I am a programmer and coming from philippines (considered a poor country), $.50 = 24 pesos only, you know how much an uneducated person who works at a local McDo burger stand here earns? almost 32 pesos which is around $.65 (depends on exchange rate). That is a no-brainer job already. I think that rate is too low for a programmer. I think you are under-estimating poor countries regarding this issue. The reason off-shore sometimes charges more than local developers is because a lot of clients already trusts offshore quality, and offshore people tend to be more adaptive and doesnt complain too much over excess work hours. So the trend somehow got reversed, instead of work getting cheaper for offshore people, it is getting more expensive. Please do the math and research a little bit more... no offense, but somehow this topic made me a little edgy and off-beat. My suggestion is that you just get a piece-work job, you pay per work you offer instead of a per hour deal... I am not sure if you can "ever" get a programmer at that rate.
I guess since this post seems to be so "popular" I will explain my project and maybe people will understand why I choose my price. First off I do not have a budget to hire full-time experienced programmer... my project is creating a small online game using visual basic... I will be doing the project too myself and was seeking someone that is looking to make some extra cash to help me with it... now if the game is completed and it is released and revenue starts to come in the programmer would also receive well... a "big" bonus and I would also offer a spot to help update the game at a much higher rate... so basically it is not just hiring someone to create a web app... it paying someone to work with me to develop something you can stick in your portfolio and also get a stake into something that might get semi-popular with recurring revenue which would pay off more than just doing freelance work in the long run... hope this helps. I'm not looking for slaves to do everything, I'm more or less looking for someone that might share the same end goal as me and will also pick up a little extra cash which might be a decent amount by time the project is finished (in their countries currency). Thing is when it comes to non-company based indie game projects I would say (nothing to support this statement) over 75% of them pay absolutely nothing. Trust me I respect programmers very much so that is why I'm willing to pay what little I have to have another programmer on this project with me, I have 2 years of computer info science under my belt and understand the kind of work that is at task... and the thing is I will be using an engine which simplifies the code so it is not like I'm looking for someone to build the game ground up, more or less program/script features into the game.
Well, at least this somehow justifies your call for a programmer, it now sounds more of a venture rather than a job... honestly, if you would have post this earlier, you wouldnt have gotten some flames over the topic by some people (including me)... Goodluck on your venture...
Well rather than paying them $0.50 fixed budget, and giving them a "if we do this" situation you should be more considerate. You pay programmers what they're worth, and if you underpay you aren't even going to get HTML, never mind Visual Basic. Programmers spend years learning languages professionally, and that doesn't build up to such little cash. What if your "game" doesn't make cash? That programmer has spent countless hours of work for absolutely nothing. You'll probably lose contact with him, and then sell on the script (more $ for you) which then - ripped off the poor. Okay, fair enough you don't have a good budget. But, so what? You want to belittle the knowledgeable from third-world countries. That's not right, If you can't afford them - don't try to fool them either. Pay them properly, or don't hire them. Dam right awful. If your that desperate, go learn it yourself (as you claim to have 2 years in a computing degree).
I assume you did not read the whole post, I'm more or less hiring them for extra work, not a full time job. I'm not promising the game will be released either, that is why I'm providing some form of pay. Please calm down mate If you care to hear another story I'll lay one on this thread because it seems to not be dying... When I was younger and just starting Computer Info Science I was offered a spot on a game from a small company. Well long story short I worked for 6 months to have the company shut down and never receive my pay (was promised to see it at game release) and I did not even own the rights to the programming I had done (contract). So I know in the indie game world their are lots of promises but very little are kept... that is why I feel by me even offering someone that would like to work on an indie game what money I can give them upfront for their work PLUS pay if game is released is showing respect for the person.
4 hours = 2$. if they work 20 hours a week = 10$. a month = 40$ for a part time job. it's ok in my country. But It's still low for good coders. good luck to you. I dont have any advice. If your business is serious, large, stick with your local employees so you can summon them anytime you like.
Bla Bla Bla ... So what? Because you were ripped-off or scammed that does not give you the right to do the same to other people, and $.50 an hour is what it is - a complete rip-off. More over do you really think that for $.50 an hour you will get programmer better then yourself who will be able to help you in development? If yes then how much your skills are worth $.25/hour?
Elance.com is a very nice place (because of the usability) and unrealistic cheap. But the most of the programmers and designers comes from India and Pakistan and they are very stupid in the quality.
Would you rather have wanna be programmer spend 20 hours on something instead of an average programmer spending 2-4 hours? You definitely need to be more clear in advertising that this is a partnership/venture rather than anything. Good luck.
Do you really think you will find someone for $.50??? Even if you do, what type of idiot are you? Anyone that will do anything for $.50 will put out the worst material. You think you know business because you you want to find the cheapest work? You are wrong buddy. Cheap is expensive and I hope you learn the hard way.
Why not you go through a college then offer the student to do the job for you. I believe they will do it at your price coz for them its their side income.
I think you are living in some other time because I have 5 Pakistani programmers and 7 Indian programmers working in our offshore company, all hired through elance.com and rentacoder.com and they are not stupid but rather very intelligent and skillful. I think you need to correct your false assumptions because trust me I have seen very stupid programmers with shit quality in our country, USA.