Need to find a programming company...

Where do you find reliable development companies?

[gregorio]

Hello,

I've been scouring the net and just cannot seem to find a reliable web development company. I have been burned quite a few times hiring small freelance companies, and have decided to work with large development firms instead. Are there any?

Where do you find programmers (JSP, MySQL, Perl, Javascript, C++ etc....)?

[rogerd]

Consider using one of the major freelance brokerage firms like elance or rentacoder. They escrow the funds so you don't pay until you reach specific milestones or have a working product. They also provide coder ratings and reviews so you can see their history. Hint: you are far less likely to be disappointed if you work with a coder with both excellent ratings AND a substantial history. I've seen a few coders who had great ratings on their first five or ten projects head south when they got a job or had some other life change. You want to work with individuals or firms who are committed to the freelance business.

[vkaryl]

You could also look in the commercial exchange here on WebmasterWorld. While this site AFAIK makes no warranties regarding the people and services posted there, most of the posters herein are professionals of one sort or another....

[gregorio]

true, I've tried elance....and really, I think some of those review are made up. Both programmers up and left. Do you have any specific recommendations or are there large, renowned development companies?

[rogerd]

Gregorio, I've had a few coders with very good ratings fail to complete projects, but generally they didn't have MANY excellent ratings. I suggest looking for coders with a lengthy history of strong ratings in projects of the size you are planning. Some coders rack up good ratings on tiny projects but may not know how to attack a major development project.

[vkaryl]

rogerd, that's actually the crux of the matter: an extensive project requires a lot more than "just good coding". A project of that magnitude starts with a systems-outline; progresses to a basic timeline and "maybes" as far as code and specs; breaks out each subsystem for both potential time maximums AND further code specs (this is where you hear, "if we don't have any problems....); then you go back and rehash what's do-able, and what needs reworking, and what's not only NOT working, what will not EVER work given the parameters within which you're attempting to live.... THEN you think about hiring someone to originate the base code. If you don't have your ducks in a row, you can't expect to cook them for dinner....

In many large businesses today you need a person whose only "real" function is to "mentate". I define that as being able to systematically reduce any given project to its basic components in the least amount of time necessary, and then facilitate distribution of the "pieces-parts" to those within the organization who are best suited to providing a finished product within a given time frame.

As regards the original question herein, what needs to happen FIRST may be the reduction of the coding project under discussion into its component parts, so that a reasonable decision can be implemented once various dev companies have provided not only their resumés but their portfolios, and a "best practices estimate" of completion date.... not to mention a solid estimate of cost bottom-line....