Wolves in sleek clothing: Part 1
An unfortunate side-effect of the inherent complexity of software is that it takes a bit of “know-how” to discern the good, the bad, and the downright negligent. Inevitably those who don’t have some foundational knowledge will get taken advantage of. Today I want to share some tips that I use to vet the software developers I work with. Any non-technical business owner can use these tips to vet the developers and agencies they work with.
Tip #1: Software is communication
Notice I didn’t say software “relies” on communication, or software is “facilitated” by communication. No. Software is communication. Before you can tell a computer what to do, you have to be able to tell a human what to do. Before you tell a human what to do, you have to know what to do. If you cannot explain, in simple terms, what you want to do—how can someone build it?
💡 To this end, the most important factor to consider when hiring software developers is the ease of communication between you and them.
The harder communication is, the more unlikely it is your project will succeed. Factors that can impact communication include, but are not limited to: language fluency (written and verbal), time zone, bandwidth, and responsiveness.
It is imperative to note this has nothing to do with the quality of the software itself! Plenty of people who don’t speak your language can write outstanding software.
However, the actual software is a fraction of what makes a software project succeed.
🔑 Key Takeaways
Communication is the single most important criterion when hiring a software developer.
Ease of communication is a great “gut” check way to vet software developers.
Related questions to determine fit:
Can they explain your problem back to you?
Do they “get it” when talking about your business?
Do you like them?