How to Estimate the Cost of Software Development?

Your custom software development partner can help you build a high-performing software solution based on your needs and specifications. 

Choosing the right development partner is a critical decision and so is ensuring that they stick to budgets and timelines. But what is the tentative price of developing a custom web or mobile application? While engaging with several software vendors during the selection process, you will get different pricing from each of them. This makes your task of selecting the right software development company for your custom application very difficult. 

There is no formula to determine the right pricing as each software application is unique. Cheapest isn’t the best option and never pick a vendor purely based on their quote. We have listed a few important considerations that will help you estimate the right price based on your requirements and will also help you in the selection of the right development company. We have also compiled five important questions later in this article to help you in the decision-making. 

Scope and Complexity

The scope and complexity of the software application are the two most important driving factors in determining the cost. Project requirements are directly proportional to the development cost. Feature-rich and complex applications will have a higher development cost. Additional billable hours and costs go towards specialized software skills of the developers, development, testing, and deployment. 

More features and functionalities spell higher costs! These include efforts associated with design UX/UI, third-party integrations, data mapping complexities, etc. For example, if you are looking for social media sign-up functionality for new users instead of a traditional email/password sign-up, the complexity increases as a result of new screens as well as integrations with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. Similarly, features such as payment gateway integrations, data security, real-time instant messaging, etc also add to the complexity and cost of the overall software development. 

Development Time 

Once you have identified features/functionalities needed for your software application, the next step is to determine the development efforts. Do you need to build from scratch or use third-party plugins/solutions that can be integrated? 

Building a custom solution for each feature/functionality will be expensive as it requires coding efforts as well as efforts for testing and bug-fixing. There might already be a ready solution that you can use in your software. The selection of a ready solution will depend on the number of expected users that will be using your application. For example, it will likely be cheaper to integrate an existing third-party live video feature for the learning and development needs of a small organization in comparison to building a custom video player from scratch. However, for an ed-tech company targeting millions of users, it might make more economical sense to develop its live video functionality. 

Separately, the total development cost will also be determined by the urgency of a turnaround. Depending on your deadline and how quickly you plan to develop the application, the total development cost will likely vary. The development vendor will likely need to add additional resources in a short space of time which would require additional planning and project management time. 

Pricing

Once you have narrowed down the complexity as well as time,  the next crucial step is selecting the right development vendor based on their approach as well as their hourly rates to arrive at their final pricing. One important point to remember is that the cheapest quote is not always the best option.

The vendor’s approach to arrive at the final pricing is an important factor to distinguish between several vendors. The best way is to review a few proposals and compare the project plans and time estimates for each phase. Understand the # of hours, resources each vendor is proposing, and then compare their total costs.

Also, never pick a vendor purely based on their hourly rates. These rates depend on the region of the development company. The typical hourly rates for development activities based on regions are – 

  • Asia/Eastern Europe: $15-$30 / hour
  • South America: $30-$45 / hour
  • North America: $80+ / hour

Lastly, most vendors provide support/maintenance services, and their pricing can vary. Look at the monthly support hours each vendor is proposing and at what cost. 

Five questions to help you estimate the cost of software development

Based on the above considerations, here are five important questions for which you need clarity to estimate the software development costs. 

  • How does the software vendor plan the project timelines and phasing? 

(Tip: It is important to be clear on the project scoping from the start. This way it is easier to evaluate and benchmark different vendors. The way any company approaches a project should be transparent, as it helps in defining timelines, resources, and costing.)

  • Do they have expertise across the technology spectrum and do they have experience with similar projects? 

(Tip: Ask about the projects completed across the technologies you are planning for your software application. Also, ask for a few sample projects. Check clutch.co or have a Zoom/Skype call with the references. This will help you evaluate the company’s capabilities and reduce the elements of overruns in terms of time and cost.)

  • In the case of outsourcing, have they worked with clients from your location?

(Tip: Ask them about a few clients that they worked with, in your timezone so that you become comfortable with issues such as time difference, cultural and linguistic barriers.)

  • What will be the pricing model?

(Tip: You should be aware of the various pricing models that the developer can work with – fixed pricing, time & material (T&M), or hybrid. Each pricing model has pros & cons, and selecting the right model will depend on your clarity on planning, scoping, and budgeting. If your project scope is not well defined and subject to change, T&M contracts provide more flexibility and are typically the right choice.)

  • What overhead costs are likely to be incurred as part of the development?

(Tip: Ask them about overhead costs such as third-party licensing and subscription costs, technical support/maintenance, server costs, etc.)

We know how important it is for you to get things right when it comes to custom software development as your business is in question. If you’ve any doubts related to software development and if you need assistance developing one, then feel free to talk to us here.

5 Best Nodejs Frameworks for Web Apps in 2022

Node.JS is increasingly getting popular amongst developers, so much so that 4 out of 5 developers rate Node.JS as their go-to choice for backend development. 

In this blog, we will take a look at some of the best Node.JS frameworks. These frameworks are rated based on their popularity and unique toolsets for cost and time-efficient development.

CTOs choose a framework that helps them minimize resource consumption and reduce the time to market. Our list of the top 5 Node.js frameworks will also help you choose the best Node.JS framework for your software solution. 

Express.js

Launched in 2010, Express.js is a minimalistic and straightforward framework. It’s beginner-friendly as it has a low learning curve. It just requires a basic understanding of the Node.js environment and programming skills. 

Express.js is fast, robust, and asynchronous. It can easily handle high-speed I/O operations. It provides a robust Application User Interface (API), making client-to-server requests and visible user interactions more streamlined.

Companies like Twitter, Uber, Accenture, and IBM deploy applications built with Express. 

Features:

  • MVC Architectural pattern
  • Asynchronous programming for independent multiple operations
  • HTTP helpers
  • Better content negotiation

When to use Express.js

Express.js offers robust routing, templating, security, and error handling, making it suitable for building enterprise-grade or browser-based applications. Using Express.js you can develop apps faster as it’s already equipped with all the things needed to build APIs and more.

Koa.js

Dubbed as the next-generation Node.js framework, Koa.js is among the best in the lot. Koa takes a stack-like approach to deal with HTTP middleware,  making it a great option for easily building APIs. 

Koa is quite similar to Express.js, so switching from either is fairly easy. While it provides the same flexibility and features, Koa further tones down the complexities faced while writing code.  

Features:

  • Multiple levels of customizations
  • Referred to as a lightweight version of Express.js 
  • Comes with cascading middleware (Personalizing user experience)
  • Normalizes node inconsistencies 
  • Cleans cache supports proxy and content negotiation

When to use Koa.js

Use Koa.js when performance is the top priority for your web application. In certain scenarios, Koa outperforms Express.js, so you can pick it up for large-scale projects. 

One thing to note here is that it is less popular than Express and is backed by a smaller community. So if you have a beginner team, please research carefully before you opt for Koa.js as answers and solutions to problems (usually populated by the community) may be scarce.

Meteor.js

Launched in 2012, Meteor is best for teams that like to speak in one language, that is Javascript. Meteor is an open-source, isomorphic, Javascript framework. It comes equipped with comprehensive libraries and testing features to ensure seamless client-server communication. It can be used to develop apps for Android, iOS, and desktop all wrapped in one language, Javascript.

Meteor is perfect for contemporary real-time applications as it facilitates the instantaneous transfer of data between client and server.

Features:

  • Cross-platform framework
  • Rapid  prototypes with CLI
  • Open-source, backed by a great community
  • Full-stack solution 
  • Easily integrates with other frameworks

When to use Meteor.js

Meteor is a great choice for teams that are familiar with and prefer Javascript. It is beginner-friendly as it has a low learning curve. It’s also great when you’re looking to develop apps for both web and mobile. Meteor is also ideal for apps that require a lot of updates to be pushed even in live environments.

Socket.io

Socket.IO is a Javascript library best suited for real-time web applications. Socket is used when efficient real-time and bi-directional communication between web clients and servers is required.

You must have seen this in real-time chat apps that you use like Skype or Whatsapp, it continuously looks and refreshes background processes for updates or messages. 

The Socket library consists of two parts: a client-side that runs in the browser, and a server-side library for Node.js. Both have similar APIs. 

Companies like Bepro, Barogo, and Patreon, use Socket.io.

Features:

  • Binary support 
  • Multiplexing support
  • Reliability
  • Auto-reconnection support
  • Error detection & auto-correction

When to use Socket.io

As mentioned earlier, Socket.io feels at home building real-time applications like chat rooms, video conferencing, and multiplayer games, where servers are required to send data before it’s even requested from the client-side. 

Nest.js

This object-oriented and functional reactive programming(FRP) based Node.js framework comes equipped with extensive libraries that makes it a great choice for building dynamic and scalable enterprise-grade applications. Nest.js is known for preserving compatibility with a subset of Javascript(built with Typescript). It also goes even further to provide painless integration with frameworks like Fastify and Express.

Features:

  • Modern CLI 
  • FRP
  • Numerous easy-to-use external libraries
  • Direct compatibility with Angular is a plus

When to use Nest.js

When you’re looking to build efficient and scalable web applications for large projects. It comes with a clean and modular architecture pattern which helps developers build scalable and maintainable applications with ease. 

Conclusion

The listed Node.js frameworks are only the tip of the iceberg of contemporary app development, but they will help you narrow down the best you can use for your specific development needs. These frameworks not only make the development effortless but also equips your apps with the modern tools needed to succeed. 

Technology would change and new frameworks will emerge, but a close assessment of your business requirements and resource availability will facilitate your decision to choose the right framework for your projects.

About Galaxy

We specialize in delivering end-to-end web application design & development services and have hands-on experience with popular back-end languages and frameworks like Node.js, Python, etc. We have expertise in customizing websites for multiple business or web application development requirements. Contact us for your project discussion today.

How to Estimate the Cost of Building an Ecommerce Store?

Building an Ecommerce store is important for your business to stay ahead of the competition. It also builds a connection between your users and your brand. Your company’s growth and success will be determined by your Ecommerce website. However, the crucial question that everyone faces before building an Ecommerce store is how much it would cost to build one? 

There is no formula and an exact answer to determine the right cost as numerous factors come into play, and each of them has a direct impact on the overall costing. We have listed a few important considerations that will help you estimate the right cost based on your business needs and will also help you in the selection of the right development company. 

Having clarity on these considerations as well as having a clear action plan will not only help you estimate the right cost for developing and running an Ecommerce store but will also ensure that you do not overshoot your budget. 

1. Ecommerce software

Ecommerce websites’ costs can vary based on design, out-of-the-box features, chosen software, and services provided. There are several platforms (Shopify, Magento, WordPress, WooCommerce, etc) to choose from based on your requirements. There are many pros and cons of each of these platforms, and the selection based on your business needs will greatly affect the cost of your Ecommerce website. 

The cost of developing an Ecommerce website based on basic features on these platforms can vary between $5,000 and $15,000. However, customizing advanced features will require a bigger budget depending on the features/functionalities. 

2. Domain name and hosting 

Your company’s domain name is one of the smaller cost components in your Ecommerce website. Typically purchasing a domain name via GoDaddy, Hostinger, Bluehost, etc, costs between $5 and $20 per year. Prices vary depending on the uniqueness of your choice as well as the extensions (.com, .shop, etc). 

After you have registered a domain name, you will have to find a web host. BigCommerce and Shopify, for example, are cloud-based solutions that include web hosting as part of the subscription. This implies that you won’t need to opt for third-party hosting or the myriad challenges involved in website management. A typical website hosting plan can range from $40-$200 per year. Securing your Ecommerce website is important given the personal data of your customers and an SSL certificate can cost between $70 and $300 per year. 

3. Website design

Business’ success largely depends on the User Experience you would provide. Creating a unique user experience involves building store themes and using add-ons, plugins, and extensions. Some standard costs are associated with the design. This includes – 

  • Store theme and design costs: In Ecommerce platforms, some themes may not cost anything more than what you already paid to use the platform. However, there are paid themes that cost between $60 to $200 per theme.
  • Add-on, plugin, and extension costs: Depending on your business needs, you would require add-ons, plugins, and extensions to your selected platform. These could be integrated with CRM, email marketing solutions, inventory management, chatbots, etc, and come at a cost that varies based on the platform. For example, Magento add-ons typically require expensive custom development. Magento’s marketplace has thousands of extensions that vary in price and can go up to $15,000. On the other hand, Shopify merchants have access to hundreds of free and premium apps with varying prices.

4. Payment Gateway

There are payment processing fees that are paid to payment gateways (such as PayPal, Stripe, etc) as users make payments online on your Ecommerce website. These prices depend on the volume of transactions, geography, total amount, etc. 

5. Marketing and SEO

Product marketing, SEO, and analytics help create brand awareness and drive traffic to your online store. These costs will depend on your business objectives but should be factored in while creating an Ecommerce store. 

6. Maintenance

Running an Ecommerce website required timely attention and maintenance. These could be technical maintenance (version upgrades, bug fixing, feature enhancements, etc) as well as store maintenance. Maintenance costs depend on the size of the Ecommerce store. A typical small to medium-sized business requires maintenance spend between $500 to $1,500 per year. For bigger businesses with high customizations, a higher maintenance budget is required. 

Conclusion

Your business needs to have a feature-rich and robust Ecommerce website. If you’ve any doubts related to Ecommerce platforms and if you need assistance developing one, then feel free to talk to us here.

About Galaxy

We, at Galaxy Weblinks, specialize in developing the best online experiences for your users. We have expertise in customizing websites using multiple platforms, be it Shopify, Woocommerce, Magento. Contact us for your Ecommerce project today.