Some minimal planning and analysis of your project will help prevent gray hairs and watching the sun come up when you go to deploy that web application your client has been waiting for. Here are some simple things all web developers should know:
Get full access to the clients code and database
Seems like a no-brainer, but some clients are iffy about giving consultants access. It’s your job to explain to them why you need access to their backend and how it will be difficult to complete the project without it.
Review the clients code and database structure
You don’t want to ever go into a project expecting the clients existing code to be well-commented object oriented code with a well-designed rational database with 100% referential integrity. This is often not the case. Lots of developers out there just hammer out the code and don’t use classes. I’ve seen a lot of sub-par code out there and bad database design. If this is the case you will either need to charge the client more for the project or talk the client into rewriting the system. Going into a project and getting blindsided by bad code will make your hair go gray.
Don’t give a time and cost estimate until you’ve reviewed the code, database, and done some flow charting
You’ll end up going over your time and cost estimate which means your client will be angry or you’ll end up working for free towards the end.
Mockups and examples
Create some simple html/css mockups of the layout and how the data will be arranged and access. A lot of times requirements change or better ways of implementing a feature come up when the client see’s an example of how the end product will look.
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Tags: project management