Brian Farkas — Sun, 01 Jun 2003 05:21:42 +0000

I'm not totally clear on whether the designer simply wants to develop the site on his server (which is understandable, for the reasons Suzanne mentioned), or whether he wants to host the site on his server only for an indefinite amount of time. If it is only the former, then you will have control over where you want to move the site after the site is actually completed. Bottom line, while it is understandable that he will want to protect his interests (getting paid), he should not be holding you to only his server for the life of the site.

Suzanne — Thu, 29 May 2003 04:21:17 +0000

I do development on my own server, usually, test it and then install it on the client's server. Why? Because I like to get paid for my work and I run a much higher risk than the client of being out $$ ANYWAY, and it's much higher if I develop on their servers.

Yes, contracts help. But they are not guarantees. We each do what we need to do to protect ourselves. By benefit of paying in installments, you can have a project rolled out in sections, so that the work is installed on your servers and you pay the developer to continue. Through this process, you develop a trust of each other.

However, many developers insist on having it on their servers because the real money is in ongoing maintainance and hosting.