Hiring a PHP Developer? Here Are 3 Things That You Should Look For

Have you got an amazing idea and want to decode that into an online web solution? If so, you must look for an experienced PHP developer who can not only develop the perfect website but also realize it the way you dreamt it. Always remember that hiring a right developer is critically important because he will be the one who will ensure the website not only looks good but also performs exceptionally well. The PHP developer you choose must have a clear understanding of the code, technology, and tactics. Listed below are the top things that you should consider when looking for a developer.

1. Experience and Expertise

The first and foremost thing that you should consider when looking for a developer is the years of experience and level of expertise. Usually, developers are categorized in 3 levels - beginners, intermediate and advanced developers. This categorization is done on the basis of domain knowledge and technical skills. You can hire dedicated PHP developers based on the complexity of your project.

In terms of technical capabilities, the PHP developer you choose should have sound knowledge of programming languages like PHP and HTML. Besides this, you must also check if  the developer has worked on the popular frameworks like CakePHP (for developing apps which require PHP 4 compatibility), CodeIgniter (for developing great looking websites), ATK 4 or Agavi (for developing scalable and robust PHP applications using MVC architecture) and Zend (for developing large-scale enterprise applications). Also, you should not forget to check the developer’s ability to work with different databases, plugins and a variety of hosting options.

2. Communication tools

Before you outsource your project, you must ensure that the developer you choose should be familiar with all the popular communications mediums like video call, web chat, audio, and email messaging. It is generally seen that the communication between a client and a developer over Skype works much better than communicating over lengthy emails. Besides this, you must also ensure that the developer you hire can easily communicate in English. Always keep in mind that the success of a project also depends upon how coherently the developer shares the ideas with you.

3. Testing and QA skills

Usually, the clients don't house a dedicated team of testers for testing and quality assurance. In such cases, a developer performs the unit-testing and user-testing of the websites, applications, and software. Even many developers use the unit testing frameworks to finding and fixing bugs in individual classes and modules before they are combined together. Such frameworks help in reducing the overall development cost of a website or an application.

Wrapping Up

If you are also planning to develop a website and looking for PHP developers, it is suggested to consider the vital things mentioned above. It will help you in choosing the best developer who understands your business requirements and delivers unparalleled solutions.