The Other Developer Agreement
Developer Agreements can come in different flavors. The more familiar Developer Agreement is when a software developer codes your idea and bring to life. But before that, you might need the ‘other’ Developer Agreement. In this second scenario, a developer works with you to develop the technical specifications for your idea. With these specifically developed technical specifications in hand, you would be able to have anyone code it into a product. This separation of developer functions allows for greater flexibility and the ability to shop separately for skill sets and pricing. Separating it out even further between developers might allow for greater compartmentalization of your idea, helping to ensure secrecy.
Developer Agreements
People experienced at writing software programs can usually bring your idea into a functioning program. Traditionally, through phone calls and emails, they would create software to do what you want it to do. A few phone calls and emails and you’ll get graphics, which you’ll work with the programmer to fine tune. After some basics were in place, you could add a store with a shopping cart, invoices and payment processing. You could also add a messaging board, to include comments and opinions of users, or other components to your program. What and where the software end product did what you wanted it to do was entirely based on the owner. Once the software performed as directed and looked as the owner wanted, you were on your own. You could sell it, use it, market it, attempt to turn it into the Next Big Thing, or do whatever you liked with it. For some, this outcome is exactly what they wanted, 100% independence with their creation, to do with as they see fit.
The Other Developer Agreement
There are two primary components of the other Developer Agreement. The first step is the solution itself and what concerns, needs, and/or changes it needs to address or solve. The second component is the technical specifications as to how that might be achieved.
The First Step
The other Developer Agreement takes a different approach entirely and produces a completely different end product.
Instead of simply coding to achieve certain functionality and a specific look, an in-depth analysis is first performed. It starts with an examination of what benefit and value this new creation is supposed to achieve. Details regarding the value it should bring and what problem should it should solve are the primary points of creation. First, assemble a team comprised of the various stakeholders who have an interest in the solution, need, or change. These stakeholders might be from the various departments or businesses that are, or will be, affected. This team might include a data analyst, a systems analyst, management, or any number of other stakeholders. Compiling an accurate list of what all the new creation needs to change or solve is key. As the project continues, both the list and stakeholders may fluctuate as ideas are contributed.
The Second Step
The end product for the second part of this Developer Agreement is portable technical specifications. Here, rather than just code as directed, an experienced developer can add significant value to the project. The developer can contribute ideas, solutions and remedies to code for, or around, various issues. They might find ways to shorten, enhance, or add additional value to the project that others may have missed. For these reasons, the developer should be considered a valuable member of the stakeholder team and should be compensated for their contributions to the project solution.
Technical Specifications
Technical specifications provided under a Developer Agreement allow alternate coders to bid on the final project, both in pricing and delivery time. Depending on the project, it may allow for a separation of duties, enabling no one party to know the full extent of the final creation. This separation of activities, and related knowledge, can be helpful when security concerns are present. Here again, as work continues, one should expect additional input by way of ideas, context, uses, and needs. All of this input may drive further changes, clarifications, and revisions before the project reaches completion.
Developer Agreement Help
An experienced attorney from Larsen Law Offices, LLC can create the right Developer Agreement to meet your needs. Susan Larsen has a Masters degree in technology and many years of experience in working in the technology law field. Call Susan today for help with your next Developer Agreement.