Naturaily logo with transparent background

Buying Software Development Services Is a Skill

Some say approaching a software or web development agency is easy: just send them the list of requirements, add a few inspirations, compare your app idea to the already-existing tool, and ask for an estimate. But it doesn’t work like that.

Person in a blue shirt and beanie writing on a whiteboard filled with diagrams and flowcharts.

Don't believe the software development myths. Read on to learn why.

There are gems for this

This happens all the time. We’re approached by people working on their startups, people who are fighting to build the product. Occasionally they have some software development know-how, maybe not coming directly from writing own code, but from working closely with developers. “But you know, there are gems for this, it should be a quick one” - they say.

This is one of the biggest lies about software development you can hear these days. That development has become much faster and cheaper than it used to be. Because Ruby on Rails. Because gems. Because themes. Fantastic world of insta-coding.

Let me tell you the truth. Heart transplant is not easier and quicker just because all the necessary parts and tools are there. You still need time, preparation and a team of experts to get it done.

Software development takes time. Software needs love. Otherwise you end up with a huge technological debt and there’s no one waiting out there to bail you out.

Nothing worthwhile is achieved suddenly.

Elderly man wearing headphones plays a green electric guitar on stage, dressed in a white shirt, vest, and colorful tie. It's Robert Fripp

Robert Fripp

Musician (King Crimson)

We are delayed, we need more developers

It’s an absolute classic. Development’s not going with the desired pace? Let’s add more developers! It doesn’t work.

The bearing of a child takes nine months, no matter how many women are assigned.

It's a famous quote from Fred Brooks. And it’s true.

Many things cause software development delays. And this quote is even more true when it comes to developing software for startups. Because these ultracool frameworks are unstable and have bugs which take days to fix. Development tools are not mature or just broken. Sure, everything looks great in the “Todo list” tutorial, but the reality is hell.

Trying to speed up things by adding more developers is just a wrong cure. Team size is not the source of the problem. All you can do as a product owner is to be patient (but don’t forget about Parkinson’s law).

Can you estimate this?

Another one. “I wanna build Uber for dog walkers. It should have similar features. Can you send me an estimate?”

No, we can’t. Or maybe we can, yes, it’s 2 gazzzzzzilioooon dollars. But seriously, there are two types of projects: ones you can estimate and ones you can’t.

The ones you actually can estimate usually have well defined scope and will be build with stable frameworks. I say usually because in software development everything can change just because of one tiny non-standard requirement. But for the sake of this post let’s assume that it’s true for well defined scope and stable, well-documented dev stack.

If you’re planning to use Meteor and have problems with defining what exactly you want to build, requiring an estimate is just unrealistic. Been there done that. If we don’t know what features will land in the Backlog, how are we supposed to know how long it’ll take to develop them?

Other factors making it harder to estimate:

  • Developers using given technology for the first time

  • Working with a code base written by someone else

Oh, and one more thing: don’t believe your developer friends. They always do it, they say it’s simple and should take one day. They lie.

Last words

There are of course more myths than these described above. The key takeaway is: buying and owning software product is a skill. A skill that can be possessed, but it takes time and money to learn.

You need to understand how software is built to omit errors. And you need to know what you want to build. If you don’t know, you need experience and know-how to go agile. Agile is great, but only for experienced product owners.

Let’s Create a Great Website Together

We'll shape your web platform the way you win it!

More posts in this category

  • Isometric illustration of a smartphone displaying graphs, next to stylized land plots with trees, on an orange background.

    September 05, 2022 • 11 min read

    Greenfield vs Brownfield IT Projects: Key Differences & Tips

    Starting a project from scratch or taking an already started one – this is what the greenfield vs brownfield question is mainly about. Easy? Easy. It brings, however, a few important issues. How to run such projects? Which approach is better for your needs? What does the development process look like? Check the answers below!

    READ MORE
  • Illustration of two people working at desks with computers, one sitting on a couch, in a green office space with a potted plant.

    April 23, 2020 • 9 min read

    11 Most Promising Startups In San Diego To Watch In 2020

    When you say ‘startup’, most people think about California. And while many jump directly to San Francisco, we took a look at San Diego. Startups there spring up like mushrooms, and when we were around, we decided to meet some companies operating there. Conclusions? San Diego really is an awesome (but often overlooked) place to scale-up your idea or business!

    READ MORE
  • Illustration of online shopping: people ordering on a computer, package delivery trucks, and a large dollar sign on a green background.

    March 25, 2020 • 11 min read

    COVID-2019 vs e-commerce - common problems & how to face them

    COVID-19 coronavirus is officially a global pandemic. As it’s spreading around the world at a fast pace, it is predicted to take its toll on both people and businesses, including the e-commerce industry.

    READ MORE