On hiring, outsourcing, and building teams.
Writing on engaging developers, outsourcing economics, and shipping with distributed teams — from our earliest field notes in 2014 to today.
Nearshore Software Development: A Field Guide
What nearshore software development actually is, why time-zone overlap is the point, how to vet for senior judgment, and how to choose a partner — a field guide for US teams.
Everyone Says Nearshore Now
A few years ago, betting on nearshore felt contrarian. Now it's on every vendor's homepage — which means the word stopped telling you much. Here's what still does.
What AI Coding Tools Change About Senior Developers (and What They Don't)
If an AI can write the code now, do you still need senior engineers? The honest answer is that the tools change the economics of typing — not the economics of being wrong.
What the Layoffs Did to the Contractor Market
The layoffs that swept tech over the past year changed the math on both sides of the hiring table. The lazy read — 'talent is cheap now' — is the wrong one.
The Americas Are the New Offshore
The old offshore bargain was simple: as far away and as cheap as possible. It's quietly being replaced by something better — and the difference is the clock.
The Unsexy Work of Keeping a Remote Team Aligned
Everyone writes about the big ideas of remote work. Nobody writes about the calendar math and the gentle nagging. That part is my job — and it's where teams actually hold together.
A New Chapter
I've recently taken the helm at sourceBOLD. A note on what carries forward from the people who built it — and where we go from here.
Distributed by Choice, Then by Necessity
A year ago the world sent everyone home. For a company that spent years arguing you can work well with developers you've never met in person, it was a strange thing to watch.
The Talent Map Just Got Redrawn
A year ago, 'where is this role based?' had an obvious answer. Now it's the most interesting question in hiring — and it cuts both ways.
Suddenly Everyone's Remote. Here's What We Learned the Hard Way.
A few months ago, remote work was a debate. Now it's just how everyone works. Here's what years of doing it might save you from learning the hard way.
Contractor or Employee? Why the Question Suddenly Matters
California just redrew the line between contractor and employee. Even if you're nowhere near California, the question it raises is one you should already be asking.
The Race to the Bottom We Won't Run
There's a race in this industry to be the cheapest. After a few years of watching how it ends, we've decided not to run it.
What You Still Shouldn't Outsource
It's been about three years since Part II, and the line between what you can hand off and what you shouldn't has moved. Here's the updated version.
The Senior-Developer Shortage Didn't Go Away. It Got Worse.
Three years ago we called it the developer dilemma. The gap between demand and supply hasn't closed — and remote-first hiring changed who you're competing with.
The Résumé Was Never the Point
I've read a lot of résumés. After enough of them, I've landed on a conclusion that still feels a little heretical to say out loud.
Mobile-First Isn't Optional Anymore
Not long ago a mobile-friendly site was a nice-to-have. This year it's the baseline — and Google has started grading your site on its phone version first.
Don't Bet Your Roadmap on a Visa Lottery
If your hiring plan this year runs through an H-1B visa, the last few months were nerve-racking. The deeper problem isn't paperwork — it's planning.
Remote-First Is a Discipline, Not a Perk
'Remote-first' is the badge every company wants to wear this year. Most of them mean 'remote-allowed' — and the difference is the whole game.
Culture Doesn't Stop at the Office Door
People ask how we keep a real culture when half the people we work with aren't in the room. The honest answer is that the room was never where the culture lived.
What “Full-Stack” Really Means When You're Hiring One
'Full-stack developer' is the most-requested title we hear right now — and the most misunderstood. Here's what to actually screen for.
The Hidden Cost of a 12-Hour Time Difference
Outsourcing has always been sold on the hourly rate. But there's a second number that quietly decides whether a project ships on time — the clock.
SourceBold Receives Best of Provo Award in the Software Category
sourceBOLD has been named a 2015 Best of Provo Award winner in the Software Company category. A thank-you to our clients and team.
Startups Looking for More for Their Buck
Startups always want more for their money — which is exactly why so many turn to outsourced development. How it helps stretch a budget.
Flash Fizzles On Firefox
Firefox now blocks Adobe Flash by default. What the change means for your website — and why it's time to leave Flash behind.
Software Programmers are Now Utah’s Most Common Job - But There Still Aren’t Enough
Programming is now Utah's most common job — and there still aren't enough developers to meet demand. What the shortage means for hiring.
Utah's Median Wage for Systems Software Developers Reaches >$90,000
Utah's software-developer salaries keep climbing as demand outpaces supply. A look at the rising median wage and what it means for hiring.
The Content Management System For Your Website
Following our intro to what a CMS is, this guide covers the main advantages of running your website on a content management system.
What is a CMS (Content Management System)?
What a CMS (content management system) is, in plain English — and why it lets you update your website without writing code.
How do I Build Wireframes and Mockups?
The last of three guides on wireframes and mockups: a practical walkthrough of how to actually build them for your web project.
Should I do Wireframes or Mockups?
The second of three guides on wireframes and mockups: when you need each one, and how to decide which to start with.
Wireframes v. Mockups - What's the Difference?
The first of three guides on wireframes and mockups: what each one actually is, and how they differ in your design process.
Recent WordPress Vulnerabilities: Yet Another Reason To Keep Your Website Updated
A wave of WordPress plugin and theme XSS vulnerabilities is one more reason to keep your site updated. What happened, and how to stay safe.
Software Development You Shouldn’t Outsource: Part II
Part II on the software work you shouldn't outsource — the roles and decisions a company is better off keeping close to home.
3 Steps Every Company Should Take To Hire A Developer
Finding talent is only half the battle when you hire a developer, in-house or outsourced. Here are three steps every company should take first.
The Black Box of Software Architecture
Software architecture can feel like a black box to non-technical founders. A plain-English look at what it is and why it matters.
Utah Declared the Next Silicon Valley - Why This Hurts Utah Tech Companies
The New Yorker called Utah the next Silicon Valley. Why that flattering label is actually a double-edged sword for local tech companies.
Outsourcing, Still On The Rise
Big firms like TCS and Capgemini show the offshore IT model still has plenty of life. A look at why outsourcing keeps rising.
Little White Lies Are Like Bird Droppings On A Windshield
Why little white lies in business are like bird droppings on a windshield: small at first, but they pile up until you can't see straight.
StartSLC: Showcasing Utah’s Strong Startup Scene
Notes from the inaugural StartSLC conference — three days showcasing the energy and momentum of Utah's growing startup scene.
Don’t Outsource Your Day Job... Lessons Learned From the World’s Most Epic Outsourcing Heist
What the internet's most infamous outsourcing heist — a developer who secretly outsourced his own job — teaches you about doing it right.
The Developer Dilemma: Hiring Senior Developers In A High Demand Job Market
How to hire senior software developers when demand far outstrips supply — and where outsourcing fits into closing the gap.
Evaluating Geo-Political Risk When Outsourcing
Outsourcing development across borders carries geo-political risk. What to weigh about location before you decide where your developers sit.
Top 3 Reasons Why People Choose To Outsource Software Developers
The three real reasons companies outsource software developers: de-risking an in-house build, accessing expertise, and managing cost.
New Year's Resolutions Don't Work - But Annual Goals Do
Why New Year's resolutions fizzle and real annual goals stick — a founder's take on turning January's good intentions into progress.
Outsourcing Myth Buster: My Developer will Steal my Code
Worried an outsourced developer will steal your code? It's a fair concern. How to think about — and protect — your intellectual property.
Outsourcing Myth Buster: It Will Be Too Hard To Communicate With My Developer
The most common objection to outsourcing development is that communication will be too hard. Here's why that fear is mostly a myth.