Thread

So I got an urgent email last night from a client who wants a new site built.  Here is how the specs read:

Keep in mind that the max dev time is 40 - 80 hours and all graphics/css are provided.

  1. Photographer (my client) uploads folder (FTP) of images - In admin -configures and activates gallery, applies size/price set, each print size has individual attributes that can effect the price.
  2. Every image can then be ordered in different sizes.  Each gallery can have password protection, an expiration, and other basic configurations.
  3. The photographer’s client can have special privileges to view orders on gallery, gallery statistics, add a guest book, create favorites and publish it as a viewable list.
  4. Friends & Family of photographers client can view / order images.  They can also share them through Facebook or other social apps.
  5. On first visit to a gallery the visitor must enter their email to access image gallery, at the same time they can choose to receive automated email notifications of gallery updates, expiration, etc.  Sessions are tracked by the visitors email address, statistics are tracked by it.
  6. Visitor can view /order/share and also create their own favorites.
  7. Checkout would require full registration by visitor in which they create an account (with password) and can access it anytime to view orders, status, communication settings and more.
  8. Automated emails would essentially run from admin and notifications such as order status change (Processed to Shipped), gallery expiration notifications (Cron), promotions, etc.

So, no problem there.  It’ll be a tight race but seems doable.  But, got an additional email a few minutes later that read like this:

Required Features for project:
User Access Levels (Visitor, Registered, Client, Admin, Super Admin)
- User levels allow access to additional features.  Client has front-end administration of images, view orders, statistics, favorites… Admin can manage galleries in backend, view orders, statistics but not mess with configuration…
E-commerce
- Allows the images to be purchased with unique price sets & print attributes
Automated Emails
- Cron jobs to run emailing
Template / Theme system
- Ability to style and change not only the look by CSS but also configure different layouts.
Auto - Installer
- Ability to deliver app and have installer run to setup system on any shared environment with just having the mySQL details… think Wordpress
Upgrade
- thinking ahead to upgrades so that core theme, template system are never overwritten but application can be upgraded thorugh simple upload and login process.

Most of that is along the same lines as what he was requesting before, but with some features(Theming, templating, installer, upgrader “Like Wordpress in his words”)  that are just absolutely out of the question given the time constraint.

So, he’s basically spelled out, if you can’t do this within this amount of time - tell me who can.  I consider myself a pretty good developer.  I’ve worked with some top notch guys including developers on the symfony and doctrine projects, but I’m questioning whether this is a feasible project or If I need to drill down and really work on my skills.

Thoughts?

I’d say in the time the request is a bit ridiculous. Especially with the new features as you mentioned. It could probably be done without the upgrade thing. And actually the installer isn’t that hard. Just a simple form which can be filled and add the values to the sql script. But i suppose even that would need him to edit the config. A decent theme/templating system may take up all the time on its own. To make it robust enough and have it well thought out.

I worked on a similar project, it took me three months. You need to be really organized, and do not forget the user documentation (for Your client) and a functionality reference (for You). That project got me into version control…
The project seems to be too complex (unless Your client is a real computer crack). The time / cost frame is not realistic, unless You can build it upon an already existing stable modular system.

So, he’s basically spelled out, if you can’t do this within this amount of time - tell me who can.

I’ve had a couple of potential clients like that.  I generally come back with a counter offer giving them a realistic time-frame of how long that would take, and what I would charge for the service.  If they insist it can be done faster, I let them know they are welcome to find a developer who is willing to work for no pay, that I don’t do that.  If they ask for a recommendation on who else could do the job, I tell them I don’t know of anyone who can do it any faster than I can, but if they look hard enough they might find an inexperienced developer who doesn’t know not to take a job under those conditions.

If it is truly a time/deadline issue with this person, then see if they are willing to pay the triple or quadruple fee you would deserve for expediting this on a 24/7 work path.  If they are trying to keep the time down to keep from having to pay as much, then I would pass.  Those aren’t the kind of clients that have kept my bills paid, and they can cut enough into your time asking for more free add-ons once you start to prevent you from taking more clients that will actually pay better. 

My 2 cents.