I just want to know how long it takes those of you proficient to program a basic system.

MC3
MLX3/ MTX3 (I know they are different but focus on your favorite)
Distributed Audio Driven by Crestron Mobile (C2N 4X100 or Pad8 or SWAMP)

4 Sources (Cable with presets, BDP, Autonomic or iPod, Apps (TV or BDP))

I just want to know what to expect is normal for me when I become more proficient.

By the way I cant even program the aforementioned system but it is pretty normal sized project.

Don't include prices or anything like that. Think of it in time only.

System Builder can do it all for you. mostly. you will have bugs to work out. compiling and uploading are probably your most time consuming things, besides finding your bugs. Make sure all the firmwares are up to date.

I have a 9L, Swamp, ipod, 4smd-fd, bluray, AppleTV, CCTV Via HDMI distribution, CEN-TRACK w/ dual am.fm, and ATC Audionet cards, xbox, tivo (ethernet control) Surround sound, MTX3, mobile pro, mobile pro-g, DSC alarm, 5 light loads, and a hdmi matrix switch (not DM), and without my customizations or bug fix's (working an estimated 90%) took a couple hours to do. But I dont consider myself proficient, just pretty knowledgeable. It took a few extra days of time here and there to work out some bugs and make additions to the system.

So I guess my answer is, you never really know how long it will take.

System Builder is out. I have played with it far too long. I get its benefits but I couldn't take the black magic in the background. I wanted to learn simpl so some of those steps SB does for you make sense.

I could do the same in SB but some areas would take longer than others.

Just want to see what the other guys are doing.

start simple with a single room (TV, amp, stp, bd player) controlled using an iPad or xpanel, then move up from there.

That basic system will get you using steppers, buffers, drivers, interlocks which is what the more complex systems use, but since you are keeping with one room, one interface there isn't as much to figure out as per logic.

Once you get into larger systems (multiple interfaces, multiple rooms) thats when the confusion hits.

Better topic for IP.

I guess it could be better discussed over there since some guys put programming hours on the quote.

Moved.