Start from scratch vs. modification with existing one - which is easier for you?

Discussion in 'Programming' started by Sxperm, Apr 15, 2007.

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  1. #1
    Hi programmer,

    I'm going to hire PG to do my new idea site. But I'm thinking about 2 ways to make them - start from scratch or modification existing one. I thought modification one should be easier but he told me start from scratch much easier for him and he is going to charge me more expensive if I choose him to modify one instead of start from scratch. He said he cannot give me a fix price for this type of jobs and charge me in hours condition, but he can offer me a fix price if I choose him to start from scratch. Is it true or not? what should I do or choose?
     
    Sxperm, Apr 15, 2007 IP
  2. rodney88

    rodney88 Guest

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    #2
    Of course its "true" - it's his own choice how he wants to charge, but if you mean does it make sense then yes it does. If you're making something from scratch, you can estimate fairly accurately how long it will take and offer a fixed price for it. If your programmer has to build off someone else's code, he has no idea what is already there and how long it will take to get new code integrated and working with the existing code.

    The best option will depend entirely on what you need, what the existing script can do, how easily extendible the existing code is and how flexible your coder is. You can't possibly expect anyone to advise you which course to take without at least giving a few rough details.
     
    rodney88, Apr 15, 2007 IP
  3. designcode

    designcode Well-Known Member

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    #3
    Starting from scratch is really easy, because you have control on your application from beginning. You write every bit of code, so you can switch within different parts of code in no time.

    While modifying third party script you first need to go through their code to understand their coding style and framework etc.

    I also prefer to develop new application instead of modifying existing ones.
     
    designcode, Apr 15, 2007 IP
  4. krakjoe

    krakjoe Well-Known Member

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    #4
    It makes sense for him to say that, he doesn't know the code and so he cannot know how long he will have to work on it, nearly every programmer hates every other programmers code ..... from a programmers perspective it's definately nicer to start over, but surely a users perspective must be the same, I mean do you wanna new website, or do you wanna take someone elses and modify it .........
     
    krakjoe, Apr 16, 2007 IP