Wannabe programmers need not " apply"  ...  that's right !!!!   yeah yeah we know there will be few bruised egos out there booo hooo,   we are tired of dealing with wannabe programmers, we are not paying for "on the job training, " and/or paying for software that kinda works  "some of the time"  and lame excuses  like " what do you expect for  " x "  amount of  $$$ we EXPECT IT TO WORK , that's what we expect, take some pride in your work for crying out loud !!!!  Everyone wants $$$ for software but many can't be bothered to support it after they get your $$$$. Which leaves us with one option..... 

IF you have the expertise to fix the bugs in this program will pay you $$$$  that's the bottomline .... 

I think the problem is the really experienced guys are so busy they don't have much free time. I would say AntonLV, Deano and JTadeo are the cream of the crop (sorry if I missed anyone!)..

Deano doesn't do custom work.

Source: Deano.

Now you tell me.. after the "edit" button has disappeared from my post and I can't make you look crazy, lol.

mscott: you did miss a few really good ones & understandably since they don't frequent the forums much anymore.. Here are a few more:

1. AndrewP
2. boonexpert
3. ESASE
4. modzzz
5. scriptologist
6. gorpus
7. Masterthemecom
8. DolphinTemplate

I think most of them can do custom work & the last three are template designers, but might do other work as well. Like mscott said the experienced guys are extremely busy, so expect to pay a premium for their work.

OOOOOOOOOOPS !!!   i meant to say AndrewP  not AndrewL  sorry dude ....... dooooh !!!! to many similar names doooooooh on me 

to jabadoo ....  strike andrewP off your list ..... you couldn't pay me to work with him ....  he had " issues"  ( that's putting it mildly )  doing simple changes that ended up looking amateurish and mickey mouse .... hardly the results you expect from someone that is supposedly soooooooooooo good @ what he does ... i saw no evidence of it.... all we got was whine whine whine complain .....   for example  installing his business directory module which is a joke ......   we spent many hours arguing with him trying to get it to work properly  and him insisting there was nothing wrong with it ... ludicrous ..... 

this has nothing to do with custom programming ........

were not looking for charity ...   silly me .... we paid $$$$$ for the modules and expect it to work .....  how dumb is that  huh ???  

we bought this module  

http://www.boonex.com/m/ultimate-events-locations-v3-with-mobile-integr  

AND STILL DOES NOT WORK AFTER HOW MANY WEEKS .... all we get is excuses from them......

another example .............

derartmedia

we bought this module  

http://www.boonex.com/m/ultimate-events-locations-v3-with-mobile-integr  

AND STILL DOES NOT WORK AFTER HOW MANY WEEKS .... all we get is stall stall stall &  excuses from them......

netguy: you posted the same module under the comment of AndrewP & derartmedia. I've purchased numerous modules from AndrewP & he has to be one of the most diligent & accommodating developers I've ever dealt with & I've never had an issue, so I can't say the same.

I also bought the ultimate-events-locations-v3-with-mobile-integr   module from derartmedia & it's extremely buggy. I finally have it working well enough to do the job. 

 these 4 have been quite handy to meet and work with imo

modzzz isn't very chatty but damn quick with replies (the one time I needed help out of a dozen mods purchased) and I would add AntonLV to the list

just looked again into my messages folder a moment ago, in each case I get worthwhile, speedy communication, and willingness to help when needed

another one, DosDawg, solved my hosting snags and went way over the top to help solve the speed problem I had, wish my budget could have sent a gratuity for that weekend ....

bummer to hear of problems netguy ... hope some of these responses point you right direction

OOOOOOOOOOPS !!!   i meant to say AndrewP  NOT AndrewL  sorry dude ....... dooooh !!!! to many similar names doooooooh on me 

thanks for all the help & feedback guys i'll check it out ..... were trying to run a business not " play games " so YES we are more than willling to pay our way .......  but we expecgt results  silly me :)

For complete custom work coded from the ground up I would go for esases or Anton - end off. I still look at the custom script that esases built for us for our contest, promotion and results and it amazes me every time i see it.

More recently i ventured into the code for it and i can appreciate how much time and effore went into producing such a HUGE and complex mod - It is everything we asked for and some.....

It didnt come cheap, but I still considder it a bargain when i look at the length and complexity of what was achieved and how well it works - totaly awsome.

Anton also, can take an idea like the "membership vouchers" and turn out a first class mod with faultless coding in very good time.

Both of these guys, along with Modzzzz and andrew really are what keeps dolphin alive.

I've only worked with a few but my favorite programmers (alphabetical order),considering *both* coding and customer support, are:

andrewP

antonLV

modzzz

Plus I have experienced excellent module support-work from modules2buy. 

And scriptologist has provided me with some excellent custom code-work.

@netguy

If it helps, derartmedia was suspended for a week because of this kind of behaviour.

I just finished up http://www.thinbluelink.com a social networking site for Law Enforcement officials in the US.  I have been with Boonex for 3 years and my team is looking for another contract right now.  I am interested in working with you if you are willing to spec out the job properly with me and build reasonable deadlines.

I am a former Microsoft Devcast Keynote Speaker and my articles have appeared in Byte, Infoworld and Visual Basic Programmers Journal. Robert Scoble is my mentor.  I look forward to discussing your project with you.

Excellent references available upon request.

Regards,

Bob Cristello

james tadeo

anton

martinboi

jerome (modzzz)

there are not many. you could also post your requirements in a detailed scope of work on oDesk. the problem with most projects is there is miscommunication from the beginning. no defined scope of work, and with that, the site owner can be mislead or have a misconception that if it is not working 100% of the way they thought it should work, then its most likely it was not defined in the scope of work.

there are free applications that help create a flow chart, a wireframe, and you can jot your notes and then create a defined clear and concise scope of work. 

i have been on way too many ventures to know that you dont get in the cart, if the destination is unclear. 

I can no longer suggest scriptologist (modloaded.net) for custom code work.  I will not be hiring them again.

 Deratmedia is a NIGHTMARE !!