| A quick definition of freelance software developers is | | | | another freelancer. Usually one of the freelancers is a |
| warranted here. Freelance software developers are | | | | coder and the other a designer. So if you have a large |
| those developers who do not belong to any | | | | project which might require a complete team on an |
| organization and usually work from home. The biggest | | | | ongoing basis, using freelancers is definitely not the |
| advantage of using a freelancer is the price. They | | | | answer. |
| usually charge a fraction of what a professional | | | | Timely deliveries may be a distant dream: Since |
| organization would charge. But the pitfalls are | | | | freelancers work at their own pace and as and when |
| numerous, especially if the project in question is a | | | | they get time, it might not be possible to extract timely |
| serious or long term one. Some of the pitfalls are | | | | deliveries from them. Apart from that, some |
| discussed below: | | | | freelancers are infamous for not sticking to their |
| High factor of risk: Trusting a long term project to a | | | | commitments and letting the client down at a critical |
| freelancer is allowing you to be open to all the risks | | | | moment. This can be a big disadvantage in an |
| which might come due to issues faced by the | | | | important project and you might end up wishing that |
| freelancer. For example, if the freelancer's personal | | | | you had given the project to a professional |
| situation changes and he cannot work anymore or if | | | | organization. Buyer beware! |
| he falls ill your project faces the risk of being scrapped. | | | | Infrastructure may not be good enough: Since a |
| Quality is a big issue: Many freelancers work to | | | | freelancer is usually working from home, he may not |
| supplement their primary income. They may not be | | | | have the requisite software and hardware |
| able to spend the amount of time which a full-time | | | | infrastructure and may not even have good |
| developer would normally spend on the project or may | | | | connectivity. Poor infrastructure can also have an |
| delay the project if something urgent comes up in their | | | | adverse effect on the project. |
| primary job. Furthermore, a freelancer is seldom able | | | | If you plan to use freelancers for a project in the near |
| to tap into a talent pool and is usually self-taught. This | | | | future, it is advisable that you enter into the business |
| limits his knowledge level and he may not be able to | | | | relationship with your eyes open. The above pitfalls are |
| troubleshoot complex issues while programming. | | | | just some of the mission critical issues which might |
| Furthermore, he may not follow standards while coding | | | | crop up during the lifetime of the project. Having said |
| or may not complete comments within the code which | | | | that, many projects today are carried out by |
| can create legacy issues later on. | | | | freelancers quite successfully, especially those where |
| Lack of scalability: Freelancers cannot take up very | | | | the freelancers are very dedicated to their work and |
| large sized projects. They would ideally take projects | | | | committed to the client. |
| which they can handle in their individual capacity or with | | | | |