A guide to hiring a great developer to build your first app (redacted version)

A guide to hiring a great developer to build your

first appOursky, 9 Feb 2017

Overall App Development Process

The Big picture

Design Develop Deliver

The Big pictureDesign Develop Deliver

• User Story

• Wireframe

• Design

• Interactive Prototype

• Usability Test

• Define resources

• In-house/out-source

• Tech architecture

• QA

• Publishing

• Analytics

• Error Tracking

The Big pictureDesign Develop Deliver

• UI / UX Designer • Frontend Developer

• Backend Developer

• (QA)

• (Product Owner)

• (Project Manager)

(role) = You!

UI / UX Designer

• User Story => Wireframe

• Wireframe => Mockup Designs, Visuals

• Interactive Prototype, Hallway Testing

Project Manager / CTO

• Define schedule, communicate with users, product owner, and business unit.

• Pick the right tech stack

• Protect developers from interference on iteration (more on this later)

Developers

• Fullstack vs Frontend / Backend

• Specific skills? (AI / Blockchain / Big Data)

• What exactly is “great” developers?

Identify good developers

7 types of developer• The “VP”

• Coding School Cowboy

• “The Experienced Old-man”

• Harecore Geeks

• Evangelist

• Theoretician

• The Rockstar

How do we interview?• Remote Coding Test

• Ensure basic coding skills to reduce our workload

• Technical Questions, assess competency at:

• Basic Algorithm and Data Structure

• Basic Network and Web

• Server side knowledge

• Others

• Pair-Coding / Take home exercise

• See how things work out in real life.

• Practical iOS / Android / Web specific problems solving.

Algorithm and Data Structure

• <Interview question redacted>

• Simple algo / data structure questions

• Avoid asking textbook questions

Network and Web

• <Interview question redacted>

• Ask questions about things web framework encapsulated

Server side knowledge

• <Interview question redacted>

• Ask for experience, concept of how to design a stateless services, etc.

Others

• Languages specific: Javascript’s closure problem

• Deployment: Horizontal scaling strategy

• etc…

Project Management Best Practices

Best Practices for PM

• Data-driven Features / Bugs Iteration

• Choices of Programming Languages

• Your own stack vs Wordpress / Drupal / CMS

• Your own stack vs Firebase / Lambda / Auth0 / Urban-airship or Skygear :)

The Joel Test1. Do you use source control?

2. Can you make a build in one step?

3. Do you make daily builds?

4. Do you have a bug database?

5. Do you fix bugs before writing new code?

6. Do you have an up-to-date schedule?https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2000/08/09/the-joel-test-12-steps-to-better-code/

The Joel Test (cont.)1. Do you have a spec?

2. Do programmers have quiet working conditions?

3. Do you use best tools money can buy?

4. Do you have testers?

5. Do new candidates write code during their interview?

6. Do you do hallway usability testing?

Crazy, huh?

Skygear Partners Programme

• Skygear - Serverless Platform to help developers focus on frontend and UX

• User Auth / CloudDB / Push / CMS / Real-time Sync / Chat / Cloud Functions

• Skygear Partners are managed vendors to build web / mobile / IoT applications!

Q&A

• Ben Cheng [email protected]

• Contact us if you’re interested in building your app with us!

• [email protected]