Hello all, I haven't had any work done on my sites before from an outside source who I didn't know. I need to get some work done now on one of my sites and I was wondering what is the correct procedure? Do I send them my files in a zip and they can look at everything? or Do I give them my ftp login and password so they can look at everything? or is there another method I am unaware of ? I am sure that everyone is going to say that I shouldn't give away the ftp account, but what if I created a temp login and password and just delete when he is done with the work? Any help on this issue would be great. Thanks Zack B
The method depends on the trust between you and your developer, the private details available on your server, the new work..... If you have a database that contains hightly confidential matters, then I would advice you not to provide access to your server. Ask him to show you a demo on his server (most developers will be having their own server for hosting). Also some developers won't allow setting up the demo on your server, and again that depends on the amount of trust between you guys. If your new work needs data from your server, then there is no other option but give him access to your server.
Depends on what you need done. When I do PHP work, I generally require access to the server (or I end up with complaints when my script doesn't play nicely with their server's PHP settings). For HTML/design/Flash work (so pretty much anything that's exclusively client-side) I just do it on my computer and email it to them.
First: set the rules, guidelines, the scope of the project, something for the developer to "sign-off" on. Second: give the developer something legal to sign off on (a binding contract) that says he will follow the scope. (Make sure it's a good scope with timelines and deadlines... otherwise developers could drag this out for months/years) Third: now that the rules are in place, and a contract to enforce it is set, follow up with your part of the bargain, and pay half of the $$. Forth: do not be pushy with the developer, asking for daily updates. Asking for weekly updates is very fair on both parties. Fifth: if the project is complete - and all expectations have been meet by both parties, pay the other half of the money. (Note, if the developer tries to screw you... not a problem, you have a legal and binding contract to take to the authorities) (Note, if the client tries to screw you developers, the same applies...) This is the process we take at our company and it has worked very well so far