, or should I bite the bullet and seek out a suitably qualified PHP programmer. Thanks in advance for any advice on this matter Cheers Don
If your paying for a programmer you should be paying for their expertise. If they think that JSP/J2EE is the best way to achieve what you want why would you go against it? Surely thats the tail wagging the dog? Either do things the purist way, list ALL your objectives and ask people to bid on your project based on "free choice" - we wouldnt have bid on any project naming PHP or Wordpress. Alternatively bite the bullet that you want WP for whatever reason and relist the job as either a WP skinner or a WP component creator.
I appreciate you may be an outstanding programmer, in all languages, but I'm absolutely sure that not all the programmers,who bid on my job, are as talented as you are. Do you really think the programmer who suggested actionscript did so because it was in my best interests? Do you really think he is just as adept in Java, Perl and Php? I doubt it . He suggested actionscript, because it's the language he is outstanding in programming in. I don't have any problems with that as that's the way it works in every industry as long the job gets done properly who gives a shite how it's accomplished. - I did list ALL my objectives. A) I wanted a website program designed B) I'd prefer if it was programmed in php C)) I outlined the program in sufficient detai so that they could make educated bids The private message boards were then used to clarify issues. Umm when did I ever say that it was set in stone that I was using Word press? I didn't. If you read my initial post it says "I want to use Wordpress" I was always open to change, just yesterday i spent three hours researching Movable Type. Basically if it didn't have such a ghost town of community around it I would be using it. One final thing, most industries have to deal with uniformed customers. Sure it's irritating but it's a reality of doing business, At least I try to do the best I can to become informed, or isn't hundreds of hours research good enough for you? Cheers Don
We are not experts at all programming languages but we do not go after projects where our chosen methodologies do not suit it as poor quality results do not give happy clients and therefore no repeat business nor referrals and this is where 95% of our business comes from (which is great as there is no marketing costs). B however makes it wooly not a free choice - whilst we havent used these types of sites for many years, as soon as we saw "prefer php" then instantly we would not bid on it (typically there were anything up to 200 projects a day that we "qualified for" so needed easy ways of filtering). On the basis you got a some java and actionscript suggestions it can mean people arent reading what your saying (which begs the question of how many other of your requirements have they not read correctly) or want to try and convince you to go away from your preference (which I think as a supplier will rarely give a good return on investment) I would reiterate that it is either best to be a true client, list what functionality the site must have and let your potential suppliers create the solution or decide you know that you want WP or PHP for whatever reason and state that this must be the case therefore anyone who does suggest anything else cannot read requirements and shouldn't be selected for that reason alone.