How do I find a good software developer?

Question

VX-N · Accepted Answer

Ask to see something they built that is still running in production, and talk to the person who will actually write your code rather than an account manager. The strongest signal is whether they ask about your process before quoting; anyone who quotes without questions is guessing. Practical filters that work: ask what they would refuse to build and why, ask who owns the code and accounts when the project ends, and ask what happens if an integration breaks six months later. Vague answers to any of those are the whole answer. Portfolio screenshots prove design, not durability. A system that has survived two years of real use tells you more than ten polished mockups.