Hiring a software developer to handle your critical software project can sometimes become a daunting task.  However, I believe the challenge can be minimized with a well structured set of software interview questions designed to reveal, not only the developers qualifications and experience, but also their project preferences and ability to quickly understand your particular needs.

Interview Questions for Developers

The real key to the software interview is to formulate questions that probe beyond generalities.  As an example, instead of asking the development question “Do you have experience in iPhone development?” ask “Describe how your experience in iPhone Development applies to the iPhone app I want you to build?” which, by contrast, tends to provide more background material.  You will also need to insert the occasional follow-up question like; “When you were explaining about this concept, you mentioned such and such … that sounded like it was very much to the point, can you tell me more?”

As you can see, software interview questions for a prospective developer are all about investigative techniques that, not only solicit an informational response, but also seek to delve deeper into the meaning and applicability of each response.  Part and parcel of that process is maintaining control over the interview itself.  What I mean by that comes from a great deal of personal experience.  Many interviewers get so busy explaining their software project and their business, they forget to listen.  So the rule of thumb I suggest you use is for you to do only about a third of the talking and get the software developer to do the other two thirds.  After all, you already know what you need … the question is … does the developer understand what you want … and will they apply their expertise in a way that directly addresses your project requirements.

Development Interview Questions

That being said, here are some ideas about questions you might want to configure for your developer interview.  Roughly speaking you might want to have at least Eight software interview questions for each of the following subject areas.

1. Your Specific Requirements; Beyond the typical “here’s what I need” list, but more along the lines of “How would you approach these needs?”
2. Elements of Function that You Require; Not just “I need my application to do this or that”, but  “Here is the functionality I’d like … is there a better way to do that?”
3. Elements of the Technical Design You Need; Not just “Do you understand the elements I’m looking to build?” but “Can you diagram the design elements?”
4. Specific Ideas on Construction and Design; Beyond “Does this make sense?” but “What would your approach be to putting together an architecture for this project?”
5. Testing Procedures; Beyond “do you check to confirm everything works” but “How do you implement testing procedures?”
6. Delivery Dates and Cost; Beyond “How much will this cost and how long is this going to take?” but “What is your approach to determining cost and ensuring delivery dates are met?”
7. Ongoing Management; Not just “Will my in-house team be trained to support our software” but “What is the process to getting enhancements made to my application?”
8. Warranties and Guarantees; Not just “Do you warrantee your work” but “Specifically, how does your warranty work? What is the timeframe of getting support work completed?”

The Right Development Questions for The Right Candidate

Part of success in the interviewing process obviously relates to interviewing the right candidates.  The best way to find the best candidates is usually through a professional referral.

I know many brilliant developers in the industry.  If you’d like me to provide a referral to you, I’d be happy to do that.  Just send me an email at dev@cspreston.com…then you won’t need to worry as much about asking the perfect software interview questions

Article written by Brett Miller

From the standpoint of a potential client, estimating costs for their Software Development project might seem to be a fairly simple task … but in reality it can be quite challenging. An evolving set of Project Requirements, Coding Intricacies, and Interacting Technologies are difficulties that must be tamed on order to create an accurate estimate of hours and costs. These estimates are, of course, part of a larger proposal and project plan that is used to land the new project. Without this, the potential client has little information to base his decision upon.

Clients can be very busy and might not have a complete picture of the technical side of a project. It can be difficult on their side to take the time to document all the background information for a given software project. Yet to provide a valid estimate, this must be done.

Using a project questionnaire can help facilitate the process of documenting all the pertinent background information. It also shows initiative by your company and can set a positive tone for the whole project. This article shares our basic Software Project Estimating Questionnaire so other developers can use it as a guide in getting information on a new project from their client.

Software Project Estimating Questionnaire

Get this info from your client:

Non Disclosure:
First things first. This should allow the client to feel comfortable sharing detailed information about the project with you.

General Project Overview:
What are the objectives of the project? Details Details Details.

Specific Software Development Tasks:
Put together a list that is prioritized in order of importance/urgency.
Clarify Needs vs. Wants.
What specific services do they want you to perform?
What is outside of your responsibility?
Is there an initial task or two that can be used to establish a rapport?

Project Time frame / Budget:
What is a realistic timeframe to start the project?
How urgent is this need?
Do they have a specific budget in mind?

Software Development Technologies:
List Programming Languages, Databases, Platforms, 3rd Party tools etc:
Is the application integrated with any external systems or data?

Environment:
Where is application hosted?
Is there a Test environment? Development? Production?

Access Details:
Have them setup a test account for you so you can see the application from the User Perspective.
(What’s user id / password?)
Have them setup access for you to their code / database / task management tool.
(Remote Desktop, Hosting account credentials, etc.)
or
Have them send code / database (via email or ftp) so you can review it from your own environment.

Project Documentation:
Provide any general documentation on the project (technical or user).

Software Development Project Team:
What is the structure of current team?
Relationship with existing or prior developers?
Contact Information (email/phone)
Who is decision maker?

Project Success:
How do they define success on project?
Importance of Price vs. Quickly Finishing vs. High Quality Work?
What is the biggest challenge they see for the project?

Follow Up Call:
Two potential times that they’re are available for phone call to discuss above information.

While it might not be possible to get answers to all of the questions above, do try to get as much as you can. This information acts as the foundation for your entire project. Act as the clients advocate in completing this questionnaire and thoroughly analyzing the information. Put together a solid proposal for them and enjoy the rewards of winning the project and a new client!

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Creating an innovative and popular iPhone App has become all the rage for many up-and-coming entrepreneurs (and business owners) and I certainly must applaud their efforts.  My software development company receives multiple inquiries every day from people with ingenious ideas that they want to develop into iPhone apps.

Obviously, there are millions of such ideas out there, but very few streak to the top of the charts and create great wealth.  As professional iPhone developers, we do everything in our power to explain the nuances of app development and the mobile app industry.  We’re passionate about understanding the reality of mobile app development and sharing what it takes to achieve success.

Some of the most frequent questions I field can be generally characterized into what I call “iPhone App Development Myths”.   These are things that have come to be commonly accepted beliefs and need to be seriously addressed … not as the proverbial “bitter pill” … but more like a good straight dose of ordinary reality.

Five iPhone App Myths I Hear Everyday:

• The Equity Partnership – Free iPhone Development – Myth
• App Development Costs under $1000 – Myth
• iPhone Do It Yourself (DIY) Development Tool – Myth
• Marketing my iPhone App is Not Necessary – Myth
• Software Development – Non Disclosure Agreements (NDA) – Myth
  

The App Store has made many people millionaires, but unfortunately even more have spent a lot of time and money with little or no reward.  The last thing I want to do is to discourage anyone from following their dreams.   At the very least, I do want people to know that it will require a tremendous amount of tenacity to make your idea work.

With all that being said, I would be happy to discuss your specific iPhone App idea with you to see how we can help make it successful.  I know many brilliant developers that can build practically anything.   I’ve also participated in the marketing efforts of a few apps that have skyrocketed to success.   Feel free to contact me at dev@cspreston.com if there is anything I can do to help you achieve a similar success.

“If You Build it, They Will Come!”  Unlike the movie, just building your App doesn’t mean anyone will actual know it exists.  If anything, finishing development is the point where the real work begins.

Marketing your iPhone App is Critical

There are so many great iPhone Apps these days that most new ones simply end up being lost in the shuffle.  “Lost” has nothing to do with the marketability, cleverness, or innovation of any proposed idea, product, or service … it only means no one ever found your App.  “Found” is the function of a well conceived and executed marketing and advertising effort encapsulating all the best known attention grabbing ploys that top marketeers use, and more.

Your marketing and advertising effort is at least as important as the development services themselves, if not more so.  Be prepared to spend more time and money then you did on the App itself.  Your innovate App and hope of success lies in being discovered and discussed among iPhone users.  And one more point, your marketing and advertising needs to be continuous.  The minute you stop your marketing campaign you’ll begin to fall behind other Apps that are vying for iPhone user’s attention and discretionary spending.

Hiring iPhone Development Company for Marketing Efforts

Many iPhone development companies can assist in defining and executing a marketing strategy.  I would advise people to interview several companies.  Discuss their specific approach and cost structure against potential revenue and downloads.  Have them explain in depth some success stories to ensure they have solid experience and expertise.

Other iPhone App Myths I Hear Everyday:

• The Equity Partnership – Free iPhone Development – Myth
• App Development Costs under $1000 – Myth
• iPhone Do It Yourself (DIY) Development Tool – Myth
• Software Development – Non Disclosure Agreements (NDA) – Myth

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False Assumption:  I’ve seen advertisements and rumors about cheap App Development Costs and Do It Yourself App Dev Tools, so I’m convinced I should be able to get my App built properly for under $1000.

Unrealistically Cheap App Development Costs

Unfortunately, there are some developers that advertise unrealistic App Development Costs to lure you into their web (forgive the play on words) … then upsell you to what app development services really costs.  Apps are all about appearance, functionality, and usability.  Clearly, the Mobile Apps that do these things well, are the ones that have the best chance of succeeding.  Frankly it is unrealistic to expect a high level of user acceptance and positive word of mouth if you are only willing (or able) to spend the absolute bare-bones minimum.

There is an old adage that teaches “good isn’t cheap and cheap isn’t good” and it is especially true when looking at Mobile App Development Costs.  In my experience the bottom price point for a simple, yet professionally done App is around $3000.  Below that I would be very skeptical about deliverable quality, reliability of the developer, and the potential to be scammed (as most developers require payment up front).

Your idea may be the best thing since sliced bread, but in the world of Apps, it’s all about presentation and marketing effort.  There are already hundreds of thousands of Apps, the competition is stiff, and people’s attention spans are short, so your idea needs to capture their imagination the instant they see it.  You are better off saving your money so that you can do things right, rather than make an underfunded attempt.

App Development Estimate

Here is one good approach to consider.   Get a referral from a business colleague to an app developer that can give you a cost quote based on your specific needs.  Add or Subtract features as your budget and needs allows.  Determine if there is functionality you can postpone building till future phases.  Ask them to show you their portfolio of project produce within your specific budget.  If you only want to spend $3,000, why look at the $20,000 projects?

Other iPhone App Myths I Hear Everyday:

• The Equity Partnership – Free iPhone Development – Myth
• iPhone Do It Yourself (DIY) Development Tool – Myth
• Marketing my iPhone App is Not Necessary – Myth
• Software Development – Non Disclosure Agreements (NDA) – Myth

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False Assumption:  I shouldn’t share any details about my software development project (or iphone app idea) until I have a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) in place!

I believe that generalities (and overall objectives) of a project can be shared in order to determine if putting an NDA in place even makes sense.

Software Development NDAs are Critical but…

NDAs are undoubtedly important, but let’s put that concern in its proper context.  A software development companies’ skills and focus are primarily on providing development services to their clients.  This requires building a team of highly talented and qualified developers and project managers.  Honing their skills and building their reputations as time goes on becomes a key part of their longevity and viability.  Stealing client ideas certainly does not lend itself well to building long term client relationships.  And frankly, the commitments of time, energy, and money required to make an App successful can be a strain on any company, especially when their focus and primary skill sets lie in other areas.

It doesn’t make business sense for a seasoned developer to diversify into the unknown, where entrepreneurial and marketing skills are so critical.  It just isn’t worth the risk when they already have a successful career with a high salary.

You Still Need a Non Disclosure Agreement

Nevertheless, I absolutely advise you to get an NDA in place before sharing the confidential parts of your ideas with anyone.  Our software development company takes all the NDAs we have in place very seriously.  Check with your attorney to ensure the agreement that you use thoroughly protects your intellectual property from unintended uses.

A final notation, getting an NDA in place only protects you to the extent you are willing to pursue it in a court of law.  In the remote change that someone does steal your idea, you will need to file a lawsuit.  Unfortunately, a lawsuit is usually a lengthy and time consuming process that is expensive (and emotionally draining) to pursue.  You might not recover anything, even if you are in the right (perhaps they have no money for you to collect or they go out of business).

Please bear in mind this information is based on my individual perspective as an owner of a software development company that has executed hundreds of contracts over the years. I am not an attorney and this should not be construed as legal advice.

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Building a professional looking Mobile App takes a great deal of expertise involving mobile design, graphics, user interface and integration with back end data.  Many DIY tools claim the ability to build great Mobile Apps, some even in a matter of minutes.  But there is an assumption that the user is reasonably comfortable with application development concepts and is experienced in graphic design, usability and marketing elements that capture the public’s attention with their first glance.

iPhone Development Requires Actual Developers

Who are they kidding?  A fully qualified development company has teams of people who specialize in each individual facet of the development and marketing process.  Can a template encapsulate all that expertise and know how plus deliver it in a tool box that allows a novice user to accomplish something impressive?  I doubt it! The fact is that those iPhone DIY tools quickly run into limitations where you can’t quite build what you want.

I guess you could go online and learn how to do the maintenance on your car too, but isn’t it just smarter to just hire a trained mechanic?

iPhone User Interface

The pure mechanics of producing an iPhone App is one thing, but knowing the ins and outs of developing a solid presentation (that will bring users back for more) is quite another.  Templates simply do not have the flexibility to allow every type of configuration to properly occur at least without some level of limitation.  There are marketing executives that make millions for their expertise because they regularly deal with innovators and they know how to capture the public’s imagination and curiosity.  Sorry, templates can’t and don’t do that.

iPhone DIY Tools Geared for Hobbyist

My feeling is that these iPhone DIY tools are better suited for people taking up App Development as a hobby or as a trial step toward considering a career in software development.

If your plan is build a business with its cornerstone being a mobile app, you’re going to want to work with a talented developer.  Simply put, a Do It Yourself project is probably not the right way to go if you want a professional looking iPhone app.

Other iPhone App Myths I Hear Everyday:

• The Equity Partnership – Free iPhone Development – Myth
• App Development Costs under $1000 – Myth
• Marketing my iPhone App is Not Necessary – Myth
• Software Development – Non Disclosure Agreements (NDA) – Myth

False Assumption:  If I’m willing to share future revenue in my iPhone app idea, I can get a qualified developer to build it without charging me (free iPhone Development for potential revenue).

Qualified and talented iPhone developers are very busy people…opportunities are everywhere.  Most developers actually require advanced deposits to even start a project.  Why? … because they have ongoing expenses to pay, like rent, insurance and taxes.  Plus with plenty of solid “paying” opportunities knocking at their door, with little or no risk, and with retainers paid up front, it isn’t hard to imagine why they would turn down your idea for sharing the sometimes elusive promise of “future potential”. Most developers interpret this request to be akin to giving Free iPhone Development services.

iPhone App Development Salaries near $140,000

Many individual full time development employees earn salaries of up to $140k per year.  As a developer it is not the kind of money you give up to build an iPhone App for free, no matter how good the opportunity might look.

Technically speaking, taking on a development/equity partner is akin to asking for a “cost of development” loan.  The only difference is … if the idea flops, most risks and costs have been shifted to the developer.  Think about it .. if a developer spends the many hours required to build your iPhone app, why would they go for a 50/50 split? They are the ones who are using their marketable skills. Plus there are millions of potential viable ideas out there that are easy to dream up.   Remember the old quote “Success is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration”.

No Free iPhone App Development…Sorry

It might be worthwhile to consider financing your development project yourself.  You keep controlling interest and you get all the profits down the line.  The only drawback is that if the iPhone app project flops, you absorb all the costs.   But here is an interesting point, if you’re not willing to accept the risk, how would you convince a developer to do it for you (for what they would consider free)?

No doubt it’s going to take a certain amount of capital to develop your iPhone App and to take a shot at making your dream come true.  But if your App does take off for the moon, do you really want to share the ride?  What about control, are you willing to give that up too?  If not, you’ll probably need to find a way to simply pay for your own iPhone App Development Costs.

Article written by Brett Miller

How can you answer the undefinable question of “What does PHP Software Development Cost?”  The challenge lies in the fact that, without knowing the specific functionality required, accurate cost estimates and hourly rates are impossible.  There are hundreds of factors that potentially play into the equation of PHP cost and rate, so our only avenue is to peel back the layers, make some generalizations, and then examine some of the more salient points.

PHP Development Background

PHP is currently the most popular programming language for developing dynamic content and eCommerce websites.  It is an open source (meaning no cost) part of the software bundle labeled LAMP, which is Linux (operating system), Apache (web server), mySql (database) and PHP (programming language).

It has been used to create the Content Management System’s (CMS): WordPress, Joomla and Drupal (among others). These CMS systems allow non technical users to easily customize the content and pages of their website.  Additionally, plug-ins are used to add popular functionality (like a “Contact Us” form or twitter/like buttons).  PHP and HTML are used as the underlying architecture and sew all functionality together.  It is utilized for maintenance and for enhancements, as these packages will rarely do everything exactly the way you want.

PHP is comparatively easy to learn and to use, which sometimes encourages novice developers to try their hand at professional coding.  Unfortunately, novice coding techniques can create many functional issues; i.e., fixing one problem causes malfunctions in three other places.  This is a symptom of “spaghetti coding” and it can be both difficult and costly to fix.  Novice developers are everywhere in the industry, enticing unsuspecting clients with low hourly rates and fast promises.  But good isn’t cheap, and cheap isn’t good …  many highly experienced and qualified developers will not even take a project to repair “spaghetti coding” regardless of the rates offered.

Now to the good stuff: Rates, Costs, Money!

PHP Hourly Rates & Costs

PHP Rates typically average between $30 and $120 an hour.  The lower side of the range is where you will find most novice developers as they usually work exclusively on the simplest of all applications.  Just keep in mind that if the application is not built properly future modifications may become a major and costly headache … or could even become impossible without starting over from scratch.

The wisest approach would be to select the most experienced developer you can afford.  It almost seems counterintuitive, but developers at $70 per hour are usually more affordable (in the long run) than someone at $30 an hour.  Would you want to use an auto mechanic that only charged $30 an hour?  Probably (and wisely) not!

PHP Development Project Costs

Simple CMS / HTML based PHP websites and functionality can be built for as little as $1500.  When you need eCommerce capabilities you are usually looking at double that cost figure (building a very simple eCommerce solution).  Advanced features can easily drive the price up to $20,000 (and well beyond) for the most technically advance and desirable features/functionality.

Do you want to sell an item or two … or do you need the full spectrum of glitz and glory (like an eBay)? As expected, this answer dramatically affects your project costs

Finding Your PHP Developer

Using a Google search to finding software development services is a standard initial step in the selection process. I certainly cannot find fault with that, assuming you have the time to really drill down into what you find.  Keep in mind that high search engine position does not equate to qualifications or experience.

I like to encourage people to seek referrals.  Find someone you know and trust who has direct experience in working with a developer, get names, and check that the developers portfolio meets your expectations.

If you can’t find referral like that … feel free to contact me at dev@cspreston.com.  I have worked directly with a wide variety of highly skilled and talented software developers over the years and would be happy to help with an introduction.

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Magento Licensing Costs as of Dec 10, 2011

• Magento Community – Free – non critical websites
• Magento Go – $180 – $1500 per year (billed monthly) simple small business solution
• Magento Professional – $2995 per year (small business solution)
• Magento Enterprise $12990 per year (enterprise business solution)

Actual Magento Development Cost

The Magento licensing costs indicated above are only one small part of the pricing equation. You also need a Magento software development partner.  But be careful here, that partner can save (or cost) you a tremendous amount of money, depending entirely on their skill level.

Chances are you have a list of features you would like to see implemented on your website.  Your eCommerce developer should be able to guide you as to what can be built in a cost effective manner (and certainly how).

Magento Development Hourly Rates

Generally, Magento developers are paid in the range of $60 – $150 an hour.  This is obviously based on skill level and experience.

Look for the middle ground in hourly pricing rates.  On the lower side of hourly rates, there is a much greater risk of running into problems (or failure) during development.  If they were that good they would charge more (to match their counterparts).

On the higher side of rates, you are typically paying a premium for something akin to “Name Brand Recognition” … which does not always relate directly to better performance or shorter development hours.

Total Magento Project Costs

Total Magento project costs  are very hard to outline without knowing the particulars of your eCommerce project.  Are you Amazon or just trying to sell two products online?  Do you have many products, shipping and/or configuration options?  These factors will all add to the cost of the building the solution.

Want the simple answer? Sure!…basic Magento based websites can cost as little as $5,000 for a developer to build and configure.  On the complicated side (with all the options) you could be talking $100,000.  Not including licensing.

What will Magento Cost Me … Ask a Developer!

The only true way to know your Magento costs will be to speak with an experienced developer.  They need to fully understand your situation and project objectives.  Then, assuming you have chosen the right eCommerce developer, they should be able to give you an accurate proposal and quote.

Who is this “right developer”, you might ask?  I recommend getting a referral from someone in your professional network. Make sure they have worked with this person/company and can speak from direct experience about their abilities and professionalism.  Seriously, avoid that old quip about, “Oh I think my brother’s girlfriend’s cousin might do Magento (or maybe that was Mahjong)!”.  That’s not the type of referral I’m talking about.

If you can’t find anyone who can offer a quality referral, I would be happy to share a referral from my own network of talented and professional Magento developers.  At the very least, I can speak directly to the past performance of these experts with whom I have prior business experience.

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