Best way to time-limit a rails/ruby application

Rails
1

Some “Customers” just don’t like to pay their contracting bills. What’s
the best way for
me to time-limit a ruby/rails application so it stops working if they
don’t pay their
bills?

Warren

2

Warren S. wrote:

Some “Customers” just don’t like to pay their contracting bills. What’s
the best way for me to time-limit a ruby/rails application so it stops
working if they don’t pay their bills?

Host it yourself :slight_smile:

Justin

3

On 11/9/05, Warren S. [email protected] wrote:

Some “Customers” just don’t like to pay their contracting bills. What’s
the best way for me to time-limit a ruby/rails application so it stops
working if they don’t pay their bills?
Warren

Probably won’t help you this time around but maybe in the future.

  • Make clients sign a contract up front and bill periodically as you
    complete the project. My contracts state I bill for every 3 hours of
    work
    done. I usually don’t enforce that, but it’s there if I feel the
    customer
    might go sideways on me. I use ACH and debit their account directly, but
    that’s not always an option especially if you don’t have a strong track
    record.

  • Set the correct expectations. What works for me is showing the client
    that
    I understand their business, and at the same time telling them no in a
    few
    places. You have to say no a few times. It’s just one of those things.
    For
    instance a client that wants a whole bunch of features, I’ll come back
    and
    say no on at least a few of them. I might come back later and tell them
    that
    I found a way to do it. By that time they are grateful because they
    didn’t
    expect it to begin with. Overall, be tough but do right by them and be
    fair
    to yourself and your client.

  • Don’t take just anyone. If you have any doubts at all about a clients
    character walk away. A tough business person trying to get the best deal
    is
    one thing. Someone who is just unreasonable is an entirely different
    story.

In the end your problem won’t be solved via technical means, you need to
tackle it from another direction one way or another.

Chris

4

I don’t know how it works in Israel, but here in the USA, I’d recommend
consulting an attorney first before inquiring about this sort of thing.
Such “time bombs” could get you in more trouble that not getting paid
will. Be sure your ass is legally covered.