Help HN: Does anyone need a programmer for the next two days?

[_1tch]

I am in a bit of a tricky financial situation, and urgently need $300 by the next two days; no one I know is able to help me with this so I am reaching out to HN.

In return I will do any sort of programming you require for the next 48 hours solid. I can do web development(Experience with Javascript[ Node Meteor] Python[Django], Php[My own frameworks, CakePHP, Codeignitor... etc]), Java, C#...

Normally I would not post something like this but I am desperate. If you would like to know more email is in profile.

[larrys]

I feel bad for you and actually considered simply advancing you $300. But then I saw this:

"From start to finish [name redacted] wasted my time for nearly 6 months, teased me with a demo, then went AWOL, then came back from holiday without advising me and then still didn't provide any communication. I chased him for two months and been very patient but the lack of comms on his part was very frustrating. I would never deal with him again, as I cant trust his judgement and would not be confident for him to complete any work on time.”

[link redacted]

Noting that the other reviews by the same person don't fit that pattern:

https://www.elance.com/e/public/Co5ig7n7zvxc7ns%257EoswA82UF...

Most of the other work for which you have positive reviews are for smaller dollar amounts.

Reason for the negative feedback?

[_1tch]

That project was hell.

It started as a simply Android and IOS apps. So I completed a version which outlined the basic idea that was agreed on along with an API that supported the apps. So once he was happy he paid the first milestone. Then I did go away on holiday for two weeks, I tried to send him an email but I saved it to my drafts by accident - my fault; and his right to be angry at that. We worked it out and agreed to continue. At this point I was waiting on him to provide the designs for the final part of the app. A week later still nothing, so we agreed to go on and have me just put a basic design to it, which I was unhappy about, as it was not what we agreed on, but I continued. Once I was done I went to run the app before sending it to him and it would not show any data...

He had another freelancer working on the site who had completely over written my API. He had no backups. So to make up for my loss of communication before I agreed to redo it for free, a week after agreeing to redo he cancelled the job and left that...

They are all small amounts other than the Karaoke Project, which went so well I have now been building new features for over a year on which is why it is still in continuation.

[etjossem]

Might I suggest discussing version control with your clients in the future? "Collaboration" might be an over-charitable word for the relationship between you and the other freelancer, but even an agreement to commit in two branches to the same git repository (e.g. one hosted privately on https://github.com/ or https://bitbucket.org/) would have gone a long way towards preventing this outcome. In this case, git would have kept a permanent backup of every new feature/fix in your development process, as well as each of the other freelancer's changes. You'd have been able to merge the two at every milestone (or every day!) with minimal pain.

If you're new to version control, GitHub has a nice git tutorial at http://try.github.io/.

[_1tch]

Don't worry I suggested it multiple times -_-

[bdcravens]

Give it away. Setup an org bitbucket account. Give other devs access - it's up to them whether or not to use it.

1) You have an out if others wreck the ship 2) At the very least you've backed up your stuff (good even if you're the only dev)

[jawns]

I notice your website has a projects page, but it's empty.

Can you tell us about anything you've worked on in the past?

[_1tch]

Sorry I am in the process of creating the site. I'll stick to my web development history because that is probably the most appropriate.

I started the web development world in PHP where I used frameworks such as cakePHP, wordpress, codeignitior from there I progressed into python, Java Applets. Recently I have been really interested in Meteor and other java script frameworks. By far Meteor is my favorite tool of the moment.

In terms of what I have worked on: -Last year I was the lead developer on a web app that allowed users to create funeral programs and other memorial products. -I freelanced rewriting a music sharing/streaming service. -I have developed a multi-screen karaoke system for a London based Karaoke company. -I worked on a Medical system which allowed users to monitor their blood sugar level and receive alerts when it entered certain thresholds. ... and many more.

Please email me if you want more information about any of them.

[salibhai]

If you don't get a response, there is always odesk, freelancer, guru, etc..

[_1tch]

I considered that, but from my experience that would normally take longer than the time I have.

[tocomment]

Or do you have anything you could sell? That might be a quick way to get some money.

[_1tch]

Being the super geek I am, all the high value goods I own are either inside my computer or it is my bed.

[tocomment]

Hmm maybe you could donate bone marrow then?

[duck]

I would sale your bed then. :)

[sdoowpilihp]

I can help out, and I do have a small (i.e. easily finished in a day) node.js project that I would love some help with. email me at the address in my profile if you haven't already found someone.

[_1tch]

I just want to say a big thanks to everyone! I was completely taken a back by the reaction, and the fact this hit the front page astounded me - thank you! If I have not replied to you yet I will try to by the end of the night, I have been swamped. Thank you HN!

[swohns]

I'd like to help a fellow hacker in need! We have a project that could use some django expertise. I'd love to see some of your work first though, mind sending it my way? My email is in my profile.

[seagreen]

Do you mind if others contact you as well? I might be looking for Django work soon.

Also, the "email" section of HN profiles is private, so if you want other people to see your email put it in the "about" section.

EDIT: Soon as in "a couple weeks from now". Not trying to compete with the OP.

[uptown]

Why do you need the money? Someone might be willing to float you if the reason/situation is valid.

[_1tch]

I brought an item last month with a deferred 30 day payment, which I was going to cover when a client I was freelancing for paid me last week. However, they have disappeared off the face of the earth and it does not look like they will reappear soon.

[uptown]

Is this you?

[link redacted]

[e1ven]

Why does it matter?

Trying to pull more information from people than they want to share is somewhat rude.

[uptown]

Because lending money is always about trust and managing risk.

In the context of potentially offering to float cash to a stranger - and getting a vague response about the exact situation requiring urgent cash - I'd like to know whether the person is trustworthy. Finding a mug shot that potentially resembles the cartoon version of the person requesting the cash from their website ( [link redacted] ) I see no harm in asking whether the person in the mug shot with the same name and potentially similar physical attributes was the same person.

[wtracy]

Except that he never asked anyone to lend him money. He asked for someone to hire him on a contract basis.

[e1ven]

I feel that asking in private may have been understandable, but posting it publicly was over the line.

[etjossem]

Let's say you're applying for an incredibly basic credit card with a line of $1000. Would you expect the bank to obtain a copy of your credit report? Probably; that's standard practice. Would they also try to determine prior convictions? Maybe. Would you expect them to search for a mugshot of you based on a cartoon they saw, pick a totally unrelated image file, then factor what that person looks like and what they've been accused of pre-trial into the decision? I hope not.

If you're planning to spot a fellow HN user some money, and you can't show them any trust, at least show a little professionalism. If you just did that for your own amusement, please don't ever do it again.

[biot]

Your matching algorithm is about as accurate as a name match for a TSA no-fly list. Regarding the cartoon likeness, the only similarity I saw was the hairline... ok, that and two eyes, two ears, a nose, a mouth. To be honest, the cartoon image looks more like Ben Affleck.

[runjake]

Your Google-fu is lacking. Here's a picture of [name redacted]. It doesn't match.

[link redacted]

[yoshgoodman]

To me it looks like they match

[_1tch]

Trust me there is no resemblance

[_1tch]

Nope not me, would you like a picture?

[Domenic_S]

I got it:

[link redacted]

[dkroy]

Nice find, it is odd that his last few reviews had been negative, while most of his previous work seem to be rated very highly.

[alex_doom]

Looks like a PHP programmer for sure ;)

[dkroy]

I most likely would be willing to float you the money just email me, and we can talk.

[_1tch]

Thank you for the offer, but, where possible I would like to be able to work for it. But thank you very much though!!

[cpach]

I’m afraid I can’t help you out directly but I wish you best of luck!

[_1tch]

Thank you very much!

[aarondf]

emailed

[_1tch]

Thank you! replied.

[aarondf]

where'd you go? We were supposed to chat on Skype and you disappeared.

[_1tch]

Sorry everything swamped me, give me two mins.

[jiggy2011]

Stop buying crack on credit.

[_1tch]

Sorry the temptation is too much.

[FaisalAbid]

[name redacted], can you email me at [email redacted], I have a project I need help with.

Thanks,

[etjossem]

I like your style. Hope you find a good gig.

[_1tch]

Thank you very much!