How to find a contract web developer/programmer in DC?
August 5, 2016 10:24 AM Subscribe
My workplace has a basic web application working with a set of databases that is in dire need of reworking and improvements to make it more functional, improve the built-in analytic capabilities, make it easier to manage and update, and maybe make it prettier. Our current contract programmer isn't up to the task, so we're looking to contract this out to a new person or agency. How do I go about finding the right developer/programmer and scoping the project when I know next to nothing about web development?
A little more background about the website:
It's currently built on the LAMP stack. It's a web application that has several sets of static databases. Users are given web-based access to a specific database, where they make selections to build up a portfolio of options, which are then captured for more detailed analysis. In concept it's similar to having users build an investment portfolio, with information about the stock, price, future earning potential, etc. with analysis of their selections afterwards. e.g. What stock selections did a user make? How does it compare to their current portfolio? How do their selections compare to others'?
It's in need of a pretty thorough overhaul from this first web-based iteration (it had an earlier life as an Excel document and then an Access database, before my time). We want to make it easier to create, update and maintain the various databases, manage user accounts and access, do in-tool calculations, have live visualizations of choices made, and have better analytic capabilities. It would be nice to improve the website design, but that's not the priority.
I am leading this project. We have a pretty good understanding of what functional results we want, but little-to-no tech knowledge of what that entails. We'd prefer someone local for meetings, etc. but could work with a remote person.
What skill sets am I looking for? How do I find a reputable developer/programmer?
How should we be structuring this project to get a sense of what the costs of the project would be, define the scope appropriately, evaluate their work, and make sure we're getting good value?
Thanks for your help!
A little more background about the website:
It's currently built on the LAMP stack. It's a web application that has several sets of static databases. Users are given web-based access to a specific database, where they make selections to build up a portfolio of options, which are then captured for more detailed analysis. In concept it's similar to having users build an investment portfolio, with information about the stock, price, future earning potential, etc. with analysis of their selections afterwards. e.g. What stock selections did a user make? How does it compare to their current portfolio? How do their selections compare to others'?
It's in need of a pretty thorough overhaul from this first web-based iteration (it had an earlier life as an Excel document and then an Access database, before my time). We want to make it easier to create, update and maintain the various databases, manage user accounts and access, do in-tool calculations, have live visualizations of choices made, and have better analytic capabilities. It would be nice to improve the website design, but that's not the priority.
I am leading this project. We have a pretty good understanding of what functional results we want, but little-to-no tech knowledge of what that entails. We'd prefer someone local for meetings, etc. but could work with a remote person.
What skill sets am I looking for? How do I find a reputable developer/programmer?
How should we be structuring this project to get a sense of what the costs of the project would be, define the scope appropriately, evaluate their work, and make sure we're getting good value?
Thanks for your help!
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The next stage is harder, but closely reading resumes for problem solving and matching some technologies should easily get a list of folks worth talking. The start getting some on the phone and discussing details of the problem. Have technical details available. A list of current problems (bugs) is useful. A view of the current tables and some of the code will help someone give an estimate.
Then you need to talk to see if it's someone you and your group can work with, the right level of reasonableness, they "get" you and the converse.
Having a few bounded issues as clearly defined will give the prospect something to get a handle on to give a good estimate. Software estimation is notoriously inaccurate, clear ideas (specification) of what folks want with specific formulas, lists or sizes of lists, examples of an analysis, sketches of what results look like all help. If you have a big list of updates/changes/new functionality that should be shared with a finalist. The smallest "chunk" of a project that would be useful can be a good first step, and it's contract so if there are not good results you can continue to look.
posted by sammyo at 12:00 PM on August 5, 2016