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Hi Everyone,
I am a new programmer in the business to build websites for small companies. Now, I have a big question. How do I price an ASP.NET website? Depending on the number of pages, or anything else? Especially, when the website is dynamic and requires database, it is more difficult to estimate the price.
Now my customer (to be honest, this is my first one), wants me to build a site like http://www.letslive.co.uk/default.aspx[^]. They are also a property agency with a few stuff.
Oh, by the way, I am in Manchester, UK. It seems the price in the city is not too low.
Also, does anyone know any websites where I can get more contracts of website and software development? It would be good if it's for UK.
Thanks in advance
modified on Sunday, April 12, 2009 2:05 PM
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rocksoccer wrote: How do I price an ASP.NET website? Depending on the number of pages, or anything else?
By the amout of work it will take to do the job. Number of pages isn't a good metric unless it is a brochure site with static content. Always remember that what ever you expect it will take will be optimistic. Developers, in my experience, are mostly optimists. One project I work with has a manual deployment process that takes 2 to 2.5 hours normally, and that is a very well defined process. Sometimes things go wrong and it will take the whole day. Software development is more dynamic thing and it will often surprise you what will crop up to make things difficult for you.
If you are going for a fixed price model make sure that all the details are locked down before you start otherwise you will end up doing a lot of amendments for free. If you lock the details down and changes are requested you will have a document that states what is in the original contract and you can negociate for additional money to make the changes.
rocksoccer wrote: Also, does anyone know any websites where I can get more contracts of website and software development? It would be good if it's for UK.
If you want a good network of contacts then you need to network. You need to meet people.
You also say that you are a new programmer. Have you considered working for someone else and learning from them. Screw up on their payroll rather than your own?
Also, if you are working on your own you will need contact with other developers to share ideas and learn from each other. As you are in Manchester I can suggest Manchester .NET User Group[^] (although they don't seem to have had any events in a while, so I don't know if they are stitll going). Alternatively NxtGenUG[^] are starting up in Cheadle. There are also various community conferences held around the UK: Developer! Developer! Developer![^]
Even if you are not on your own the ideas and things you can learn from a user group are great and you should go along anyway just to keep up with areas of software development you are not currently involved in. You never know when someone is going to ask you if you can do X, Y or Z and you want to be able to confidently that you at least know something about that area even if it requires more research to complete the job.
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Thanks for the suggestions.
In fact I am a Master graduate last summer from Birmingham Uni. Until now I haven't got a job yet, that's why I try starting my own business. At least I can do something related to my degree.
Meeting more people is important! NxtGenUG seems to have some events around Manchester in May. Maybe I should try it.
Thanx
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By the way, here is another excellent resource if you want to meet fellow developers: Developer Fusion UK Community Events[^]
And something I forgot about in my original email. When thinking about the amount of work that needs to be done, take into account the non-fuctional requirements too. That's the stuff the client will never ask for but needs to be done. Things like logging, backups, documentation, network infrastucture, security, etc.
Actually, the client may ask for some of these things but usually in a vague wishy-washy kind of way. For example, if you do a site that requires takes payment they'll ask for PCI compliance (if they know to ask for it) but probably won't got into specifics. From their point of view PCI compliance is a necessary evil for dealing with the major credit card companies.
Clients rarely ask that you implement logging in your application. But if things go wrong on a production site you need it there in order to see what went wrong so you can fix it.
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Also keep in mind how you are going to handle maintenance and support. Draw up an agreement on how this will be handled. When the site is complete, you should make a full backup of the site and give it to your client. You don't want to be responsible for their source code.
This could be a very good experience for you and may lead to other jobs, so you should keep your pricing competitive. 
Good luck.
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Absolutely. I rember reading somewhere that 80% of the cost of a project was in the maintenance phase.
David Mujica wrote: You don't want to be responsible for their source code.
Why not? It could be an additional valuable revenue stream. And if the client has the source code it means they can wander off to someone else more easily. If you keep the source code it is easier and less hassle to come back to you for amendments.
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I don't know the law in either the UK or USA, but the consultant typically doesn't own the source code. The customer hires you for a job to be done and is paying for the development effort. They own the end result (which is the source code). You could be in a sticky situation if you don't turn over the source. What happens if the source code is lost/damaged/stolen ? You could be in a leagal situation.
I just want to bring some ideas to the table. ![Rose | [Rose]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/rose.gif)
Things to think about. Ultimately, what this guy wants to do is build a solid relationship with his client and build his reputation as someone who can be trusted and relied on. Word of mouth and personal recommendations are a great way to build your business.
Cheers.
David
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David Mujica wrote: I don't know the law in either the UK or USA, but the consultant typically doesn't own the source code.
By default the person who created the source owns the source regardless of whether they were paid to produce it or not. Most contracts will require this owenership is assigned over to the person/entity that is paying for the work.
David Mujica wrote: The customer hires you for a job to be done and is paying for the development effort. They own the end result (which is the source code).
Only if they specifically ask for it. For many people the source is irrelevant, they just want results.
David Mujica wrote: You could be in a sticky situation if you don't turn over the source.
Only if it was asked for.
David Mujica wrote: What happens if the source code is lost/damaged/stolen ? You could be in a leagal situation.
You don't take backups if the source you are working on is belongs to someone else? That's just crazy!
David Mujica wrote: Word of mouth and personal recommendations are a great way to build your business.
Yes, they are. But you also want to do as much to protect yourself if things go wrong.
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I'm probably getting way too cynical about how companies operate.
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hi,
I have Problem while working with Update Panel and UpdateProgress
I have used dropDownLists in the Update Panel
But I am getting this error while running the application
Invalid postback or callback argument. Event validation is enabled using <pages enableEventValidation="true"/> in configuration or <%@ Page EnableEventValidation="true" %> in a page. For security purposes, this feature verifies that arguments to postback or callback events originate from the server control that originally rendered them. If the data is valid and expected, use the ClientScriptManager.RegisterForEventValidation method in order to register the postback or callback data for validation.
If anybody have solution for this , Plz Help me
Thanks.
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Not sure if this belongs in the VB section or here, but here goes.
I'm just learning the .net language and I'm really enjoying it, but I've hit a roadblock.
I can't seem to get the SQL part of it going. I can't figure out how to programmatically attach to a SQL database and insert, delete or edit rows. I can make the tools do it, but not just within the code.
For now, here is what I'm trying to do. (eventually I'll build on this.)
Right now, I have a page built with nothing more than three textboxes and a button. I have a database called 'testdb' with four columns: first, second, third and control. Control is marked as a primary key and identity field. First is of type 'int', second is of type nchar(10), third is of type datetime and control is of type int.
All I want, is that when you press the button, a new record gets created in the database where each of the values you entered in the textboxes gets put in the database.
Seems simple enough, but I can't quite figure it out.
Thanks.
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Sigh.
I'm still not able to make it work.
I've added the code that is listed in the web.config and the button, but where do I put the stored procedure stuff?
I'm also thinking that it somehow has to link up to my database somehow, but I don't see where I enter the information as to what my database name is. (I'm assuming that I need to create columns with the names 'name' and 'city'.
Sorry to be so obtuse here, but I'm really new to this stuff.
Thanks.
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Can anyone help me with this? It's just driving me crazy. I've been working on it for two weeks now and I can't figure out how to do it and I can't find anyone I know who knows how to make it work. I've been working with the code listed on the webpage and other websites I've found and I can't get anything to run.
I even downloaded the code listed on the page, but when I run it I get :
An error has occurred while establishing a connection to the server. When connecting to SQL Server 2005, this failure may be caused by the fact that under the default settings SQL Server does not allow remote connections. (provider: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified)
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The default extender sample website works fine on my computer but this one does not work
i am trying to just get the files from a folder so i can easily add images to that folder
any help
my code here
[System.Web.Services.WebMethod]
[System.Web.Script.Services.ScriptMethod]
public AjaxControlToolkit.Slide[] GetSlides()
{
DirectoryInfo ajdir = new DirectoryInfo(@"images");
int s=ajdir.GetFiles().Length;
FileInfo[] ajfiles = ajdir.GetFiles();
AjaxControlToolkit.Slide[] Slide = new AjaxControlToolkit.Slide[s];
int Count = 0;
foreach(FileInfo f in ajfiles)
{
Slide[Count] = new AjaxControlToolkit.Slide("images/"+f.Name+"","","");
Count++;
}
return Slide;
}
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Does anybody know, How can I get ModalUpdateProgress tool kit in ajax???? and how can i use it???
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Niungareamit wrote: How can I get ModalUpdateProgress tool kit in ajax???? and how can i use it???
You can download it from Here.
You can also find the sample code and video for all the Ajax Tool kit control from the same link. For Example , ModalPopup
Hope this will helps you !!
cheers,
Abhijit
CodeProject MVP
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hi,
i have problem in Ajax UpdateProgress . can we use Ajax UpdateProgress inside the UpdatePanel????
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Niungareamit wrote: i have problem in Ajax UpdateProgress .
What is the problem?
Niungareamit wrote: can we use Ajax UpdateProgress inside the UpdatePanel????
Please go through this link
UpdateProgress Control Overview and Read the section "Putting UpdateProgress Controls on the Page"
cheers,
Abhijit
CodeProject MVP
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Hi,
I have introduced the UrlReWrite into my .net web application.
This has caused an issues.
"Cannot use a leading .. to exit above the top directory."
I can not figure out what is cauing this error. Not sure if it is related to Css at all (As it is being mentioned on a number of site for people with the same error) as it does not seem to be the case here.
Any suggestions please?
Thanks
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Hi,
What would be the best way to have live videos on an ASP.NET website? I have read that flash servers can do this. But what would be the alternatives?
On of our client websites are in DNN and they inquired with us if this is possible.
Regards,
Blumen
“Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling.”
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Hi Blumen
search for WebVideo.dll
add this dll to framework components.
u will get windows media player,real player and VLC player in dotnet tool bar...
just drag and map the video file path..
regards
Rajeesh MP
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thank you, I'll check it out.
“Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling.”
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