Summary: An introduction to the role of software developers.

A software developer is an individual who lends expertise at some stage in the software development process. This individual could be a project manager orchestrating the entire project, a lead programmer, a user interface (UI) designer, a software programmer involved in writing the application code or a testing engineer who identifies bugs or problems with the product.

A software developer’s technical expertise is usually limited to a certain set of coding languages. For example, a software developer working on the Microsoft platform will usually be an expert in .NET technologies, including SQL Server database and VB.Net or ASP.NET. This developer will tend to have little or no knowledge of PHP and Apache, which usually run on the Linux operating system. Often, a software engineer will have expertise only in configuring computer networks. The engineer might never write a single line of code but simply has knowledge of specific commands required for setting up secure, scalable and efficient networks.

Software developers also have specialisations based on the nature of applications they develop. For example, software developers working on ERP or business applications will generally have expertise in developing software for specific vendors such as IBM, Microsoft or Sun Microsystems. Alternatively, developers working on hardware automation such as embedded code for smart cards will have expertise working on non-proprietary technologies such as C++, which is generally referred to as “low-level programming”.

Summary: Factors to consider before choosing a software developer.

Writing a software application is a complex task. The task involves pre- and post-project execution strategies. The software development lifecycle must have a detailed phase-by-phase implementation plan with projected completion dates.

Ensure that your needs are significantly unique to warrant a customised solution that will require software developers. Check that your needs can’t simply be fulfilled by existing products or plug-ins.

Evaluate your needs carefully and decide whether you need an offshore development company or one that is based locally. Offshore development from countries such as Russia, India and Israel can be low-cost but pose significant management challenges.

Assess the entire software team’s skill set. Make sure you select a team with an experienced project manager.

Make sure you have a good understanding of the communication skills of the team. Examine documentation samples from previous projects. This documentation should be simple enough for a non-technical user to understand.

Seek evidence of software quality certifications such as Capability Maturity Model (CMM) and ISO, which are good indications of internal process control. But be aware that highly certified companies might charge significant premiums as a result.

Choose a vendor whose size is consistent with your company’s requirements.

Try to retain ownership of the code to avoid vendor lock-in. If you are given a license for the code instead, negotiate the terms of the license carefully.

Perform the usual due diligence that goes into selecting any vendor. Look for relevant industry experience, references from previous customers, post-project support capabilities and so on.

Don’t enter into any agreements until you are a 100% sure that the developer really understand your needs.

Summary: A look at how software developers can help your company succeed.

The software industry has achieved such a degree of maturity that lines of codes are almost commoditised. Think of a problem, and there is a solution available for that very issue. You could take a low-cost option and look for online software directories such as download.com.

However, with that approach, you will often find that the solution is not ideal. And, for any business, “almost there” is just not good enough. There are times when you will need a piece of software written from scratch. At other times, you might simply want help to tweak an existing application to make it run with your latest business software.

Software developers can also help you reap the benefits of a new technology before your competitors have access to it. For example, a telemarketing company might seek help from a software developer to customise a VOIP solution to lower costs and gain customers ahead of its competitors. If the technology is fairly new, it may be harder for competitors to find a wide array of similar off-the-shelf solutions.

Software developers also give you the chance to own your own application code. This allows maximum control over the software that you use to run your business. This can lead to other business opportunities, too. Many businesses have been known to create lucrative businesses by selling products they initially had developed for internal use.

A successful application implementation requires both technological as well as domain expertise. If you can identify a software developer who has domain knowledge in your industry, you can often procure solutions that address your problems in a cheaper and more user-friendly manner than by purchasing off-the-shelf products. Businesses often find it difficult to identify their technological needs. A software developer with domain knowledge will not only help you identify your needs, but also fulfil them in the most cost-efficient and effective way.