Background
During my 3 years at this company and my experience so far (almost 6 years) in programming I never faced such a situation.
I worked on a small project more or less six months ago, this project is a C# windows form application to be added to a third party application written in VB.NET.
I've completed 90% of the job, but, after two months, a new problem came up: the third party application requires the use of a VB.NET .dll to call my component. This dll is important, it enables users to easily trigger my component's functionality in the final application.
After I (partially) solved the problem with the dll, I have to communicate via email with the third party developers to get some tokens to test my application, but they take a long time to respond, sometimes there were communications problems with the other part of the development, etc, and other priorities arrive.
The project was put on hold due to the above reasons.
Current situation
Now, the work with this project has started again, but I really don't want get involved anymore with this project. My company (from what I've heard) prefers to continue with this project (and maybe, improve it to sell to potential customers).
I'm no longer motivated to work on this project.
Approaching my boss
I approached my boss a few times1 (verbally) about this issue, but his responses are:
- "There is no one else available".
- "This must be done".
1 about his refusal to contact third party developers for assistance with the use and implementation of the .dll with the third party application.
As I am reluctant to resign, I've search similar question and read their responses in The Workplace, trying find alternatives in order to get my point across.
These are the questions I found:
This answer says:
- Talk with your boss (which I already did, a few times).
- Make it work (I worked, but I don't want to be involved in this project any longer).
This answer says: - Use tutorials and StackOverflow: I have already received help, but I'm at the point where development is not the problem.
This answer says: - "Convince/communicate" to your boss about time you had use: A coworker (in a different problem) approached him and his reply was: you did spend much time in that and you had to find a efficient way.
His answer in my case was: this must be done. = basically, ignoring my request.
In this answer says: - Quote:
take the initiative and ask for something you want in return when the project is done
But again, lost of motivation, there is not a project scope.
Similar answers:
- Find tutoring = this is not possible (I won't spend money in something that doesn't have my attention).
- Find help from coworkers = I have, but this is related to understanding the third party application, and is beyond programming.
- Find another job: so I don't make this story longer than it needs to be, I can't do it until I have another job and I have no other offers.
What else I can do to politely, but firmly request that this project be assigned to another co-worker?