Coding project/database help

QuikSand · 02-07-2020, 03:37 PM

I know quite a few members here are experienced with coding and web design, so I'm wondering if I can rely on some of your expertise to help guide my thinking about a potential project.

What we do now: we conduct an annual survey of our state's counties, assemble the data (mostly numeric) in a variety of tables, with a variety of presentations both to compare current and historical information about them.

What seems smarter to do: gather all this information into a database, and have a website that can generate whatever sort of report you want from that database... so you pick the data set, what years, and so forth... and we dynamically assemble the report you're looking for

So, the universe of data I'm talking about is maybe 100 values for each of 24 units, for each of maybe 20 years. Something in that ballpark. (Though I'd be open to expanding this tool to go beyond the limited range we employ it for right now)

Anyway... if I wanted to get from the now to the smarter above... how could I go about doing that? And does anyone here have a guess how much money this might cost if I were to go the standard route -- issue an RFP, get bidders, and pick a vendor? Does this sound like a $10,000 project? A $100,000 project? (Or have I not explained enough to even answer that?)

If any of you who are more knowledgeable about this sort of thing can offer any guidance that might help me weigh my options... I'd be most grateful.

cartman · 02-07-2020, 03:40 PM

Check into an app called Tableau. It allows you to create different sets of data, and then publish them to the web. There are also ways to give people parameters they can set to modify the data they want to see.

https://www.tableau.com/

As for cost, spitballing I'd say more than $10k, less than $25k

NobodyHere · 02-07-2020, 03:57 PM

From a programmer perspective it doesn't sound like too much work, depending on how complex the tables and reports are. How are you going to be collecting information in the future?

bhlloy · 02-07-2020, 04:33 PM

It sounds like others have more experience in this domain, but I’d strongly recommend looking for a SaaS (software as a service) model, or at least thinking about making sure whoever does the original coding is responsible for the upkeep of the thing moving forward. Otherwise you are going to end up with a workable solution that slowly drifts into obsolescence and results in you spending more and more to keep working.

When you say “website”, do you mean something that members of the public can access, or just a controlled group of people who have access to the reports today? If it’s the latter I think that simplifies the ask somewhat and I’m looking at something like Tableau Cloud or even a solution built on a public cloud provider (shameless plug). Also do you have local IT knowledge who has the appetite to learn and maintain a new set of tools?

RainMaker · 02-07-2020, 04:41 PM

Are you looking to add in historical data or is this just data going forward?

As NobodyHere said, it doesn't sound like too much work. You could theoretically just create a Google Form that syncs with Google Sheets to create that database you're looking for.

From there, you can hire someone to build an Excel-based application that allows people to grab reports they want. I would think for that aspect under $10k is more than feasible. Just depends on how many bells and whistles you'd want to add.

That Tableau app seems interesting too.

02-07-2020, 03:40 PM	#2
cartman Death Herald Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas	Check into an app called Tableau. It allows you to create different sets of data, and then publish them to the web. There are also ways to give people parameters they can set to modify the data they want to see. https://www.tableau.com/ As for cost, spitballing I'd say more than $10k, less than $25k __________________ Thinkin' of a master plan 'Cuz ain't nuthin' but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint Last edited by cartman : 02-07-2020 at 03:42 PM.

02-07-2020, 03:57 PM	#3
NobodyHere Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2013	From a programmer perspective it doesn't sound like too much work, depending on how complex the tables and reports are. How are you going to be collecting information in the future? __________________ "I am God's prophet, and I need an attorney"

02-07-2020, 04:33 PM	#4
bhlloy Coordinator Join Date: Nov 2003	It sounds like others have more experience in this domain, but I’d strongly recommend looking for a SaaS (software as a service) model, or at least thinking about making sure whoever does the original coding is responsible for the upkeep of the thing moving forward. Otherwise you are going to end up with a workable solution that slowly drifts into obsolescence and results in you spending more and more to keep working. When you say “website”, do you mean something that members of the public can access, or just a controlled group of people who have access to the reports today? If it’s the latter I think that simplifies the ask somewhat and I’m looking at something like Tableau Cloud or even a solution built on a public cloud provider (shameless plug). Also do you have local IT knowledge who has the appetite to learn and maintain a new set of tools?

02-07-2020, 04:41 PM	#5
RainMaker General Manager Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	Are you looking to add in historical data or is this just data going forward? As NobodyHere said, it doesn't sound like too much work. You could theoretically just create a Google Form that syncs with Google Sheets to create that database you're looking for. From there, you can hire someone to build an Excel-based application that allows people to grab reports they want. I would think for that aspect under $10k is more than feasible. Just depends on how many bells and whistles you'd want to add. That Tableau app seems interesting too.

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