How much $$$ to budget for a programming project?

[dullard]

I've got a simple program of about 750 lines of code (written in Visual Basic 6). It inputs data from the user, then uses that data to run a machine by using a couple of third party device drivers from two different companies. I'm a self taught programmer (the reason I chose VB) so it isn't written in a robust way and there are some known issues.

I'd like to hire a programmer to either beef up my code or start from scratch with a new robust program (using mine as a guide). The work will involve discussions with one of the companies that made the device drivers since in my testing the device drivers are not 100% stable. So the programmer will need to come up with error checking and possible workarounds from the device driver problems.

There is a very limited budget so we need to come up with funds for this work to be done. We live in a university town and were considering hiring a Jr/Sr in computer science as a part time job to do this work. What is a decent wage to pay for this work? As a rough estimate how many hours would something like this be expected to take?

 

[ScottyB]

I know when I was going to be a programer there was a class we had to take where we made a program for a company for free. Maybe they have one like that in your area.

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Originally posted by: dullard

There is a very limited budget so we need to come up with funds for this work to be done. We live in a university town and were considering hiring a Jr/Sr in computer science as a part time job to do this work.

As a word of warning, computer science students tend to be self-taught programmers as well (computer science and software engineering are only tangentially related). This isn't to say that they're all lacking in analysis skills and architectural discipline, but if you want something professionally done, consider looking for a professional.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: FeathersMcGraw
As a word of warning, computer science students tend to be self-taught programmers as well (computer science and software engineering are only tangentially related). This isn't to say that they're all lacking in analysis skills and architectural discipline, but if you want something professionally done, consider looking for a professional.

We can consider that as well. But what is roughly the going wage for either?

 

[Ameesh]

I'd say about $400 would be reasonable for a sr computer science student to re design it / re write it from scratch