Software Development Reality Check

Fulfilling our mission to help our clients improve their businesses by turning the internet and the web into useful tools means that we need to be completely open and honest with you about a few software development realities. This page is part of that openness and honesty. The points on this page are always worth keeping in mind but are critical in today's economy.

This is me, Art Zemon, owner of Hen's Teeth Network, talking to you, a person with a budget who wants something special for your web site. On this page, you will not find any fluff, sales talk, or soft words. You will find some "tough love" that will help you get the software you want, regardless of who you choose for a vendor. Keep these points in mind and you will be much more likely to get what you want, when you want it, for a price that fits your budget.

Custom Software is Expensive

Whether you are hiring someone to create gorgeous graphics or knock-your-socks-off functionality, it will cost real money. You are asking highly skilled people to spend a lot of time on your behalf. When you hire skilled workers, you can expect to pay them fair wages. That said, give your prospective vendor a realistic idea of your budget. Not surprisingly, there are vastly different possibilities open depending on whether you have $500 or $5,000 or $50,000 available.

Form vs. Function

Do you want it to look pretty (form) or do you want it to do amazing things (function) or both? When you are talking to programmers, be specific about what you want. Each can be done independently of the other. If you ask for only one but expect both, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and a project which will be late and over budget.

Good, Fast, Cheap: Pick Two

There is an old adage in the software industry: "Good, fast, cheap: pick two." It's true.

If you want a project done well and done quickly, it will not be inexpensive.

If you want a project done well and inexpensively, it cannot be done quickly.

If you want a project done quickly and inexpensively, well... you will get what you pay for.