How to Decide If You’re Ready to Hire a Developer

Beejay Morgan
RocketBit
Published in
5 min readJan 18, 2017

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Recently, a potential client came to me looking for a front-end developer. They had an idea and wanted to find out if RocketBit was the right fit to develop this idea. After several vague emails and a phone call, the client suggested I send mockups of the potential UI. At this point, I still had very little idea what the client’s project actually was, and certainly no idea what was going to differentiate this app from the sea of similar apps. So, I threw together some basic wireframes, thinking the client just wanted to make sure I understood the idea. I sent them over and called the client to discuss. As it turns out, the client wanted me to show via full mockups how I would differentiate the app from the competition! This client had no strategy whatsoever, and wanted me to do the legwork, for free, of figuring out how to make the product viable! This phone call was the end of the relationship. This client was clearly not ready to hire a developer.

After over 15 years in the software industry, I’ve been a part of many ideas. Some are great ideas with poor execution, some are poor ideas with excellent execution, and just a few are unicorns: amazing ideas with superb execution. Though you’ll never do well with a poor idea and poor execution, many times taking a mediocre idea and developing it well can still be a win. I’d like to share a few tips to determine, first of all, if your idea is viable, and second, if you understand and are ready for what happens next.

Is my idea viable?

Everyone has their pen-on-a-napkin ideas. Most should be thrown out with the napkin, but sometimes those ideas are worth developing. Most of us know when an idea is really bad, so I won’t address that here. And while these questions and tips can be applied in a more general sense, they’re mainly directed toward software applications. So, then, what is it that makes an idea usable?

Is it original? This one is probably pretty obvious, but worth mentioning. If your idea is the Next Big Social Network™, bin it. If your idea is Like Tinder, But For ___, bin it.

Your idea doesn’t have to be the first of its kind, but if a quick Google search reveals multiple pages of results, you may want to pick another idea.

Does it solve a problem? Sometimes our great ideas just don’t solve a real-world problem. Building a toaster with a built-in curling iron may be an incredible feat of domestic engineering, but it’s unlikely to be a hit on the store shelves. Software is the same way. If you can’t define the problem you’re trying to solve, then your app idea is going to fall on deaf ears.

Is it technically viable? Understand the limitations of the technology you’re employing. If you want to build an iOS app that accesses a Firewire device, you’re going to have a bad time. This question is a little tricky, because you may need to speak to a developer before you know whether the platform you’re choosing can handle what you’re throwing at it.

Is my funding secured?

If you’re going to approach a developer about building your app, understand that you’ll need to have funding in place. Asking a developer to build your app for a percentage of profits, or for a stake in the company, is asking the developer to invest in your idea. And while you may believe your idea will be hugely successful and worth the investment, the developer has no way to know that. There are always certain cases where this type of arrangement makes sense, but those are few and far between.

The best way to get a developer all-in on your idea is to tell him or her that you’ve already secured the funding, that you understand what development costs should be, and that you’re ready to make this thing happen. Most developers and agencies will ask for a deposit before beginning any work on the project. If the developer knows that payment is coming, they’ll be much more likely to give you top priority, especially if they’re a freelancer.

Do I want a code monkey, or a partner?

Many entrepreneurs start out by outsourcing their development work. There are benefits to this, of course, in the way of low development cost and fast turnaround. Unfortunately, most of the time, outsourcing your development work will put you in the position of CEO, Product Manager, and Project Manager. You’ll get exactly what you ask for. Nothing more, and (usually) nothing less. You really do get what you pay for in this circumstance.

A developer or agency who understands your vision can turn a good idea into an amazing product.

Look for a developer who will tell you when your ideas are good, but also let you know when your ideas are not so great. Look for someone who has experience in the field, who is willing to put the time in to get the project right, and who gives quality feedback.

Another aspect of finding a good developer is the quality of the code. I’ve worked with outsourced code that is a spaghetti-mess of methods, classes, and variables. In a single file, the same word was misspelled three different ways. This makes adding features, fixing bugs, and improving UX an absolute nightmare for the next developer. Sometimes the whole project has to be scrapped and rewritten from the ground up.

What about NDAs and the like?

NDAs are nearly useless under most circumstances. If every potential client required a developer to sign an NDA, it wouldn’t take long at all for the developer to accidentally breach one. There is a lot of idea overlap amongst entrepreneurs. Even if someone does run off with your idea after signing your NDA, it would require hiring a lawyer, filing a lawsuit, and proving there was infringement in order to enforce the NDA. Unless you’ve got high-value trade secrets or intellectual property at stake, there’s no reason to worry about an NDA.

Ideas have little value without execution. Sharing your high-level vision of your idea with potential developers, other entrepreneurs, and investors is a great way to test the viability of your project. Once you’ve decided to work with a specific developer, however, make sure there’s a solid contract in place which gives you ownership of the code.

If you feel confident about your project after reading through these points, it’s time to take the next step.

What now?

At RocketBit, we’re ready to be your partner. We’ve got experience where it counts, and we’re ready to share it with you. We work on modern technology stacks, on modern platforms, with modern coding standards. We can help you design your User Interface, architect your database, and construct your build pipeline. Our developers, designers, and marketers each have a proven track record of successful and solid projects. Email me at beejay@rocketbit.co and let us help you get your rocket off the launchpad.

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