Writing Software From A Distance

My Experience

Since 1988, I’ve been writing software from my office outside of Boston. I've worked independently and I've also managed half a dozen programmers while working from that same office. 

These experiences have taught me the advantages and disadvantages of working I’ve remotely. learned how to make offsite development a cost-saving opportunity for customers.

The greatest advantage of offsite development is getting the right person for the job, regardless of location. When you’re not limited to choosing someone who is within a half-hour commute, you vastly increase your options.

Given the difference in development speed between good programmers and average programmers, and the value of an experienced hand with superior communications skills and established work habits, this choice is critically important. But there are other advantages:

• No cost for space or equipment
• Greater productivity

My most productive years, by far, have been the years since I began working in my own office. Above all else, it’s the satisfaction of being productive, of maintaining and improving my own first-class working environment, that keeps me where I am.

I encourage you to take advantage of that productivity.

I'm sure you've worked with contractors who appear to know what you want, who seem to be on track, but who cannot deliver on time and can't get the hang of your business problem.

Until the software is in your hands you have nothing, and yet it takes time to develop software.  So you wait and you worry.

Whether a contractor is onsite or offsite, you must have confidence:

• That the contractor understands your problem on both a technical and a business level.
• That the contractor makes sure the software solves your problem and doesn't simply meet the letter of the specification
• That the contractor reports any current or future delays
• That the contractor never bills you for gratuitous work that satisfies their needs and not yours.

You cannot get that confidence by watching someone in a cubicle.

You shouldn't have to ask a question to find out when something is wrong.  You should demand that contractors have the very best skills in communication.

If they do, it doesn't matter where they work.

When to come onsite

Debugging, team meetings, face-to-face contact are a necessary part of any project.  While much of that can be done remotely, there are times when it's helpful, if not essential to have the contractor present.

That's why the timing of on-site visits are always at the client’s discretion.