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Freelancing, half a year in.

alanhollis.com

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Re: Freelancing, half a year in.

#11

Post by ebzlo »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #10

So, how does one work at all with multiple programmers and no version control? Are you creating patch files and manually merging them (like Linux used to do)? Or are you just using a shared FTP and keeping a spreadsheet of who is using which file at any particular point? The amount of discipline and organisation required to use either of these methods would appear to be far higher than that required to sit down for a…

I once started at a job where their last programmer had just quit. When I started, my new boss explained to me that I had to check out files by telling him which ones I needed and we updated the production server with me emailing him the modified files.

I set up SVN the first day.

Re: Freelancing, half a year in.

#12

Post by NickPollard »

cageface wrote: post #3
showsover wrote: post #2

As someone looking to try freelancing in a couple of years (only been programming for about 2 years) it is reassuring to see that you can make a decent amount of money with almost no network. How do you find freelancing vs ordinary job? Do you have savings for harder times?

Freelancing has helped me understand just how much my previous job was paying me that didn't show up on my paycheck. Health insurance, matching 401k contributions, and various miscellaneous other perks are actually quite valuable. So you really have to take these things into account when you set your rates. The other big difference is that a salaried job means a regular paycheck, no matter how busy you might be in an…

The OP is in the UK so thankfully health insurance is not an issue as it is state-provided out of your taxes (although some companies do provide subsidised private healthcare, which some people might value highly).

You're very right about the other things though - pension contributions, paid sick leave etc. which freelancing doesn't cover, so it's important to compare them carefully.

Re: Freelancing, half a year in.

#13

Post by Alan01252 »

jsvaughan wrote: post #9
jaggederest wrote: post #5

£20k ~ $31k To save anyone else having to do the math. Also, yes, your rates are still very low, Mr. Hollis, although I suppose it depends on how many days you worked on billable projects. I would expect to see more like £40k for six months given your CV.

absolutely. you should look for work on jobserve. i assume you look for php work? it pays less than js, which pays less than java, but a quick look at php contracts in london shows them between £300pd to £450pd - so as above, £40k for 6m

Again this figure assumes that I've worked 9-5 Monday to Friday for six months. This has most definitely not been the case.

As for the jobs advertised on sites like jobserve. Most of these require you to work on site as a contractor which right now isn't something I want to do. Freelancing for me is a lifestyle choice, not necessarily a financial one.

Again this might change in a few years, I'm getting older and want to start a family, and so this lifestyle might not work for me then.

I just hope that my time spent freelancing is seen as a positive on my CV in future, if indeed I do need to make that jump back into full time employment.

Re: Freelancing, half a year in.

#14

Post by Alan01252 »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #10

So, how does one work at all with multiple programmers and no version control? Are you creating patch files and manually merging them (like Linux used to do)? Or are you just using a shared FTP and keeping a spreadsheet of who is using which file at any particular point? The amount of discipline and organisation required to use either of these methods would appear to be far higher than that required to sit down for a…

One person works on any one file at a time. To make sure you're working on the latest version you have to remember to download the latest copy from the live server.

No I'm not joking, and yes I know how unbelievably terrible this is, but it does happen.

Re: Freelancing, half a year in.

#15

Post by joss82 »

Alan01252 wrote: post #14
jiggy2011 wrote: post #10

So, how does one work at all with multiple programmers and no version control? Are you creating patch files and manually merging them (like Linux used to do)? Or are you just using a shared FTP and keeping a spreadsheet of who is using which file at any particular point? The amount of discipline and organisation required to use either of these methods would appear to be far higher than that required to sit down for a…

One person works on any one file at a time. To make sure you're working on the latest version you have to remember to download the latest copy from the live server. No I'm not joking, and yes I know how unbelievably terrible this is, but it does happen.

I worked for a very (very) large french website that does not use version control internally.

Mostly because most of the code is owned by a single guy and he does not see the problem with that.

Note the 'ed' at the end of 'work'.

Re: Freelancing, half a year in.

#16

Post by jiggy2011 »

NickPollard wrote: post #12
cageface wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Freelancing has helped me understand just how much my previous job was paying me that didn't show up on my paycheck. Health insurance, matching 401k contributions, and various miscellaneous other perks are actually quite valuable. So you really have to take these things into account when you set your rates. The other big difference is that a salaried job means a regular paycheck, no matter how busy you might be in an…

The OP is in the UK so thankfully health insurance is not an issue as it is state-provided out of your taxes (although some companies do provide subsidised private healthcare, which some people might value highly). You're very right about the other things though - pension contributions, paid sick leave etc. which freelancing doesn't cover, so it's important to compare them carefully.

Not all companies in the UK will provide paid sick leave and many will impose a strict maximum number of sick days per year which crossing means automatic disciplinary.

Re: Freelancing, half a year in.

#17

Post by xakshay »

My other big filter for any project is the technology being used. If its something I want to learn, I try to get a gig in a bigger team, with older code bases. If its something I'm good at and interested in, then I try to get a green field project - solo or in a small team. The rest I skip ;)

Re: Freelancing, half a year in.

#18

Post by jiggy2011 »

What non programming skills have you found most useful for freelancing apart from general business stuff?

For example when I have looked at freelance web programming jobs, especially for smaller companies who don't have an in house team they seem to also expect you to do the design work.

Do you have other freelancers that you sub-contract out to, do some yourself or stick to strictly scoped (programming only) projects?

Re: Freelancing, half a year in.

#19

Post by Swizec »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #10

So, how does one work at all with multiple programmers and no version control? Are you creating patch files and manually merging them (like Linux used to do)? Or are you just using a shared FTP and keeping a spreadsheet of who is using which file at any particular point? The amount of discipline and organisation required to use either of these methods would appear to be far higher than that required to sit down for a…

The first thing I do when starting a new project is get everyone on git. If the project is far along and is using svn, I can live with that ... sort of.

The next thing I do is explain that I will be spending more time for coding upfront because I will introduce testing into the project.

These are not negotiable.

Re: Freelancing, half a year in.

#20

Post by davedx »

Alan01252 wrote: post #8
Jabbles wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For comparison, top† graduate software engineers (in London) will be on ~£35k/year. †Not like "won IOI" top, but I imagine Google/Microsoft/FB etc. has a graduate starting salary around that.

From my experience that's also the very very best graduates. I don't know of anyone who's gone in at that figure. I was earning just less than £35k two years after graduating with a 2.1 ( not sure what the equivalent is in American university terms ). And at that point was earning considerably more than anyone else I knew who graduated at the same time.

I went from GBP 33k to 40k within a year after graduating, in 2001. This was for an investment bank though. (London)
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