Do yuo have to document to the dot when it comes to programming
 

You have a programming job.. do you document everything in terms of instructions and how it should work down to the dot when giving task to a programmer?

You can't just say, oh, make this work like this..

or maybe im just getting shitty programmers.

Thamkssss

The more specific your are the more you get what you want.

But without knowing what you actually requested, who knows?

Generally if you are dealing directly with the programmer and able to talk to them you dont need to have a detailed list

but if you are using an outsource they will more than likely want a very well written detailed list of what you want

if that programmer has more than 2 brain cells, then he would require very clear and detailed instructions

Every SINGLE aspect should be documented, with illustrations preferably. And I mean everything. Like stipulating what text needs to be machine readable, how things should be compliant with x, alt tags, EVERYTHING.

Remember, it's better to dispense no advice than bad advice.

I agree, the more documentation of what's needed the better. If I get a programming job without any details, I don't mind, but don't get mad that I did it my way if you didn't specify at the beginning.. (But I try to get clarification first, of course.. :upsidedow )

It depends on your relationship with the programmer and also as to whether it is a "coder" or a "developer".

If it is a new programmer that you have not worked with before and that is not familiar with your operation then yes, go as much detail as possible.

If it is someone that is familiar with your operation and has built out a good amount of your infrastructure then you do not need to be as detailed (at least as far as I am concerned).

The question you have to ask yourself is "Do you want a programmer deciding what your business rules are and how they should be implemented?".


http://www.madspiders.com/images/dilbertpoison.gif

Both from a (moderate) programmers' view, as well as being on the hiring end, i think this is the most true answer possible;-).

Number one mistake!!!

i second that

Actually that usually results in you getting exactly what you asked for but not what you wanted.

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Detailed list or you're not getting what you want. A programmer can't read your mind. You want it done a certain way, explain it to them like you're trying to teach your grandma how to use the internet for the first time in her life.

tell a painter you want the interior of your house painted.
he paints every wall several different colours using up all his half empty tins of paint.

you got exactly what you asked for.

Revisiting this.

I am old school when it comes to systems/applications development. In my opinion, it is part of the developers job to extract the information from the client.

It is nice when a client can define their own requirements but that tends to be the exception.

Unfortunately a developer cannot give an accurate quote without a really good picture of what the job will entail so either a decent requirements doc or a lot of questions have to occur before anything happens.

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Agreed.

You wouldn't (or maybe you would) believe the amount of times we get potential clients calling us with 'we need a program for our site, how much will that cost?'

Then they get all pissy when we start asking them about the details of the project...

We had one guy a few weeks ago ask us to sign an NDA (which we did) before he would give us any information, then, after we signed it, he still wouldn't give us the info we needed to even give him a ballpark costing LOL

My girl is sitting next to me working on an web application for work. Her binder with all the details for this one site alone must be 3 inches thick.

Write in english what you want.. A good programmer with experience wont do a thing but flow chart it all up and come back with the "forseen" problems. in regards to what is desired.. with recommendations and a quote.

The getting a quote is the hard part.. because there is so many who wont spend cash.. its a finess thing..

So it comes down to you get what you pay for. If your spending money there' a reason for it... The programmer can see that and use that as his "crutch of judgement"

Also I would not hire one person to do everything, just like doctors there are different kinds of programmers..

I would break it down...
data programmer (meat and bones of system and database design)
(some data programmers can do very good CSS, but they dont do graphics,
not everyone in web design is an artist.)

The CSS should be a good written 980 GRID system for complete control and
support for all operating systems.. I have never had to write a hack for any browser
period.. .if you do so, you have learned wrong.
If you are using px and not em, you have problems, if you need to do IF IE7 {}
you are taught wrong.. read the RFC and it all works out.

Get a design guy for filling out the CSS with good color scheme and whatnot
Actually at this point with a 980 grid design, many templates can be used that are quite
professional schemes to implement for under $100

Javascript is the next thing.... Hire someone else who only does this if needed.....
And never use javascript for any commercial requirement, (like payments) (logins) etc etc.... your looking for trouble..

Good Luck

thank you. this is good