[worldKit-dev] swflayer problem

[Ian Mayo]

On 14/09/2007, Ian Mayo <ian at planetmayo.com> wrote:
> I'm currently in discussion with the chaps at actionscript.com
> regarding them writing an architectural design document for worldKit
> under AS3 - optimally exploiting AS3/Flex2 functionality.  They're
> putting together a quote at the moment - though the amount of time
> they're investing in preparing the quote is starting to suggest that
> the quote may be out of my budget anyway.
>

So, back in September I approached the Flash experts at
ActionScript.com regarding the following:
"I'm just looking for you to produce the architectural design
for the component in Flex/AS3, possibly with guidance on the steps to
take to port the current Flash implementation over to Flex/AS3."

I'd seen a couple of their articles on Flash design at their website &
was sure they held the correct skills.  I thought that if I could get
the document produced, I & others in the worldKit community would be
able to work our way through it - confident of the direction ahead.

I had a few chats with them, answered a couple of clarifying
questions, then received their quote:
- 360Hrs at $135 per hour,  Totalling $48600 - though they could
probably drop it to $45000.

I was breathtaken.  I double-checked that they were just describing
production of the document, and not performing the porting themselves.
 Nope, it was just for the document.

They were aware that I was trying to "lay seeds" in the community
managing an open source component.    I had indicated that they were
welcome to publish the process and the end result on their web-site,
and that they would be recognised as the authors of the document
(suggestions I made in the quiet hope that they would take the work on
for free - so advertise their skills...)

They're entitled to run their business along whichever business model
they like, but I'm afraid they greatly misjudged this business
opportunity.

So, I'm afraid I won't be providing the community with the AS3/Flex
architecture document after all.  Bugger.

Ian