Evidence
Evidence of work
Several things can evidence work, and the ranking is not what the prevalence of screenshots would suggest.
What Counts as Evidence of Work
Ranked by how hard each is to fake and how much it tells you. Screenshots come near the bottom of both.
Version History and Commit Logs
The best available record of work, produced automatically, and the habits that make it readable later.
Time Records That Hold Up
A time log is a statement rather than proof, and specific details are what make the statement credible.
The Audit Trail Nobody Builds
Five things kept together make any engagement defensible. Almost nobody keeps them, and it costs minutes.
Proving Work That Leaves No Artefact
Advice, review, judgement and conversation produce nothing to point at. What to do instead of hoping frames will cover it.
When the Client Disputes the Invoice
The sequence that resolves most invoice disputes, and the point at which the amount stops justifying the effort.