[Project Auction Sites] - Reinventing the wheel, while the car is moving.

[oneorzero]

Hey all.

I wanted to breach this subject and see what everyones thoughts were...

After a few runs with a couple of the major project auction sites I decided I wanted to build a better one... One that was useful.

Basically, what would you want as a developer from one of those sites?

I registered www.phpmysqljobs.com - I envision a php mysql centric project auction site. I want it to start at the following point:

Intelligent PROJECT questionaire.
The interview form for the prospective project should be concise and get the REAL info, not "I want my website to do X."

1st stage PROJECT specs.
Build in a mechanism where the local contingent of developers writes out a brief spec on the job and makes recommendations for pricing. The client/poster can approve and the project gets posted in the appropriate location.

Team projects.
Create some sort of user groupings to allow a team of folks to work on things and share development.

Keep the "quote" numbers hidden to everyone but the client/poster of the project. So the developers will bid real numbers and not just lower to beat someone else.

Build a better feedback system.

Come up with a GOOD way to qualify a developer. Maybe a peer review system.

Basically, this should be written for the community by the community. I want to deliver a GOOD qualified project spec to the developer community. and build some balances into it to keep the 'job spammers' out of the loop.

Thoughts? Wanna tell me to take a hike? Think it's worth it?

[goldbug]

Could be a good idea, though I wouldn't limit it to just php or mysql work. Also, if I were calling the shots, there would be logic to detect frequent duplication of "pitch" statements. It always bothered me when groups on similar sites would just post the same crappy generic statement for every project, when it was clear they didn't read the proposal at all. Also, it might be a good idea, either on the client or worker side, or both, to show the average bid for jobs of similar scope/skillset, so both parties have a better idea of what to expect, financially at least. It was a big pain in the ass on some of the other sites I've used where the client would request a ridiculous amount of features/work/etc..., and want to pay the worker less than they'd make at McDonalds. My $.02USD

[oneorzero]

What about trying to handle the bid qualification and the project posting a little more closely... Instead of AUTOMATING the snot out of it, put in stages that can approved by a moderator... That would keep the spam monkeys off the case and may be viewed by some to be a significant value add.

Literally hand hold each project for the poster, through all the bidding. Could make a for better experience and would give the "clients" a fuzzier feeling about the process and keep the developer base from ripping their hair out over improper specs etc....

Even go as far as firing up phone conversations with the client/posters to ensure the proper communication of needs...