Topic: anyone here do freelance programming? specifically ios and android apps.
squeegee started this discussion 11 years ago #40,497
how difficult would it be, in your estimation, to code an app that operates like an oscilloscope?
so let's just say hardware wise the probes could plug into microphone jack. don't worry about external stuff, just the software, how much time would it take to make a simple UI and code in known functions?
let's just say you've been presented with a flowchart for operation and all of the formulas you'd use
and you're asked to make the app "listen" to the mic port, pick up on inputs, display them as a graph?
i'm not talking about making an oscilloscope app, mind you, but more like turning a particular type of physical item into a digital app. like turning a graphing calculator into an app or something, which is actually a lot more work i would think. maybe like turning a clock radio into the alarm app on the iphone, along those lines. what would that have cost?
or like a guitar tuner would be another good example. so, any kind of cost estimate? and i mean like ball park. big ball park. in the hundred? thousands? tens of thousands? i know what people are getting for web design pretty intimately at this point, well, at least i know what consumers get for their money. so how about apps? are we talking a huge time difference that would make an app a lot more expensive?
so let's just say hardware wise the probes could plug into microphone jack. don't worry about external stuff, just the software, how much time would it take to make a simple UI and code in known functions?
let's just say you've been presented with a flowchart for operation and all of the formulas you'd use
and you're asked to make the app "listen" to the mic port, pick up on inputs, display them as a graph?
i'm not talking about making an oscilloscope app, mind you, but more like turning a particular type of physical item into a digital app. like turning a graphing calculator into an app or something, which is actually a lot more work i would think. maybe like turning a clock radio into the alarm app on the iphone, along those lines. what would that have cost?
or like a guitar tuner would be another good example. so, any kind of cost estimate? and i mean like ball park. big ball park. in the hundred? thousands? tens of thousands? i know what people are getting for web design pretty intimately at this point, well, at least i know what consumers get for their money. so how about apps? are we talking a huge time difference that would make an app a lot more expensive?
Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 1 hour later[^] [v] #539,205
Nb4 syntax 10 myle post
Syntax joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 36 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #539,206
I am not that kind of design guy but squeegee I have a question.
> hardware wise the probes could plug into microphone jack
So you are ok with the end application being limited to audio frequencies only?
And do you mean an oscilloscope or given the limitation of Mic input being only good for audio frequencies - wood a audio spectrum analyzer work for you because at least one exists and is in the Apple store for Iphones
> hardware wise the probes could plug into microphone jack
So you are ok with the end application being limited to audio frequencies only?
And do you mean an oscilloscope or given the limitation of Mic input being only good for audio frequencies - wood a audio spectrum analyzer work for you because at least one exists and is in the Apple store for Iphones
squeegee (OP) replied with this 11 years ago, 34 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #539,212
@previous (Syntax)
> So you are ok with the end application being limited to audio frequencies only?
yes
> wood a audio spectrum analyzer work for you
it would work as an example of the kind of app i'm asking about. just wondering what kind of cost would be involved in making something like that.
> So you are ok with the end application being limited to audio frequencies only?
yes
> wood a audio spectrum analyzer work for you
it would work as an example of the kind of app i'm asking about. just wondering what kind of cost would be involved in making something like that.
(Edited 1 minute later.)
squeegee (OP) double-posted this 11 years ago, 11 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #539,213
maybe it's not so easy to estimate with such vague requirements. i'm probably basically asking how much would it cost to program a video game where you jump around and shoot stuff in a 3d world of indeterminate size or something like that. or i'm asking a doctor, "hey, how much does it cost to surgery?"
but people always ask me stupid questions about my work, (i mean like in real life, not here) so it's my turn now.
but people always ask me stupid questions about my work, (i mean like in real life, not here) so it's my turn now.
(Edited 54 seconds later.)
Syntax replied with this 11 years ago, 34 seconds later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #539,214
@539,212 (squeegee)There are several already in the market place
Not sure if this is the one I have viewed at concerts when sound guys walk around looking at the room but it sure looks like it - Apple has this one for $14.95 with a quality IEEE engineer review
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spectrum-analyzer-real-time/id490078884?mt=8
squeegee (OP) replied with this 11 years ago, 1 minute later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #539,215
@previous (Syntax)
i'm not looking to buy an app, i'm asking how much it would cost to make something similar to that. i'm probably asking a really stupid question without enough parameters to get a legitimate answer. Sorry, y'all can probably just disregard this whole thread.
i'm not looking to buy an app, i'm asking how much it would cost to make something similar to that. i'm probably asking a really stupid question without enough parameters to get a legitimate answer. Sorry, y'all can probably just disregard this whole thread.
Syntax replied with this 11 years ago, 24 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #539,218
@previous (squeegee)
Naw not at all. I see people on TV in interviews who are credited with creating a very popular App which is selling like hotcakes. Many came up with the idea but were not programmers so they found people to do the software - One can get an idea of the costs from several websites set up to raise funds to develop new products. I have supported a few and the software cost has been determined by outsource bid
before it goes on the Crowdfunding/fundraiser site.
One advantage of this of course is it builds a market place and other then time it costs you nothing.
I am a big fan of Kickstarter and if you really want to believe its possible? You can get wot you want in theory in 6 hours IF these people cover all bases - Well simple bases anyway
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/demskigroup/create-iphone-ipad-and-watch-apps-and-games-with-s?ref=nav_search
So they have the money they need and more -
This one needed $50,000 and in one hour its over and they just made it and back when it started I put a few bucks in
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1992634922/robocore-the-heart-of-your-personal-robot?ref=category
Now if you go to this site on Kickstarter you can ask for details of cost of software - find something technical of the scale you are looking at and just ask what the software development budget was/is
People on Kickstarter are very open and will share
http://community.spark.io/
Naw not at all. I see people on TV in interviews who are credited with creating a very popular App which is selling like hotcakes. Many came up with the idea but were not programmers so they found people to do the software - One can get an idea of the costs from several websites set up to raise funds to develop new products. I have supported a few and the software cost has been determined by outsource bid
before it goes on the Crowdfunding/fundraiser site.
One advantage of this of course is it builds a market place and other then time it costs you nothing.
I am a big fan of Kickstarter and if you really want to believe its possible? You can get wot you want in theory in 6 hours IF these people cover all bases - Well simple bases anyway
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/demskigroup/create-iphone-ipad-and-watch-apps-and-games-with-s?ref=nav_search
Learning to build iPhone apps can be a very daunting task and can take hours upon hours to learn. Our course will teach you how to write a complete iPhone app within just 30 days. No coding experience is required to take this course.
So they have the money they need and more -
This one needed $50,000 and in one hour its over and they just made it and back when it started I put a few bucks in
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1992634922/robocore-the-heart-of-your-personal-robot?ref=category
Now if you go to this site on Kickstarter you can ask for details of cost of software - find something technical of the scale you are looking at and just ask what the software development budget was/is
People on Kickstarter are very open and will share
http://community.spark.io/
Pacifist Kale !XTIaRSLg7Y joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 22 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #539,219
@539,215 (squeegee)
Apparently nothing. There is an open source oscilloscope Android app that can be used with audio jack input and some [simple parts for the probes.
I know you're just asking how much it would cost to build if you just asked around, but it would depend on who you were asking. Some programmer who thought it sounded like a fun weekend project might do it on the cheap or completely free just because it sounded fun. Freelance programmers would probably give you wildly different prices depending on their skill level, prior knowledge of how an oscilloscope funnctions, and how long they thought the project would take. A professional software development business would probably quote you a sky-high price to put a dedicated team of professional developers on the project, and there's always someone who will ask for ten times more that that just to see if you're gullible enough to take the offer. So... it depends who you're asking? A value somewhere between 0 and the cost of a new yacht?
Apparently nothing. There is an open source oscilloscope Android app that can be used with audio jack input and some [simple parts for the probes.
I know you're just asking how much it would cost to build if you just asked around, but it would depend on who you were asking. Some programmer who thought it sounded like a fun weekend project might do it on the cheap or completely free just because it sounded fun. Freelance programmers would probably give you wildly different prices depending on their skill level, prior knowledge of how an oscilloscope funnctions, and how long they thought the project would take. A professional software development business would probably quote you a sky-high price to put a dedicated team of professional developers on the project, and there's always someone who will ask for ten times more that that just to see if you're gullible enough to take the offer. So... it depends who you're asking? A value somewhere between 0 and the cost of a new yacht?
r04r joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 3 hours later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #539,237
@OP
Pretty much @previous (Pacifist Kale !XTIaRSLg7Y) I think. If you find a single student in/fresh out of college you could get it done relatively cheap. One or two thousand dollar would do it probably, less depending on how desperate they are. That is assuming you can deliver the oscilloscope hardware up front so they can use it during their development, and that there is some existing open source work on talking to devices through audio jack they can borrow from since that does not seem like a trivial problem.
If you get a get a professional freelancer on it you will be quoted their hourly price for a few weeks, which can range between $20-$200 an hour I think. I'm not a freelancer though and my experience of making apps is limited to two android apps, the minichan one and an unrelated one that has earned me a few thousand euros from the play store.
Pretty much @previous (Pacifist Kale !XTIaRSLg7Y) I think. If you find a single student in/fresh out of college you could get it done relatively cheap. One or two thousand dollar would do it probably, less depending on how desperate they are. That is assuming you can deliver the oscilloscope hardware up front so they can use it during their development, and that there is some existing open source work on talking to devices through audio jack they can borrow from since that does not seem like a trivial problem.
If you get a get a professional freelancer on it you will be quoted their hourly price for a few weeks, which can range between $20-$200 an hour I think. I'm not a freelancer though and my experience of making apps is limited to two android apps, the minichan one and an unrelated one that has earned me a few thousand euros from the play store.
Anonymous F joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 7 minutes later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #539,238
@539,214 (Syntax)
I have written such audio processing apps and I would do it for 10K... and I'm cheap.
I have written such audio processing apps and I would do it for 10K... and I'm cheap.
DasSheeple joined in and replied with this 11 years ago, 2 hours later, 10 hours after the original post[^] [v] #539,241
I freelance Windows Phone app development. I once made an app that records clapping (to be more precise, the guy used it to record his rope jumping, how many times he skipped the rope and how many jumps per second it was on average).
Here is what I charged:
-1 hours talk with him (yes, I charge even for talking with clients)
-4 hours algorithm development and optimization (lots of low level audio processing, C/C++ components)
-1 hour UI development (in reality this is like 10 minutes)
-2 hours testing and debugging
All in all, such a fart app was done in one working day, I charge 50-75 USD per hour of development. To be specific, for this I charged $500 in the end.
For something like that oscilloscope over audio jack, I'd probably charge even over $75 per hour, since it involves so much low level stuff and needs to be highly performing. If I had to develop the hardware as well (shouldn't be too complicated) it would be 100-150 per hour + material, and I assume it would take like 20-25 working hours.
Here is what I charged:
-1 hours talk with him (yes, I charge even for talking with clients)
-4 hours algorithm development and optimization (lots of low level audio processing, C/C++ components)
-1 hour UI development (in reality this is like 10 minutes)
-2 hours testing and debugging
All in all, such a fart app was done in one working day, I charge 50-75 USD per hour of development. To be specific, for this I charged $500 in the end.
For something like that oscilloscope over audio jack, I'd probably charge even over $75 per hour, since it involves so much low level stuff and needs to be highly performing. If I had to develop the hardware as well (shouldn't be too complicated) it would be 100-150 per hour + material, and I assume it would take like 20-25 working hours.
(Edited 46 seconds later.)
r04r replied with this 11 years ago, 27 minutes later, 10 hours after the original post[^] [v] #539,242
DasSheeple replied with this 11 years ago, 26 minutes later, 10 hours after the original post[^] [v] #539,246
@previous (r04r)
Well, oDesk suggests $25+ when they certify you as a mobile dev... I'm more than twice more expensive compared to paki people on oDesk.
EDIT: I understood your post wrong... well yeah, I do write 10-20% more hours than I actually worked. Or when I have something already and I just reuse it, I charge how much it originally took me to develop it. But I tend to not rip off people, I like returning clients.
Well, oDesk suggests $25+ when they certify you as a mobile dev... I'm more than twice more expensive compared to paki people on oDesk.
EDIT: I understood your post wrong... well yeah, I do write 10-20% more hours than I actually worked. Or when I have something already and I just reuse it, I charge how much it originally took me to develop it. But I tend to not rip off people, I like returning clients.
(Edited 3 minutes later.)
squeegee (OP) replied with this 11 years ago, 10 hours later, 21 hours after the original post[^] [v] #539,322
i know it's hard to ball park this kind of thing especially when i've given such loose requirements.
it makes sense that the figures would vary wildly, that's actually how my answers sound when people ask me to ball park things.
i appreciate the replies, thanks.
it makes sense that the figures would vary wildly, that's actually how my answers sound when people ask me to ball park things.
i appreciate the replies, thanks.