Topic / 22 posts
How to find, assess and work with a developer, a freelancer or an agency.
[01]Hiring developersCore guide
How to hire a developer step by step: write a brief, pick a model, vet candidates, agree on price and sign a contract that protects you. By a freelancer.
Guide
Who owns the code a freelance developer writes? Usually not you, unless the contract says so. How to secure the IP rights, your repo, domain and hosting.
13 min read
List
15 red flags when hiring a developer: code on their account, no contract, no tests, vague pricing. What each one costs you and what to ask for instead.
14 min read
Checklist
A checklist for onboarding a freelance developer: 10 things to have ready on day one, from repo access and test data to a decision-maker and clear goals.
8 min read
Guide
How to work with a developer: set a weekly rhythm, give feedback they can act on and make decisions fast, so your project never stalls waiting on answers.
12 min read
List
How to avoid vendor lock-in in software development: 10 safeguards for accounts, tech stack, documentation and data, so you can always switch developers.
14 min read
Checklist
A freelance developer contract checklist with 14 must-have clauses: scope, payment, IP assignment, access, GDPR, liability and exit. Not legal advice.
8 min read
Guide
How to evaluate a developer when you're non-technical: try their live work, pin down their role on each project, check testimonials and ask for proof.
11 min read
Comparison
The best freelance developer platforms compared: what Upwork, Toptal and local marketplaces cost you and the developer, who vets, and when to go direct.
11 min read
Guide
Hiring a developer as a non-technical founder? What to own, what to outsource, seven practical steps and how to get an independent second opinion first.
13 min read
Guide
Should you sign an NDA with a developer? Your idea is rarely the secret. Here's when an NDA protects something real, and what a fair one should cover.
11 min read
Guide
A project brief template for developers: what to cover on one or two pages, a filled-in example, and how to get quotes you can compare side by side.
11 min read
Guide
How to hire a developer for a small project of 10-50 hours: scope it on one page, cap the hours, and choose between a fixed price and a block of hours.
11 min read
List
27 questions to ask a developer before hiring, each with what a good answer sounds like and the red flag to listen for. Written by a freelance developer.
13 min read
Guide
How to run a paid trial project with a developer: why free take-home tests mislead, what a discovery sprint covers, and what to judge before you commit.
12 min read
List
Where to find developers for a web app, SaaS or small task: 11 places from referrals and LinkedIn to marketplaces and brokers, with honest pros and cons.
12 min read
Guide
How to negotiate with a developer: cut scope, phase the work and offer better payment terms instead of squeezing the rate, and the quality with it.
11 min read
List
Why software projects fail, seen from the developer's side: 12 causes like vague scope, no decision-maker and no tests, and how to prevent each one.
14 min read
Guide
How to switch developers mid-project: secure access and code, get an honest code review, then prioritize. Plus what to do if your developer has vanished.
13 min read
Guide
How to find a technical cofounder: where to look, how to test the fit and split equity, and when paying a freelance developer is the smarter first move.
12 min read
List
Developer reference check questions that show how a freelancer handles budgets, bad news and handover, not just whether the last client was happy.
12 min read
Guide
IT consultant broker fees hide inside the hourly rate. Here's what the broker's cut pays for, how big it can be, and when a broker is worth paying.
12 min read
Topics
20 posts
Software development without the buzzwords: methods, tech choices and what keeps a project healthy.
22 posts
When it makes sense to build your own platform, and how to get off to a good start.
20 posts
Frontend, backend, full-stack and everything in between: which kind of developer do you need?
15 posts
Hosting, security, updates and ongoing development of software that is already live.