Programming work question

[Monkeypox]

Quick question. Can I get a few estimates on how long something like this would take to program from scratch?

Assume: Mid-level competence from the coder. No preference on language or implementation. Coder has all the tools/applications necessary.

I want a Windows application that prompts a user to locate a data folder. For example, music. I then want that application to ask for 3-4 other data types. Then I want that program to search for a default directory for a specific xml file. Give the user the option to locate if it doesn't exist. If the expected data structure exists but the XML doesn't, create the xml file. If the xml file does exist, I want the app to add the values from the previous 3-4 locations as a string inside the XML file.

Once this is complete, I want it to prompt the user if they would like to use a certain application. If they say yes, open up the default browser and open a new page/tab and go to the download section for that app. Back in the application, I want it to do this for 3-4 applications and then quit, with the option of canceling or quitting at any time.

I'm trying to scope out how long it would take someone to complete this job.

Part B. Once that application is created, I would like an estimate on how long it would take that same application to be configured to run once at login, but only the first time after installed. After first run, it should still be executable, but no longer run at startup and does not need to continue running as a service.


Any help scoping this out would be much appreciated.

 

[Tawnos]

Windows only?
With some basic testing and validation, I'd give it a full week. The actual coding will only be a part of that time, especially if this is a C# + Winforms/WPF app. Testing and validation should take up the rest.

Also, this could scale up if the "download section for that app" requires more on the back end or other such stuff.

 

[Monkeypox]

Windows for now, Linux later.

The testing would be done by another group aside from basic code tests the tester did.

The "download section for that app" would simply be a static URL.

 

[Whatsisname]

This seems really vague. It could be between a few hours to a month depending on the true scope of what you have in mind.

 

[Tawnos]

Windows for now, Linux later.

The testing would be done by another group aside from basic code tests the tester did.

The "download section for that app" would simply be a static URL.

In that case, "No preference on language or implementation." is not strictly true.

Testing is a part of good code development, and shouldn't just be tossed over the wall to another group.

 

[robvas]

Quick question. Can I get a few estimates on how long something like this would take to program from scratch?

Assume: Mid-level competence from the coder. No preference on language or implementation. Coder has all the tools/applications necessary.

Can toolkits or libraries that are free software be used? What about those that charge royalties or require licensing?

I want a Windows application that prompts a user to locate a data folder.

Locate how? Create a list and have them select? Navigate a file browser to choose it?

For example, music. I then want that application to ask for 3-4 other data types.

How will it ask? Keyboard input? Present a menu? What are the data types that are acceptable?

Then I want that program to search for a default directory for a specific xml file.

Specified by whom?

Give the user the option to locate if it doesn't exist.

Locate it how?

If the expected data structure exists but the XML doesn't, create the xml file. If the xml file does exist, I want the app to add the values from the previous 3-4 locations as a string inside the XML file.

Add up the values as in combine the string?

Once this is complete, I want it to prompt the user if they would like to use a certain application.

Again, how are you going to ask them? What application are you going to ask if they want to use?

If they say yes, open up the default browser and open a new page/tab and go to the download section for that app.

Download section of what?

Back in the application, I want it to do this for 3-4 applications and then quit, with the option of canceling or quitting at any time.

I'm trying to scope out how long it would take someone to complete this job.

Part B. Once that application is created, I would like an estimate on how long it would take that same application to be configured to run once at login, but only the first time after installed. After first run, it should still be executable, but no longer run at startup and does not need to continue running as a service.


Any help scoping this out would be much appreciated.

You need to re-write your spec before you present it to anyone in a request for quote. Mock up some screenshots using something like balamiq, don't leave anything to the developers imagination.