Selecting an Application Developer
The challenge in selecting an application developer or software engineer is that if you don't know the technology well, how can you make a good choice? What is the best choice of technology for what you are trying to accomplish and how will you know if the developer is capable of producing it?

There are no simple answers here. A good place to start however is with the candidate themselves. What type of technology would they use to build the application? Why is this the best choice? What are some other choices?

The issue sometimes is that a developer only knows one technology well and will suggest that technology because a) he/she's comfortable with it and b) he/she doesn't know any other technologies to use. Sometimes it doesn't matter but sometimes the wrong choice is made.

The only information that you should have to tell a good programmer is what you want the application to do from a business functionality standpoint. In other words, what are your needs as a business, not how does the application work. For example:

"We need to allow our customers to log in to their account or register for a new account and then choose their options from a list. The user should be able to print out their options and send them to any number of other friends and family."

It is the responsibility of the developer to decide how the application will facilitate these needs.

Application developers are not always good web designers and are used to working with a designer who is developing the user interface. If you don't have room in the budget for both, select a developer who is a strong designer as well (these are few and far between.) Make sure you look at sample projects they have worked on and ask what their personal involvement was on each project.

For more advice on selecting an application developer, please contact us or use our free consult by phone service.