We’re a Python/Django development company that builds software from scratch . We know what problems clients may face when looking for a deserving development team. We’ve been in business for eight years so far and can offer practical tips for choosing the best Python development team. Read on!

Where to start: Outsourcing Python software development

First and foremost, you should define your business goals and requirements not only in terms of project deliverables but also in terms of features, deadlines, and costs. Another important step is to choose an outsourcing destination. Here, the main criteria to be considered are agency rates, time difference, English proficiency, and cultural differences.

source: source: Dribble by Eszter Czajkowski-Nyári

We’ve analyzed the top outsourcing destinations based on Clutch data and the 2018 English Proficiency Index report by English First. Here’s what we found:

Country Average hourly rate Time difference between Washington DC and ... Time difference between London and ... English proficiency Country India Average hourly rate < $25-50 Time difference between Washington DC and ... 9.5 hours Time difference between London and ... 4.5 hours English proficiency moderate Country Ukraine Average hourly rate $25-50 Time difference between Washington DC and ... 7 hours Time difference between London and ... 2 hours English proficiency moderate Country Poland Average hourly rate $25-100 Time difference between Washington DC and ... 6 hours Time difference between London and ... 1 hour English proficiency high Country Argentina Average hourly rate $25-50 Time difference between Washington DC and ... 1 hours Time difference between London and ... 4 hours English proficiency high Country Philippines Average hourly rate $50-100 Time difference between Washington DC and ... 12 hours Time difference between London and ... 7 hours English proficiency high Country Brazil Average hourly rate $25-100 Time difference between Washington DC and ... 1 hour Time difference between London and ... 4 hours English proficiency low

Another crucial thing is cultural differences. They have a huge impact on communication, interactions, understanding, interpretation, comfort, and productivity. Sometimes, cultural differences can be the biggest barrier to successful collaboration.

There are two generally-accepted culture aspects:

Low-context ─ emphasis on facts and words

High-context ─ focus on trust and emotions

Low-context cultures UK, US, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Norway High-context cultures Ukraine, China, Japan, France, Spain, Italy Decision-making Low-context culturesUK, US, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Norway Logical High-context culturesUkraine, China, Japan, France, Spain, Italy Intuitive Work style Low-context culturesUK, US, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Norway Task-oriented, focus on individualism High-context culturesUkraine, China, Japan, France, Spain, Italy Team-oriented, focus on collectivism Work ethic Low-context culturesUK, US, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Norway Task-oriented High-context culturesUkraine, China, Japan, France, Spain, Italy Relationship-oriented Time and deadlines Low-context culturesUK, US, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Norway Important High-context culturesUkraine, China, Japan, France, Spain, Italy Less important Relationships Low-context culturesUK, US, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Norway Short-term relationships High-context culturesUkraine, China, Japan, France, Spain, Italy Long-term relationships View of change Low-context culturesUK, US, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Norway Quick to change High-context culturesUkraine, China, Japan, France, Spain, Italy Slow to change Communication Low-context culturesUK, US, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Norway Explicit, specific, detailed, precise High-context culturesUkraine, China, Japan, France, Spain, Italy Implicit, less direct

Note, that this classification has nothing to do with professionalism and skills. But it shows how different cultures may influence your collaboration and communication.

#2 Where to find a Python software development company

Even though there are about 22 million developers in the world (according to a Nexten.io study), good Python/Django developers aren’t easy to find and can be quite expensive. But there are many freelance marketplaces for software development companies and individual Python developers.

On these marketplaces, you can find profiles of Python outsourcing development companies and their projects alongside reviews and ratings from current and former clients.

source: dribbble.com by Boyko

Look at the Python and Django-based projects in their portfolio

Software providers always have an online presence that lets you learn about their experience. Most companies offer case studies and maintain a portfolio or projects page on their website to showcase their hands-on experience. Read the descriptions of featured projects to find those built on Python/Django. Usually in case studies there’s a section about technical solutions and problems the development team has solved.

Check out feedback from previous clients

The development company will be able to deliver high-quality Python/Django services for you too if they have previously created successful projects. Therefore, it’s important to check out feedback from past clients. It’s the best way to know whether an agency you’re looking to hire met the expectations of previous clients in terms of communication, collaboration, project management, product development, and beyond.

There are lots of platforms that show reviews and feedback from past clients on a software development company’s profile. These include GoodFirms, Clutch, Upwork, PeoplePerHour, TopTal, and many more.

Interview your Python/Django team for hire

It takes an interview session or two to decide whether or not to hire a Python development company. You should meet the team that’s going to work on your project during an interview, either by video or in person. If you aren’t a developer, leave the Python Django interview questions to a technical interviewer. They can ask questions that are relevant to roadblocks you may face during development.

You should also ask questions about the business and organizational sides of collaboration. An interview can show whether a Django consulting firm is interested in your project and confident that they can complete the task.

You should be prepared for this interview since your candidates will ask you project-related questions. Make sure to provide developers with a proper job description that clearly describes your project and the functionality that needs to be implemented. The job description should include required skills, qualifications, and experience.

Your own technical consultants can create a list of technologies and APIs for candidates. Having this list will help you find software developers faster, as clear requirements make it easy for project managers and COOs to allocate the best people for the project. If you need only one or two developers, then a Python development partner can give you just one or two people who can work on your project and report to a project manager.

Don’t back away if candidates start expressing their ideas about development solutions. This discussion can be a sign that they want to improve your product and offer useful technical advice or improve the overall logic of your project. Their comments are likely grounded in years of experience. An interview is a possibility for you to see how a team conveys their thoughts and whether they can maintain a strong work ethic. Interviews can help you finalize your decision and establish a connection between you and a potential development team.

That said, you should feel at ease when communicating with the team. Therefore, you need to choose a technical team with good communication skills.

Review the web development technology stack

Another important thing is the technology stack a company uses to build software. Python companies are generally multifunctional because of the programming language they use. Python allows developers to build and maintain scalable systems. It’s a mature language that can cover all functionality and automate many tasks. Google, Facebook, Instagram, and other well-known companies choose Python for their websites as it allows them to build secure environments.

Companies with good expertise will offer a wide range of technology stacks or will specialize in specific areas. This expertise should include the best Python frameworks. Developers should know how to work with libraries, extensions, and APIs. When you first get in touch with a Python development company, ask what technology stack they typically use.

Every programming language has its standards. You should also inquire as to whether companies keep to those standards. Common standards for Python are described in the official Python Guidelines.

There are many principles that support object-oriented design and programming. Five of these principles are described by SOLID: single responsibility, open/closed, Liskov substitution, interface segregation, and dependency inversion. These principles should be incorporated into development to ensure stable, scalable, and robust code. In brief, following these principles makes it easy to understand, maintain, extend, test, and reuse Python code.



For more details, read why Python is the best choice for web development.

Request a quote

You certainly don’t have a limitless budget to build your project. Like everyone in the business of building software, you’d like to know how much the product will cost. It’s fair to request an approximate quote from a company you’re considering. Experienced developers can estimate the number of hours necessary to implement all features. However, to make this possible your team must have a requirements document that lists features. If you don’t have this document, you can ask a third party to write it for you. You can also ask the company you’re hiring to write project requirements for you. Mind that this service will likely also be billed.



Source: dribbble.com by Paula Cruz

Remember that testing should also be included in your quote, as it’s an integral part of the software development process.



What’s more, you should know that there are three popular pricing models companies work with: fixed price, time and materials, and milestone. Your estimate may vary depending on the pricing model you choose.



To avoid complications later on, it’s wise to ask a software development company what payment methods they accept. Companies can accept payment by PayPal, credit card, bank wire, or direct deposit. Now there’s even an option to pay right in the invoice email and some companies have adopted this practice.



If you’re interested in how we estimate at Steelkiwi, read about our 5-step process of project cost estimation.

How can you differentiate between a good software development team and a bad one?

Since there’s such an abundance of developers, it’s vital to know how to discern who’s good.

A good Python development team:

follows best practices and guidelines

understands object-oriented programming

knows how Python libraries work

can solve Python-focused software architecture problems

has good knowledge of web development frameworks

has a transparent workflow

knows what teamwork is

has meetings to discuss project progress;

reports regularly on work completed;

signs a contract with you that ensures your rights and protects your business idea (an NDA, software development agreement, etc.)

will provide code samples if asked to prove their capabilities

sets up interviews with team leads

sets up interviews with team leads is willing to complete a test task if one is given

We’ve talked about what makes a good development team. Now we’ll tell you how to choose developers based on the criteria listed below.

Hiring Python developers: dos and don’ts

source: public domain

Below, we lay out things you should and shouldn’t do before you make a final decision about a development company. These things may well influence your choice of a Python/Django development company.

DOS

Navigate the сompany’s website to get a feel for what they do and who they work with.

Read the company blog to find out more about their expertise and aspirations.

Check how active the company is on social networks like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get an idea of the brand and its identity.

Read client reviews and look at ratings on freelance marketplace platforms to know what clients say about the Python/Django team you’re interested in.

Write an email to see how the company responds.

Schedule a call or a meeting to see if they’re open for discussion.

Check if the company has a Dribbble or Behance account to learn about their UI/UX capabilities.

Hear what the company has to say about your project to see if they’re excited to work with you and can offer valuable insights and improvements.

Ask if they’ve worked with the technology you’re interested in to know how quickly they can get the job done.

Ask them to show similar projects in the same industry and see their Python developer portfolio to make sure their claims are true.

DON’TS

Don’t hire a development team based on price alone because cheap doesn’t always mean high quality.

Don’t always trust claims that a team can use any technology and has experience in everything because developers can’t embrace all technologies at once.

Don’t hire software development company that’s hesitant to jump on a voice or video call because it may mean they aren’t interested in working with you.

Don’t hire a Django development company that just wants to get the job done and doesn’t care about your goals and the future of the product.

Choosing the right Python software company for your project

If you have an app idea, you need to look for developers who can build it. You can either search for developers on platforms or visit development company websites and ask for references. You should also study what technology stacks companies use, ask for code samples, and give test tasks with functionality similar to that in your project in order to see what technical solutions developers can offer. When selecting a team to work with, conduct an interview to see how they treat the work and what comments they make regarding your project.

Steelkiwi is a Python software company in Ukraine that’s been building software using Python for more than eight years. Our teams solve all kinds of complex tasks using this flexible programming language. Check out our portfolio and customer reviews on Clutch.co.



If you have any questions or would like to hire Python developers in Ukraine, get in touch with us!