Rails - Nov 2009 - Advice on finding a Ruby on Rails developer and/or an outsourced company

To all,

Looking for advice on how to find a developer or outsourced company
that is experienced in Ruby on Rails to take a current software
program built on Access/visual basic and Crystal Reports to the web
using the RoR framework.

I am a business person and have no idea on how to find the right
person/people to work with, what questions to ask so that I know they
have the right experience and what should be paid (this product is
currently being boot-strapped - but I fully understand the
consequences of cheap, inexperienced development).

Lastly, is it possible to find a good programmer and designer in one
or is always better to use two different people?

Your advice is appreciated!
Damien.

Damien wrote:
> To all,
> 
> Looking for advice on how to find a developer or outsourced company
> that is experienced in Ruby on Rails to take a current software
> program built on Access/visual basic and Crystal Reports to the web
> using the RoR framework.
> 
Why have you decided on Rails before finding a developer?  In general, 
it is best to let the developer make the technical decisions.
> I am a business person and have no idea on how to find the right
> person/people to work with, what questions to ask so that I know they
> have the right experience and what should be paid (this product is
> currently being boot-strapped - but I fully understand the
> consequences of cheap, inexperienced development).
That''s tough.  You could start with the Joel Test, although
that''s
really meant to qualify possible places to work.  But if you''re hiring 
developers, you are either going to have to become knowledgeable enough 
to ask the right questions, or you''ll have to hire a lead developer to 
ask the questions for you.
> 
> Lastly, is it possible to find a good programmer and designer in one
> or is always better to use two different people?
> 
It depends on the people and the project.  Don''t expect to find both in
one person, but know that lightning might strike.
> Your advice is appreciated!
> Damien.
Best,
--
Marnen Laibow-Koser
http://www.marnen.org
marnen-sbuyVjPbboAdnm+yROfE0A@public.gmane.org
-- 
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.

You might want to check out the freelancers listed on
http://www.workingwithrails.com/. For companies, try
http://www.railsdevelopment.com/.

I''m biased, as the company I employed by works on several open source
projects, but looking at the reputation of a developer or companies
OSS work is one way to get a feeling of their work.

Cheers,
Walter
Katipo Communications, Ltd. (http://katipo.co.nz)
Kete Project Lead (http://kete.net.nz)
http://twitter.com/wtem

P.S. - contact me offlist if you want to talk to me about your project.


On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 2:58 PM, Damien
<damien.moroney-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org>
wrote:
>
> To all,
>
> Looking for advice on how to find a developer or outsourced company
> that is experienced in Ruby on Rails to take a current software
> program built on Access/visual basic and Crystal Reports to the web
> using the RoR framework.
>
> I am a business person and have no idea on how to find the right
> person/people to work with, what questions to ask so that I know they
> have the right experience and what should be paid (this product is
> currently being boot-strapped - but I fully understand the
> consequences of cheap, inexperienced development).
>
> Lastly, is it possible to find a good programmer and designer in one
> or is always better to use two different people?
>
> Your advice is appreciated!
> Damien.
>
> >
>