I’ve recently had an idea that I feel that I must try to implement. It is a “software as a service” (saas) solution in a market I cannot comment on just yet (as we have only just started production). Because I really don’t like sitting and coding all night long (I am currently working with a client in normal business hours), I have hired a full time Ruby on Rails developer in Indonesia.
Actually I tried finding someone in the Philippines, but couldn’t find one with enough rails experience, and with only one developer I really needed someone who could spit our ruby code without having me to slow them down.
Because of the time difference I really need someone who can work independently, and hopefully I have found this person. Right now I think it looks really good (except that the developer’s internet connection has been down for a few days). I am using Basecamp for tracking the project and insists on daily emails stating what the developer did yesterday and what is planned for “today”. In the email I also want to know if there is anything stopping the developer from doing a certain task.
Currently I am considering if I should give the developer a more “official” contract (before we have just agreed on conditions over email, if someone wants to screw you there is not much a contract can do about that anyway).
Well, I’ll keep you posted when I have something to show for…
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Wow great article! Definitely will keep an eye on your blog for more on your experiences outsourcing ruby on rails programmers. I am currently developing photoshop mock ups and wire frames for two SaaS webapp ideas that i had. One is a very niche market with no quality competition and the other is a smaller more simple app. I intend on developing the UI myself and doing the frontend coding as that is my “Day Job” but haven’t yet had the time to devote to learning RoR. Would love to know who you went through and what your costs are to get an experienced developer out of indonesia. BTW i also read the 4 hour work week. Changed the way i think about work. Hoping to get one of these apps done soon so it can finance my open ended trip around the world
@Blake: I created a “project” on elance where I was looking for a rails developer. Got a lot of bad applicants, but the good thing about elance is that there is really alot of freelancers there and the sheer mass gives you a few good candidates.
My biggest problem is currently communicating the idea and vision of the application, rather than the pure technical stuff.
I would love to hear more about your applications