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(I am an entry-inter-intermediate level dev)
P = Person

P:Hey Can you build me a POS system for free?

Me: Yea whatever. (because... immediate family member)

P:Ok Great.

Me: *starts working on it.. almost done with inventory control and layouts in one night*

P: When will it be done? and I need it in a full screen window not a browser!!

Me: Soon..and I have not worked in ASP yet. So it will be a full screen browser app.

P: Aww you cant do it fast? You are not skilled enough??? Poor you, you are not good enough. I can do it in a few hours. Just write a C program which stores entries in a txt file. I dont want sql shes-que-el on my system. You dont want to use .txt because it will be harder for you. Poor you.. no skill.

Me: *raging to a level where i turn into kryptonium and burn superman to death but still keeping my calm* You will get it when you get it. Period

Inner Me: GO FUCK YOURSELF. IM DOING THIS FOR FREE SO THAT IT HELPS YOU OUT. NAGGING ME WONT HELP YOUR CAUSE ONE BIT. GO FUCKING LEARN HOW TO CODE YOURSELF AND MAKE IT YOURSELF OR BUY IT FOR A FUCK TON OF UNJUSTIFIED MONEY. IM GIVING YOU A BEAUTIFUL LAYOUT, GREAT APPLICATION ARCHITECTURE USING LARAVEL AND GREAT DATABASE DESIGN WHICH WOULD BE SCALABLE AND PRODUCE MEANINGFUL REPORTS. WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU PREFER A .TXT FILE OVER A WELL DESIGNED DATABASE. WOULD YOU FUCKING OPEN THAT HAMSTER CAGE OF A BRAIN OF YOURS WITH A KNIFE OR A SCREWDRIVER?
IF ITS THAT EASY FOR YOU GO FUCKING DO IT YOURSELF AND STOP BOTHERING ME. I AM TAKING MY TIME OUT FROM FREELANCING TO HELP YOU OUT. I COULD BE SPENDING THIS TIME ON OTHER PROJECTS WHICH WOULD GET ME SOMEWHERE. THE ONLY FUCKING REASON IM DOING IT BECAUSE I MIGHT BE ABLE TO RESELL THE POS (PIECE OF SHIT) TO OTHER PEOPLE IN FUTURE AND MAKE MY SHARE OF UNJUSTIFIED SHIT TON OF MONEY.

Comments
  • 7
    I have a hard time figuring out how you could have conceptualized and coded a functioning POS in just a day
  • 3
    I was simply getting done with basic CRUD operations. adding inventory, deleting it, updating it etc. Also there already exists a POS at the shop and I had gone through its operations.
  • 8
    Tell them to do it then and ask them every day if it's done.
  • 4
    The correct answer would be "Well now you can do it yourself. Bye👋" And block his number.
  • 7
    Even if immediate family member, don't do it for free. If they need a POS, they're making money. You too want to make money. It's only fair that they share. Especially that it might be illegal to work without a contract.

    And even if you do it for free, you will be blamed for any mistakes that they made. So not only did they not pay for support, they didn't pay for anything, and still you're the bad person.

    To any developer that doesn't know this yet: NEVER DEVELOP FOR FREE unless you're an absolute novice or you really want to do it, but even then, NO STRINGS ATTACHED. No support, no warranty, you should not be blamed if your code accidentally launches ballistic missiles.
  • 4
    When someone tells me "It's easy", I reply "Then go do it yourself then" only.
  • 1
    @apisarenco I develop stuff for free sometimes. It either ends up on github with an "this software is provided as is" disclaimer, or as a PR for someone who wants to take responsibility.
  • 2
    You to family member, can you please teach me how to do that? Would be helpful, keep bugging him
  • 3
    well the thing is... it is actually for a family business which is why I agreed to do it for free. But you guys are right. I never though about the liabilities I could face in the long run.
  • 2
    I don’t understand. If he can do it so easily himself in C.... why isn’t he doing that?

    And if he was really speaking to you in the mocking / derogatory way that you have implied then what he needs more than a POS system, is a hefty boot in the balls.
  • 0
    It sounds as if you're not paid enough to put up with that level of bullshit...
  • 0
    people just like to mock devs.
    They think developmemt is as easy as pressing 3 buttons. They dont realize how we exhaust our brains over good design.
  • 2
    @hchauhan I hate when someone says "it's easy for you" or "I don't know how to do that, but you will do it in seconds" at work.
  • 1
    Should have stopped making it at that moment.
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