Looking for some advice.
Is anyone building apps for customers using Anvil ? What are the hosting / ownership / code delivery models you are using?
I am about to bid on a freelance job to build a quick proof-of-concept. I have some questions about best way to proceed.
In my primitive view, I see build the app local and then transfer the app to the client’s account as the cleanest possible solution, but AFAICT that is not a supported option. So looking for alternatives.
The core question is around accounts and code delivery. What is the best way to build & deliver the app to external customers?
I see a few scenarios.
Initial Development
One-Off transactional project
Options I see:
Dev Option 1: Build in their account
- Instruct them to create an Anvil account, give me the password
- build in their account, once they are satisfied, they change the password
Dev Option 2: Build, deliver with clone link:
- Build in my account
- Instruct them to create an Anvil account
- Give them a clone link to the app
- Walk them through the cloning & running the app in their account
Are there other options?
I don’t think git-cloning would be suitable for non-technical clients / customers, so I didn’t list the git level code delivery. Although, I think the client should own the git repository for this kind of agreement.
Maintenance, Enhancements
Then thinking through the scenarios, if the client / customer ends up asking for more changes, even though original contract / bid was for a one-off project.
Maint. Option 1: Continue in their account …
Either initial development option …
- have them change the password
- access their account, make the necessary changes
Maint. Option 2: Clone from their app
- have them provide the git-clone link, set it up as a remote repo
- make changes in my account
- push changes to their remote repo
If this were the end of the client relationship, how would they (customer) remove my git access? It seems like the Git clone uses SSH keys to gain access to the client’s repository. How would the client remove my access?
Recap
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Client asks / posts a job for a proof-of-concept web-app (say on Fiverr, Freelancer, Jooble, Guru, FlexJobs, Upwork, etc)
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Since client is posting job on freelance website, I think it is safe to assume, they are looking to get it done cheap, do not have existing technology / developer resources, and are not current Anvil account holders. – I would appreciate it, if these constraints (i.e. low-tech, new to anvil) are included in the considerations.
How would you approach it?
In these situations, it’s possible the the potential client is a nightmare, so want to make sure the engagement can be severed as cleanly and completely as possible if client relationship needs to be severed.
Pondering around account set-up, code-delivery…
… and what would a Run-Book look like to repeat this, leveraging Anvil to deliver solutions on the myriad of freelancer websites?
Thoughts or suggestions?
Anvil Features
I might have missed it, but I do not see a way to “Transfer App Ownership” from one account to another …
The collaboration features are all limited to the Business tier and above.
…
Anyone know if Anvil support is able to execute a transfer of apps between accounts?
As I said at the top, my initial reaction is that “build local” and “Transfer app to new owner” would be the cleanest if it were possible.