This document provides guidance on how to hire and manage developers. It addresses important questions to ask developers during the interview process like billing rates, project prioritization and timelines. It also covers best practices for project management including using a project management system, effective communication and version control. The document stresses the importance of proper planning, defining scope of work and ownership of code. It offers tips for bug reporting and translating technical language for clients.

1. How To Hire & Manage
A Developer
Steve Zehngut
@zengy
Saturday, October 8, 11

2. Horror Stories
Saturday, October 8, 11

3. Interviewing a Developer
Saturday, October 8, 11

4. What is your hourly rate?
Saturday, October 8, 11

5. How will my project be billed?
Hourly or flat rate?
Saturday, October 8, 11

6. Once my project launches,
is there a maintenance fee?
Saturday, October 8, 11

7. What is a typical project budget
for your firm?
Saturday, October 8, 11

8. Where does my project rank with
the other projects on your
production schedule?
Saturday, October 8, 11

9. Do you have the bandwidth
to give my project the
attention it deserves?
Saturday, October 8, 11

10. What is your procedure when
something goes wrong?
Saturday, October 8, 11

11. What turn-around time
should I expect?
Saturday, October 8, 11

12. What is your process for bug
reporting and bug fixes?
Saturday, October 8, 11

13. What project management system
do you use?
Saturday, October 8, 11

14. Who will be my day-to-day
point of contact within your firm?
Saturday, October 8, 11

15. What version control system
are you using?
Saturday, October 8, 11

16. Interviewing Techniques
Saturday, October 8, 11

17. Planning
Saturday, October 8, 11

18. “Bad planning on your part doesn't
make it an emergency on mine.”
Saturday, October 8, 11

19. You can never over-plan.
Saturday, October 8, 11

20. SOW
Saturday, October 8, 11

21. Who owns the code?
Saturday, October 8, 11

22. Project Management
Saturday, October 8, 11

23. 5:45pm EST
Steve-
Can you please change
the design of our home
page for a special
promotion that we knew
about weeks ago (but
forgot to tell you
about)?
We need it up by 8:00am
EST.
Sincerely,
The Client
Saturday, October 8, 11

24. Project management system
Saturday, October 8, 11

25. Communication
Saturday, October 8, 11

26. Version Control
Saturday, October 8, 11

27. WTF is a Code Repo?
Saturday, October 8, 11

28. How does it benefit you?
Saturday, October 8, 11

29. http://assembla.com (git, svn)
http://beanstalkapp.com (git, svn)
http://github.com (git)
http://bitbucket.org (Mercurial)
Saturday, October 8, 11

30. Bug Reporting
Saturday, October 8, 11

31. Steve-
My site is broken.
Please fix it ASAP!
Sincerely,
The Client
Saturday, October 8, 11

32. Steve-
The About Us Page on my
site is wonky.
Please fix it ASAP!
Sincerely,
The Client
Saturday, October 8, 11

33. Steve-
The Internet is down.
Please fix it ASAP!
Sincerely,
The Client
Saturday, October 8, 11

34. http://supportdetails.com
http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com
Saturday, October 8, 11

35. Translating Geek Speak
Saturday, October 8, 11

36. Steve Zehngut
steve@zeek.com
http://facebook.com/zengy
Twitter: @zengy
Saturday, October 8, 11