Legacy projects
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So, years ago, I wrote a video jukebox program. It was my first big project where I was in charge of it all. I think it turned out well. They are using a PC with custom input devices through the parallel port. Turns out the new PCs don't have a parallel port and when they buy a card, it doesn't work. So, I was just playing some guitar for a few minutes, when the guy shows up at my house with a PC and input device, hoping I can resolve it for them. I also did some work earlier in the year for them ( I did some for free and quoted on the rest of what they wanted, and they never got me to do the paid work ). I don't mind helping them, and I am not worried about making money from them ( I'd rather have less work ), but this is just the project that keeps rearing it's head. Does anyone else have a project like that ?
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
Yeah. Did a soft keyboard for Palm devices, and as Palm doesn't really support soft keyboard, quite a lot of "hacking" was involved. Due to the fact that even if the Palm OS version is the same, some implementation are different on each models. Needless to say, some stuffs that on most models but not on the others, and I got to find the emulator to find out where went wrong and try to "hack" further....
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i was a grad such as this for a project that required a software rewrite and new modem compatability to use the Bell 103 and Bell 103 reverse protocol... oh my was that a fun project, having to explain to the company that actually only a very few modems on the market actually are able to do it and that they and being phased out, when the manager was "positive" i was wrong and it was his pride n joy system. :((
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Thing is, I don't need the money as much as I need the time. So, I am helping them to be helpful, if you know what I mean, but I don't really want the work. I am also holding off letting them know how my rate has changed since I did this job :-)
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
Banks call it shedding. I found it's hard to let go of an old customer, even if he's not paying (ie doing additional work out of loyalty). It took me 3 years to decide to sack my last customer. I had moved countries, my rate had doubled and he still wanted me to support his app. Eventually we found another dev to do the future enhancement/support but it all fell apart after about 8 months. The dev was ok but the customer really was a PITA and the dev wasn't up to putting him in his place regularly. I recommed you sack the customer, do it nicely, find a junior dev to take it on, tell him your current rate.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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I guess you're right. And I've told him, I'll take a quick look and that's about it. I just hate to leave them stranded.
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
Christian Graus wrote:
I just hate to leave them stranded.
Yeah, I'm like that too... spend far too much time on things just to help people out... it's one of those "too much of a nice guy" things...
-------------------------------------------------------- Knowledge is knowing that the tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in fruit salad!!
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Christian Graus wrote:
I just hate to leave them stranded.
Yeah, I'm like that too... spend far too much time on things just to help people out... it's one of those "too much of a nice guy" things...
-------------------------------------------------------- Knowledge is knowing that the tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in fruit salad!!
*grin*
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
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Managing a raw grad is an interesting task. You have to provide work that is interesting enough to keep them motivated yet keep an eye on their natural enthusiasm to over engineer. Sounds like you were working for a turkey
he was a really on to it engineer in his day, but the sun had set on his day he was out of touch and didnt understand that the new software modems that where being produced just didnt have the protocol.
Josh Gray wrote:
on their natural enthusiasm to over engineer
isnt that the case for any engineer? i still want to use the flash new toys when ever i can. although my laziness takes over alot of the time and i just do what i has done before.
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So, years ago, I wrote a video jukebox program. It was my first big project where I was in charge of it all. I think it turned out well. They are using a PC with custom input devices through the parallel port. Turns out the new PCs don't have a parallel port and when they buy a card, it doesn't work. So, I was just playing some guitar for a few minutes, when the guy shows up at my house with a PC and input device, hoping I can resolve it for them. I also did some work earlier in the year for them ( I did some for free and quoted on the rest of what they wanted, and they never got me to do the paid work ). I don't mind helping them, and I am not worried about making money from them ( I'd rather have less work ), but this is just the project that keeps rearing it's head. Does anyone else have a project like that ?
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
I've worked on video jukeboxes and they don't sell in the end. It's quite simple - if people are sitting watching videos they drink less, we cracked the technical issues back in '82 and had a very good launch until pub takings were tracked! Elaine :rose:
Visit http://www.notreadytogiveup.com/[^] and do something special today.
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So, years ago, I wrote a video jukebox program. It was my first big project where I was in charge of it all. I think it turned out well. They are using a PC with custom input devices through the parallel port. Turns out the new PCs don't have a parallel port and when they buy a card, it doesn't work. So, I was just playing some guitar for a few minutes, when the guy shows up at my house with a PC and input device, hoping I can resolve it for them. I also did some work earlier in the year for them ( I did some for free and quoted on the rest of what they wanted, and they never got me to do the paid work ). I don't mind helping them, and I am not worried about making money from them ( I'd rather have less work ), but this is just the project that keeps rearing it's head. Does anyone else have a project like that ?
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
Christian Graus wrote:
this is just the project that keeps rearing it's head
Christian Graus wrote:
I think it turned out well.
Contradiction detected. Must. Not. Explode.
We are a big screwed up dysfunctional psychotic happy family - some more screwed up, others more happy, but everybody's psychotic joint venture definition of CP
blog: TDD - the Aha! | Linkify!| FoldWithUs! | sighist -
I've worked on video jukeboxes and they don't sell in the end. It's quite simple - if people are sitting watching videos they drink less, we cracked the technical issues back in '82 and had a very good launch until pub takings were tracked! Elaine :rose:
Visit http://www.notreadytogiveup.com/[^] and do something special today.
*grin* OK - well, the main issues we have is making it work when drunks are trying to use it, so I assume here they have no trouble drinking and watching vids :P
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
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Christian Graus wrote:
this is just the project that keeps rearing it's head
Christian Graus wrote:
I think it turned out well.
Contradiction detected. Must. Not. Explode.
We are a big screwed up dysfunctional psychotic happy family - some more screwed up, others more happy, but everybody's psychotic joint venture definition of CP
blog: TDD - the Aha! | Linkify!| FoldWithUs! | sighist*grin* well, it worked out well, at the time, but they have had changing requirements, and issues related to changes in hardware. If they were using the same boxes they started with, it would all be working just fine.
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
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So, years ago, I wrote a video jukebox program. It was my first big project where I was in charge of it all. I think it turned out well. They are using a PC with custom input devices through the parallel port. Turns out the new PCs don't have a parallel port and when they buy a card, it doesn't work. So, I was just playing some guitar for a few minutes, when the guy shows up at my house with a PC and input device, hoping I can resolve it for them. I also did some work earlier in the year for them ( I did some for free and quoted on the rest of what they wanted, and they never got me to do the paid work ). I don't mind helping them, and I am not worried about making money from them ( I'd rather have less work ), but this is just the project that keeps rearing it's head. Does anyone else have a project like that ?
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
That's precisely the reason I stopped doing contract work 15 years ago, and believe it or not, I actually had to change my phone number so the idiots would stop trying to contact me.
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001 -
I guess you're right. And I've told him, I'll take a quick look and that's about it. I just hate to leave them stranded.
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
I had a customer like that. He kept bugging me for things, but was really bad about paying me (owed thousands for months.) The next time he called, I told him what my "new" rates were and that I'd be happy to help him. He never called me back. :)
Paul
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Thing is, I don't need the money as much as I need the time. So, I am helping them to be helpful, if you know what I mean, but I don't really want the work. I am also holding off letting them know how my rate has changed since I did this job :-)
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
If you really want to get rid of them, charge them your going rate (or possibly more), and have a minimum number of hours per support request. Also offer them the services of a more junior dev who would be happy for the extra work. I'm sure you know someone that would fit into this category.
----- In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.
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he was a really on to it engineer in his day, but the sun had set on his day he was out of touch and didnt understand that the new software modems that where being produced just didnt have the protocol.
Josh Gray wrote:
on their natural enthusiasm to over engineer
isnt that the case for any engineer? i still want to use the flash new toys when ever i can. although my laziness takes over alot of the time and i just do what i has done before.
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*grin* well, it worked out well, at the time, but they have had changing requirements, and issues related to changes in hardware. If they were using the same boxes they started with, it would all be working just fine.
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
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I guess you're right. And I've told him, I'll take a quick look and that's about it. I just hate to leave them stranded.
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
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So, years ago, I wrote a video jukebox program. It was my first big project where I was in charge of it all. I think it turned out well. They are using a PC with custom input devices through the parallel port. Turns out the new PCs don't have a parallel port and when they buy a card, it doesn't work. So, I was just playing some guitar for a few minutes, when the guy shows up at my house with a PC and input device, hoping I can resolve it for them. I also did some work earlier in the year for them ( I did some for free and quoted on the rest of what they wanted, and they never got me to do the paid work ). I don't mind helping them, and I am not worried about making money from them ( I'd rather have less work ), but this is just the project that keeps rearing it's head. Does anyone else have a project like that ?
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
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So, years ago, I wrote a video jukebox program. It was my first big project where I was in charge of it all. I think it turned out well. They are using a PC with custom input devices through the parallel port. Turns out the new PCs don't have a parallel port and when they buy a card, it doesn't work. So, I was just playing some guitar for a few minutes, when the guy shows up at my house with a PC and input device, hoping I can resolve it for them. I also did some work earlier in the year for them ( I did some for free and quoted on the rest of what they wanted, and they never got me to do the paid work ). I don't mind helping them, and I am not worried about making money from them ( I'd rather have less work ), but this is just the project that keeps rearing it's head. Does anyone else have a project like that ?
Christian Graus No longer a Microsoft MVP, but still happy to answer your questions.
Christian Graus wrote:
Turns out the new PCs don't have a parallel port and when they buy a card, it doesn't work.
I find this part very strange. Are you sure they are competent to install a card? Do they have the right drivers for their OS? I would pursue getting the software to work as-is before I even thought about changing the code. In this case, your software obviously works, and has for years -- it's their new computers (and their Parallel cards) that seem to be causing the problem.
