View Poll Results: How much would you realistically charge for custom software:

Voters
12. You may not vote on this poll
  • below $25k

    3 25.00%
  • $25k to $50k

    5 41.67%
  • 1$50k to $75k

    1 8.33%
  • $75k to $100k

    1 8.33%
  • above $100k

    2 16.67%

Thread: The Price of Doing Business

  1. #1
    VA National Guard The Brain's Avatar
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    The Price of Doing Business

    Hypothetical:
    Semiconductor tool company comes to you asking for software for their new AMAT low-pressure metal deposition tool... Generally speaking, how much would you charge for this type of custom software...

    vote now!
    Last edited by The Brain; 02-28-2005 at 01:37 PM.
    • "Problem Solving C++, The Object of Programming" -Walter Savitch
    • "Data Structures and Other Objects using C++" -Walter Savitch
    • "Assembly Language for Intel-Based Computers" -Kip Irvine
    • "Programming Windows, 5th edition" -Charles Petzold
    • "Visual C++ MFC Programming by Example" -John E. Swanke
    • "Network Programming Windows" -Jones/Ohlund
    • "Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming in 24 Hours" -Michael Morrison
    • "Mathmatics for 3D Game Programming & Computer Graphics" -Eric Lengyel

  2. #2
    Cheesy Poofs! PJYelton's Avatar
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    You mean you won't do it solely for the satisfaction of helping another human being? What is this world coming to??

  3. #3
    Lead Moderator kermi3's Avatar
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    How long is it going to take you? And are you covered for liability?
    Kermi3

    If you're new to the boards, welcome and reading this will help you get started.
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    - Sandlot is the highest form of sport.

  4. #4
    & the hat of GPL slaying Thantos's Avatar
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    There isn't enough details to determine a price.
    You would need to know:
    The entire depth of work required
    The time frame
    Maintenance responsiblities

  5. #5
    Registered User
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    You didn't specify how large the company is. If Intel or SGI asked me to do something like that I'd charge the crap out of them if I thought I could get away with it.

  6. #6
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    > Maintenance responsiblities

    This is a huge part of it.

  7. #7
    Sweet
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    Where is the one dollar option? Man how could you charge any more for such an easy task.
    Woop?

  8. #8
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    >This is a huge part of it.<

    actually, it is always the biggest part of any system.


    to the op: your thread and poll make no sense; there isn't enough information. For some fun reading about software screwups read http://www.lond.ambulance.freeuk.com/cad.html What a huge failure overall; one of the developers wanted to fix a known bug just hours before deployment, and by doing so introduced a memory leak, which ultimately paralyzed the ENTIRE sytem within hours from deployment.

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

  9. #9
    VA National Guard The Brain's Avatar
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    yes.. this thread was left without a lot of details on purpose (it would take forever to come up with every stipulation just for a hypothetical question) Mainly looking for ballpark figures that will offer a monitary incentive to motiviate struggling CS students (such as myself) and to give everyone an idea of the amount of "bling" there can be in the software development business

    Base your answers perhaps.. on what your or your company has charged for similar types of software in the past.. vote now..!!
    Last edited by The Brain; 02-28-2005 at 03:51 PM.
    • "Problem Solving C++, The Object of Programming" -Walter Savitch
    • "Data Structures and Other Objects using C++" -Walter Savitch
    • "Assembly Language for Intel-Based Computers" -Kip Irvine
    • "Programming Windows, 5th edition" -Charles Petzold
    • "Visual C++ MFC Programming by Example" -John E. Swanke
    • "Network Programming Windows" -Jones/Ohlund
    • "Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming in 24 Hours" -Michael Morrison
    • "Mathmatics for 3D Game Programming & Computer Graphics" -Eric Lengyel

  10. #10
    Registered User Scribbler's Avatar
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    Even hypothetically, you really can't ballpark it.

    I can conceive of projects in excess of $100k, and while you might think you can throw that number at a CS student, it's still a worthless value because there's really no 'bling' because after production costs the coders are still consuming mac-n-cheese for dinner.

  11. #11
    Toaster Zach L.'s Avatar
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    Well, if you charge less than you can, then you may be reduced to Ramen noodles...

    Speaking of which... I'm off to eat.
    The word rap as it applies to music is the result of a peculiar phonological rule which has stripped the word of its initial voiceless velar stop.

  12. #12
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    OP: If your in it for the money GET OUT NOW!!!!! Its not that you cant make good money its just that if money is your only insentive your quality of life will suffer greatly. Do something you love, its the only way to live.

  13. #13
    VA National Guard The Brain's Avatar
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    selling slurpies at the local 7-11 isn't going to put food on the table or pay the child support.
    • "Problem Solving C++, The Object of Programming" -Walter Savitch
    • "Data Structures and Other Objects using C++" -Walter Savitch
    • "Assembly Language for Intel-Based Computers" -Kip Irvine
    • "Programming Windows, 5th edition" -Charles Petzold
    • "Visual C++ MFC Programming by Example" -John E. Swanke
    • "Network Programming Windows" -Jones/Ohlund
    • "Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming in 24 Hours" -Michael Morrison
    • "Mathmatics for 3D Game Programming & Computer Graphics" -Eric Lengyel

  14. #14
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    selling slurpies is something you love?

  15. #15
    essence of digital xddxogm3's Avatar
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    the program, source code, and user liscense should be free to non-profit organizations (as if a non-profit organization would use it). for a profit organization, the program and source code should come with the per user liscense, which should be charged based on the amount of users using the program at one time (i.e. one user v.s. 3000 users). the documentation should be charged based on the difficulty of the time put into it. code mantinance, support, and liability should be charged for and paid by the company on an annual renewal bases (if profit based company).
    "Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence;
    supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."
    Art of War Sun Tzu

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