The quality of work done by cheap Indian labor

[PAlexC]

I'm going through a project that was outsourced after I left the company several years ago. This project was developed WITHOUT specification. I'm re-speccing it, so we can outsource it to ANOTHER company, who will build a version of it, while I'm currently building an entirely new version of it in HTML/JavaScript.

Don't ask why, my boss is a F*CKING MORON who thinks applications magically pop out of the air, and doesn't understand why prototypes can't be used in production.

I digress.

As I'm going through the work they did, I'm finding a number of atrocities. Architecture, for one, is non-existent. This application should be a single SWF that runs off of a few classes. Instead there are a dozen swfs and DOZENS of AS files, many of which aren't even used and you can tell they took from other people's projects.

But I had to share some of the winners, like this in one of the XML files used to feed the application:
<appendCorrectFeedback><![CDATA[False]]></appendCorrectFeedback>

That's right. A boolean value, stored as a string, as CDATA so as not to confuse the parser. Also note that apparently inside your AS, capitalization counts. A value that should in it's own right be an attribute of its parent node, not a separate value.

How about another?
<colortheme><![CDATA[Blue]]></colortheme>

This tag specifies the color of the background, nothing else. Inside the swf, "Blue" is converted to an RGB value that is used to tint the movieclip in the background. Why not just use the RGB value as a parameter, so I can use any color I want? Because that would make too much sense. Also, protected by CData, just in case the parser sees 'Blue' and starts to feel sad.

I could go on for pages, but I'll post just one more:
<reviewPreRequisite><![CDATA[Off]]></reviewPreRequisite>

This SHOULD be a boolean value, but no, Off is much easier to remember. Again, capitalized, and wrapped in CData to prevent the parser from shutting the power off by mistake.

I have TONS of stuff like this, not to mention a terrible design, and RETARDED business rules that interfere with functionality, but I'm too pissed off to document it all.

The moral of the story here is YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. This is what $20/hour and a 2 day turnaround gets you.

OFFSHORE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

[argonauta]

I heard that some outsource houses charge by line of code, so they used to deliver a lot of unnecessary extra code.

But outsourcing can be good, if you search in the right places. I'm based in Ecuador, but work for people in the US; it's a completely virtual team, as we've worked with designers and coders from Argentina, Japan, Croatia, and who knows what other countries.

I think that if you're going to outsource, you should look for independent developers, and above all, build a strong business relationship (so that your growth means their growth as well).

As an independent "outsourcer" (not really, as I've worked with the same people since 2004) I try to deliver the best, so I keep getting work. Over here, somebody like me could earn about $500 to $800 a month, so it's in my best interest to offer a good service to earn way more (I earn more in a month than some people I know earn in a year), and even so, the hiring company saves money because I earn less than people in the US

[FlashLackey]

Indeed. I think this is simply a case of a bad resource. Many non-US resources are fantastic. Just have to work around the time differences.

[gerbick]

I've been waiting for this rant...

[jAQUAN]

On one occasion my brother actually found himself teaching the Indian how code who still jacked it. The "off" within cdata made me laugh btw.

My personal worst was spending tons of time and money working with a great seo company only to find out the owner hired some blackhat s.o.b. to promote the same f*cking phrases. Within two days we had the third spot on page 1. Two days later we were blacklisted. The worst part was the 16 hour days I put in to meet the deadline and walked into WTF happened to my site anyway.

[Frets]

Believe it or not there are competent indian programmers. Unfortunately managerial types won't hire them at a decent rate. what comes out of the bargain is pissed of programmers who aren't above sabotaging a project surrounded by idiots.
Sure some indian programmers make $20 an hour. Many don't, and at best are data entry types that shouldn't be near code.

During the boom days around here the average programmer made $150 an hour. The average Indian immigrant made $150 an hour as a programmer but half of that went back to india in taxes. When the boom went bust all the H1 visa's dried up and they were deported. I know guys with freaking Masters degrees who would rather work at a 7-11 then go back to india and be a programmer.

[MyFriendIsATaco]

I'd hire this guy:

[Genesis F5]

Anyone else hoping that was going to be a picture of Ben Jabituya?

[hanratty21]

been waiting years to post this pic...


</macho man>

[Loyal Rogue]

I've been waiting for this picture...

Fixed.

[gerbick]

You've just earned one free random edit... might be a past post, might be a future post... but it's gonna happen

[jasonsplace]

A year ago we were falling behind on a project and decided to outsource part of it to someone in the US. What they built technically worked but when we started wanting to make changes in the next version we looked at it and the code was an absolute disaster. The moral of the story is that there are good and bad developers everywhere you go. Make sure that you know what you are getting.

[hanratty21]

But they have those cool headdresses.

[gerbick]

Less thinly veiled racism people.

[silverx2]

other then verbal communications issues i've never had a problem.. then again i dont outsource anything..

[hanratty21]

Less thinly veiled racism people.

You mean like generalizing the quality of work of an entire country full of people? Sure thing. Get right on it.

[gerbick]

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. Want to rant about things, so be it. Want to continue down a downward spiral, I might have something to say about that.

[Frets]

Ahh the joys of OOP

Architecture, for one, is non-existent. This application should be a single SWF that runs off of a few classes. Instead there are a dozen swfs and DOZENS of AS files,

This is what happens when someone buys the press pack without a clue to what it really means.
Boss: I WANT IT OOP do you get what I'm saying I WANT OOP
Worker: I'll give ya freaking OOP if that's what you want. It'll be so freakin OOP you'll freak.

[jAQUAN]

Worker: If you want OOP you don't want AS3. :P
*fire dances out of thread*

[Loyal Rogue]

Less thinly veiled racism people.

Well if it's more overt racism you want I'm sure we can oblige you...