can clients tamper with the code?

[bejamshi]

Once files are uploaded to a server and the client has a password to access the information, I guess the client can download the files and change them as they please right? Can they screw up the site by not knowing what to do?
Do you allow for that and do you warn your client that to fix their mistakes with will cost them double the trouble.

[shalom_m]

If your client has tested, approved and paid for the site; it is his.
If he messes it up, it's his problem. (Assuming of course that you have no clause in the contract that you are responsible for him making a mess)

However; it is always a good idea to keep a copy of your code for at least 12 months. I keep copies of all websites I produced (even if they are already defunct) for much longer – on both hard disk and CD. Storage is much cheaper than time wasted rewriting code.

[htmldude]

If your client has tested, approved and paid for the site; it is his.
If he messes it up, it's his problem. (Assuming of course that you have no clause in the contract that you are responsible for him making a mess)
However; it is always a good idea to keep a copy of your code for at least 12 months. I keep copies of all websites I produced (even if they are already defunct) for much longer – on both hard disk and CD. Storage is much cheaper than time wasted rewriting code.


X's 2 on what he said

[C.E.]

This is part of the reason I usually never let my clients have access to their files. Much easier to make sure it doesn't get screwed up. If they INSIST on updating their own site, I put it in a CMS or blog or something.

[DesignVHL]

x3 what shalom said....I would like to add though, that it never hurts to include this in your contract by stating any changes made to the site after final payment and ownership transferred to client are not your responsibility. It basically just states that if client screws up their site, and they come back to have it fixed, that I will have to charge my standard maintenence fee. Easy peezy!

[digizan]

To add to what the others have said, after launching the I always send clients a CD containing a full backup copy of the site (including a database dump, if one was used) along with full documentation (sitemap, hosting & associated email addresses, registrar info, etc.), should they ever need it. I place it in a CD sleeve sealed with a big fat sticker warning them that it contains an archived copy of their site as well as sensitive info and should be kept in a safe place.

Speaking of contracts: My contracts state that the site will function properly across all browsers it was designed for (typically modern, popular, non-proprietary browsers—I specify exactly which ones), then I also include a disclaimer that I cannot guarantee that it will continue to do so as new browsers may contain bugs that cannot possibly be foreseen.

Ditto for any 3rd party scripts, CMS, custom programming, etc. They need to be made aware that security patches and/or bug fixes may be necessary in the future. If they don't want to sign a contract with you for maintenance, then they're on their own.

And what about server software? What if you inherit a custom application that was not particularly well coded and was built using really old versions of say, PHP & MySQL, and then the hosting company suddenly decides to update to v5.x of both? Are things going to break? What if you need to upgrade a 3rd party application? Will it work with old versions of PHP & MySQL?

There are sooo many things to take into consideration. Most clients aren't aware of any of these things—that's why they hire a professional—therefore I feel that it's my job to educate & warn them. If they've been told and still want to take their chances, then... *shrug*

Digi

[bejamshi]

Thanks you, great comments. Hi digi, how are you? Nice to see you here.

[digizan]

Hi digi, how are you? Nice to see you here.

I'm fine, beez—thanks for asking. I figure I have to get out an visit other forums more often. ;)

[shalom_m]

Some 20 or so years ago, I was part of a team that developed a software program that for a period of 15 years was considered "The Standard" in industrial engineering in many countries. This allowed me to travel and meet people form a lot of different counties and cultures. Above all, it showed me that there are a lot of different ways of doing business.

In the UK I learned that you cannot promote anything without grandstanding.
In Ireland you are lost without a sense of humor.
In Russia, if you can't hold your drink (in plural) – don't do business there.
In the US – don't go to any meeting without legal council AND under no circumstances exaggerate what your product can do OR promise a short delivery date.
In Egypt – add 50% to your asking price and let them whittle you down.Now here are two quotes I picked up in the Far East that changed my way of doing business:


From a factory owner who was apprehensive to pay up front: "Let me have the program for free and I will let you share in the profits" (India)


From an industrialist after we were 2 month late in customizing the program to his specific needs: "How can we help you to expedite out deal?"(Japan)


The first concept made me change my mode of business in 3rd World countries, I sold more and my margin of profit was much higher.
I am using this concept now too. Sometimes I will develop a site for a percentage of the business.


The second concept "blew my mind"!


I was expecting an irate call with threats of litigation – this is what I learned to expect in the West. And here is the victim offering to help the offending party to rectify a wrong.
It took me some time to realize that this is a far superior way of doing business.


Business should be a long-terms co-operation between the seller and the buyer. Litigation, even if you are in the right, burns bridges.

So back to our client who messed up the code.
In my web-development business, I also offer hosting services and a backup service.


Now say for example my client has messed up a page of code and he has no backup. I can do one of the following:

Upload the page I created or send it to him for free.
Do the above for a nominal price.
Charge him for debugging his page at the usual hourly rate.Remember the hosting service, even if it is only $5 or $10 per month is a permanent income and adds up.
Let your client know he is in your debt but you like him and want to keep him.


Lets take this one step further; your client relocated and changed his address and phone numbers. He wants you to change to them to the new address in the footers in all the 367 pages he has.


Since you have designed the website as it should be designed, you have the permanent footer as an SSI – the whole operation should take you no more than 10 minutes. (If you did it any other way – you did not design the site properly)

Let him have it as a service (and don't explain that it took you 10 minutes)
Charge him a fee that is laughable (and explain that you are charging him minimum)
Multiply the 10 minutes by 367, and charge him for 3670 minutes (well you might just as well round it up to 62 hours)I know what I would do!
This is why my clients don't leave, why they come back for more and why they recommend my services to others.


N.B. This does not replace an iron clad contract (just in case…).

[bejamshi]

Shalom that was an interesting read, thanks for the great stories and words of wisdom.;)