Comments on: It’s hard being a custodian http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/09/26/its-hard-being-a-custodian/ Web development and Internet trends Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:05:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/09/26/its-hard-being-a-custodian/#comment-2476 Robert Nyman Fri, 06 Jan 2006 11:17:59 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=157#comment-2476 Nutrox, The thing is, almost every web site I work on is based on a CMS. But the problem is that the client usually wants to cut costs and therefore leaves the code over to its own developers. And, as you say, that usually ends up with them screwing it up. So, yes, I don't have to worry about it but it makes me sad when you put a lot of work into developing as good a solution as possible and they then just ruin it. Nutrox,

The thing is, almost every web site I work on is based on a CMS. But the problem is that the client usually wants to cut costs and therefore leaves the code over to its own developers.

And, as you say, that usually ends up with them screwing it up. So, yes, I don’t have to worry about it but it makes me sad when you put a lot of work into developing as good a solution as possible and they then just ruin it.

]]> By: Nutrox http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/09/26/its-hard-being-a-custodian/#comment-2467 Nutrox Fri, 06 Jan 2006 02:10:02 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=157#comment-2467 How about creating a CMS for your websites? That way the client can update the site content without ever having to touch the source code. If they do decide to make changes to the source code though, and they screw things up, then it's their fault. Once the site has been approved, and is out of your hands, you don't need to worry about it any more. How about creating a CMS for your websites? That way the client can update the site content without ever having to touch the source code.

If they do decide to make changes to the source code though, and they screw things up, then it’s their fault. Once the site has been approved, and is out of your hands, you don’t need to worry about it any more.

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/09/26/its-hard-being-a-custodian/#comment-1251 Robert Nyman Sat, 08 Oct 2005 18:38:12 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=157#comment-1251 drift3r, I'm happy for you! :-) Some times explaining the importance of certain things strikes home with the customer, sometimes not. It's basically about convincing them that we really do want what's best for them and their audience. It's also about gaining their trust. drift3r,

I’m happy for you! :-)

Some times explaining the importance of certain things strikes home with the customer, sometimes not. It’s basically about convincing them that we really do want what’s best for them and their audience. It’s also about gaining their trust.

]]> By: drift3r http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/09/26/its-hard-being-a-custodian/#comment-1246 drift3r Fri, 07 Oct 2005 03:02:21 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=157#comment-1246 You are so there! :) I had major discutions with my customers over this ... I never lost any of them and only one has destroyed his site entirelly (a pseudo I know it all computer geek who didn't even knew what a monitor resolution is ... wtf?). The thing is that they just love me (or at least it's what they tell me) for what I put into the argument before we actually do the site. Usually I win but not ever. And sometimes I still have good surprises from clients who really come up with very good ideias. But because of the previous arguments I have, my sites stay on-line unaltered for a long time! :D I'm a (pseudo)happy web designer! ;) You are so there! :)

I had major discutions with my customers over this … I never lost any of them and only one has destroyed his site entirelly (a pseudo I know it all computer geek who didn’t even knew what a monitor resolution is … wtf?).

The thing is that they just love me (or at least it’s what they tell me) for what I put into the argument before we actually do the site. Usually I win but not ever. And sometimes I still have good surprises from clients who really come up with very good ideias.

But because of the previous arguments I have, my sites stay on-line unaltered for a long time! :D

I’m a (pseudo)happy web designer! ;)

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/09/26/its-hard-being-a-custodian/#comment-1110 Robert Nyman Wed, 28 Sep 2005 13:37:01 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=157#comment-1110 Mark, Yes, I agree. However, any <acronym title="What You See Is What You Get">WYSIWYG</acronym> tool worth its name should handle such things as content pasted from Word or something similar. Mark,

Yes, I agree. However, any WYSIWYG tool worth its name should handle such things as content pasted from Word or something similar.

]]> By: Mark http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/09/26/its-hard-being-a-custodian/#comment-1108 Mark Wed, 28 Sep 2005 12:58:08 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=157#comment-1108 I've tossed around the idea of using blogs for content management for my church site for the purpose of avoiding the problem above. Usually the problem I've run into is that people will paste their content directly from Word into Contribute or FrontPage and get very strange results. Blogs usually have a very limited amount of formatting options, so the chances of screwing up the look & feel are much smaller when using blog technology. I’ve tossed around the idea of using blogs for content management for my church site for the purpose of avoiding the problem above. Usually the problem I’ve run into is that people will paste their content directly from Word into Contribute or FrontPage and get very strange results. Blogs usually have a very limited amount of formatting options, so the chances of screwing up the look & feel are much smaller when using blog technology.

]]> By: In Other News http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/09/26/its-hard-being-a-custodian/#comment-1094 In Other News Mon, 26 Sep 2005 13:05:09 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=157#comment-1094 <strong>It's Hard Being A Custodian</strong> Robert Nyman (9rules member) laments on the fact that the hardwork you put into a design might all be for nothing once the client gets their hands on it. Just the way life goes, everyone is a tweaker.... It’s Hard Being A Custodian

Robert Nyman (9rules member) laments on the fact that the hardwork you put into a design might all be for nothing once the client gets their hands on it. Just the way life goes, everyone is a tweaker….

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/09/26/its-hard-being-a-custodian/#comment-1093 Robert Nyman Mon, 26 Sep 2005 12:07:28 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=157#comment-1093 Kalle, Yes, that's usually the procedure, some sort of support agreement to cover up for such. But then, not everyone agrees when it actually needs fixing and what kind of mesuares should be taken. You'd be amazed at how many companies that turn down such an offer too. Kalle,

Yes, that’s usually the procedure, some sort of support agreement to cover up for such.

But then, not everyone agrees when it actually needs fixing and what kind of mesuares should be taken. You’d be amazed at how many companies that turn down such an offer too.

]]> By: Kalle Wibeck http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/09/26/its-hard-being-a-custodian/#comment-1092 Kalle Wibeck Mon, 26 Sep 2005 11:59:22 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=157#comment-1092 For these situations one should try to always get the client to buy education and web management services from you/your company. This service will include a monthly/annual code review from your team and a fixed amount of hours (per month) for fixing up the mess created by the clients programmers. Not that many clients are longing to buy these "services tickets" but you could include this in the original offer as a returning post-delivery quality inspection. If some issues takes to long to fix up you will have to charge extra for these issues... For these situations one should try to always get the client to buy education and web management services from you/your company.
This service will include a monthly/annual code review from your team and a fixed amount of hours (per month) for fixing up the mess created by the clients programmers.

Not that many clients are longing to buy these “services tickets” but you could include this in the original offer as a returning post-delivery quality inspection.

If some issues takes to long to fix up you will have to charge extra for these issues…

]]> By: Robert Nyman http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/09/26/its-hard-being-a-custodian/#comment-1091 Robert Nyman Mon, 26 Sep 2005 08:58:15 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=157#comment-1091 Jeroen, Some do. Or so I've heard... :-) Mats, Learn Photoshop now! It'll make your life better (or at least you'll be freakingly talented at editing your summer pics...). :-) Jeroen,

Some do. Or so I’ve heard… :-)

Mats,

Learn Photoshop now! It’ll make your life better (or at least you’ll be freakingly talented at editing your summer pics…). :-)

]]> By: Mats http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/09/26/its-hard-being-a-custodian/#comment-1090 Mats Mon, 26 Sep 2005 08:41:02 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=157#comment-1090 I feel your pain, it's like when you have to work with designers who has only done catalogs and brochures and you need to make small changes to some of the graphics and you get a completely different image back which doesn't fit in its intended space anymore. I whish I was better at Photoshop ... :S I feel your pain, it’s like when you have to work with designers who has only done catalogs and brochures and you need to make small changes to some of the graphics and you get a completely different image back which doesn’t fit in its intended space anymore.

I whish I was better at Photoshop … :S

]]> By: Jeroen Mulder http://www.robertnyman.com/2005/09/26/its-hard-being-a-custodian/#comment-1089 Jeroen Mulder Mon, 26 Sep 2005 08:33:24 +0000 http://www.robertnyman.com/?p=157#comment-1089 You're demanding for customers to think? Oh man. What kind of outrageous demand is that?! ;-) You’re demanding for customers to think? Oh man. What kind of outrageous demand is that?! ;-)

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