How It Works

Hiring a PHP coder to work on an existing website or web application doesn’t have to be complicated.

I’m Keith Smith, a freelance PHP coder working with PHP since 2006. I help businesses fix PHP code, modify existing functionality, maintain applications, and take over projects that need a new developer.

Whether you have a specific problem that needs fixing or an existing application that needs ongoing support, the process starts with understanding what you need.

1. Tell Me About Your PHP Project

The first step is to contact me and explain what you need done.

You might have a PHP website displaying an error, a feature that needs to be modified, an application that needs maintenance, or a project that your previous developer can no longer support.

You don’t have to know exactly what is wrong or how to fix it. Explain the problem in your own words, and provide your website address if the work involves an existing website.

The more information you can provide, the easier it is to determine what needs to be investigated.

2. I’ll Review Your Requirements

Once I understand what you’re trying to accomplish, I’ll review the information you’ve provided and determine what additional information may be needed.

Depending on the project, this might involve understanding how the website currently works, identifying the affected functionality, reviewing error messages, or learning more about the application’s technical environment.

For an application takeover, the initial questions may be different. I’ll need to understand the application, what it does, and why you need someone else to take over its development or maintenance.

Some problems are straightforward. Others require examining the existing PHP code before the cause can be determined.

I’ll let you know if more information is needed before we can determine the next step.

3. Determine the Work Required

After reviewing your requirements, the next step is to determine what work is involved.

For example, fixing a PHP error may require investigating a particular function or database query. Modifying an existing application may require understanding how the requested change affects other parts of the system.

An application takeover can involve a broader review of the existing code, database, integrations, and hosting environment.

The objective is to establish a reasonable understanding of the work before proceeding. If the full scope cannot be determined without examining the application, that will need to be addressed first.

4. Arrange Access and Get Started

If we agree to proceed, we’ll determine what access and information are needed to perform the work.

Depending on the project, this may include access to the relevant PHP files, database, hosting environment, error logs, or a testing environment.

For an existing website or application, I’ll need enough information to understand the current setup and make the required changes.

Access should be provided securely. Don’t send passwords or other sensitive credentials through an ordinary contact form or an unsecured email message.

If the application is business-critical, we’ll also need to consider how changes can be tested and deployed without unnecessarily disrupting normal operations.

5. Perform the PHP Programming Work

Once the requirements and access are established, the programming work can begin.

Depending on your project, this may involve:

• Fixing PHP code and debugging errors.
• Modifying existing website functionality.
• Adding features to a PHP application.
• Correcting problems involving PHP and MySQL.
• Updating or maintaining existing PHP code.
• Taking over an application previously maintained by another developer.
• Investigating technical issues involving the hosting environment.

The work depends on the specific requirements of your project. I focus on understanding the existing application and making the changes needed to address the problem or accomplish the requested task.

6. Review the Results

After the work is completed, the changes should be reviewed to confirm that they address the agreed requirements.

Depending on the project, this may involve testing the affected functionality, checking relevant database operations, or verifying that a repaired feature works as expected.

The appropriate testing depends on the nature and scope of the work. A small code correction and a major application modification don’t necessarily require the same testing process.

If additional work is identified during the project, we’ll discuss it before expanding the scope.

What If You Need Someone to Take Over an Existing PHP Application?

Sometimes the challenge isn’t a single programming problem. You may have an application that another developer built and maintained, but that person is no longer available.

In that situation, the first step is to understand the application and determine what will be involved in taking over its support.

The application may contain custom PHP code, a MySQL database, third-party integrations, and specific hosting requirements. Before making significant changes, it’s important to understand how these components work together.

I can review the information available about your application and help determine the next steps.

What If I Don’t Know What’s Wrong?

You don’t need to diagnose a problem before contacting me.

If your PHP website isn’t working correctly, describe what happens, when the problem started, and whether anything changed before it occurred.

If you have an error message or other relevant information, include it with your inquiry.

The cause may be in the PHP code, the database, an external service, or the hosting environment. Investigation may be necessary to determine what’s actually happening.

Ready to Get Started?

If you need help with an existing PHP website or web application, the next step is to tell me about it.

I’m available to discuss PHP code repairs, modifications, application takeovers, maintenance, and other PHP programming work.