DEV Community: Mary J Derosa

How to Set Up a Linux Server

Mary J Derosa — Wed, 18 May 2022 12:32:37 +0000

Linux is one of the most popular operating systems used by approximately 3.5 billion users. Many individuals and companies use web servers that run on the Linux operating system as it’s an excellent choice for daily use. Linux is also open-source, meaning that it is free to use and customize.

If you intend to build your own Linux server, there are some conditions you’ll need to meet. For instance, a Linux server can only run on specific minimum system requirements. You also need to select a Linux distribution that suits your needs.

A Linux server doesn't come with a graphical user interface like other desktop environments. It uses Terminal, which is a text-based interface. Therefore, we strongly recommend learning the basic Linux commands first to help you operate and manage a Linux server.

In this article, we will go over a step-by-step tutorial on how to install Linux and set up a Linux server. Let’s get started.

1. Choose and Download a Linux Distribution

Picking the right Linux distribution can be challenging as there are around 600 distros available. That said, not all Linux distributions are available for web servers. Popular Linux distributions commonly used as servers are Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch Linux, and Debian.

For example, this article will use Ubuntu Server to build a Linux server. As one of the most famous Linux distributions, Ubuntu provides regular security updates and long-term support, making it a secure and reliable operating system.

Ubuntu Server’s system requirements are also pretty straightforward. According to the Ubuntu official documentation, the minimum system requirements are one gigahertz (GHz) of CPU, one gigabyte (GB) of RAM, and a minimum of 2.5 gigabytes (GB) of storage space. Therefore, most computers are capable of running Ubuntu Server.

The next step is to download the Ubuntu Server’s installation file. Follow the steps below:

Go to the Ubuntu official website. Then, click the Download dropdown menu and navigate to Ubuntu Server -> Get Ubuntu Server.
Choose Option 2 - Manual server installation on the Ubuntu Server download page. After that, click Download Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS. Note that the 22.04 LTS is the current long-term support version.
The download process will begin automatically. The downloaded file name should look like the following: ubuntu-22.04-live-server-amd64.iso.

2. Create a Bootable USB

Creating a bootable USB will be your next step after choosing a Linux distro. You will need at least a 4GB or larger USB stick or flash drive, a Ubuntu ISO file, and a bootable USB creator tool – for example, Rufus, Etcher, or Ventoy.

As for the bootable USB creator tool, we used Rufus as an example. Here are the steps on how to create an installation media using this application:

Download Rufus via the official download page and install it. Then, run the application on your local computer.
Click Select to locate the Ubuntu ISO file in the local folder.
Set the partition scheme to MBR and target system to BIOS or UEFI. You can then name the volume label, such as “Ubuntu Installation Media.”
For the format options, make sure that the file system is set to FAT32 (Default).
Click Start to begin the process. Once finished, close the application.

3. Install Your Linux Server Operating System

Now that you have a bootable USB, we can begin installing the Linux operating system. First, plug the bootable USB into your computer’s USB port. Most computers will automatically boot from external media, such as USB drives or DVDs.

If the boot message doesn’t show up, you need to select the install media manually. Press the Escape or Esc, F2, F10, or F12 key so that the boot menu shows up when you restart the computer.

Once the boot menu appears, select the bootable USB containing the Linux installation media. Note that it might take some time for the installation window to show up.

Then, it’s time to install your Linux server operating system. We used Ubuntu Server as an example. Follow the steps below:

Choose your preferred language.
Next, choose the keyboard layout. If you are unsure, go with the default option, which is English (US).
After that, the installer will show three installation options – Install Ubuntu, Install MAAS Region Controller, and Install MAAS Rack Controller. Select the Install Ubuntu option.
Then, you need to set up a network configuration. The installer will automatically discover any network connection via DHCP, so there is no need to enter anything in this section.
For the storage configuration, we recommend using the first option to use an entire disk.
On the next screen, select a disk to be formatted. The installer will show information regarding the partitions to create.
The installer will show another confirmation step. Make sure that you have chosen the correct disk to be formatted.
The next step is creating a profile. Type your name, a server name, a username, and a password into the designated fields.
After that, install the OpenSSH server package by checking the box next to Install OpenSSH server.
Next, you can download and install a selection of Linux packages for your server environment, providing you enabled a network connection. Select Done to proceed with the installation process.
The installer will then show the installation log. Once finished, select Reboot. When the reboot process begins, unplug the bootable USB stick.

4. Run and Test Your Linux Server

When you boot the Linux server OS, you will see Terminal or command lines with information like the following:

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS ubuntu tty1

ubuntu login:

This means that you have successfully installed a Linux server. Enter your username and password to log in to your server. Terminal will generate additional messages once you are logged in.

To test your Linux server, you can type in several commands on Terminal. Here is a list of useful commands:

uptime – shows information about the server uptime.
pwd – locates the path of the current working directory.
ls – shows the content of the current directory you are in.
top or htop – displays a list of running processes and the CPU usage.
whoami – prints the user name of the user ID.

5. Update and Upgrade Your Linux Server

Updating and upgrading the system is crucial to ensure that your Linux server gets the latest security and kernel updates. It is important to check for updates every time you log in to the server, as most Linux distributions frequently release new updates and upgrades.

To perform an update and upgrade on your Linux server, enter the following command:

sudo apt-get update or sudo apt update

Wait until the process is finished. Then, proceed with the command below:

sudo apt-get upgrade or sudo apt upgrade

Alternatively, you can also combine the above commands with the following:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade or sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

6. Install Web Server Applications – Apache, MySQL, and PHP

If you’re configuring a Linux server for a website development project, consider installing web server applications such as Apache, MySQL, and PHP. Apache helps deploy your website on the internet through your own server, while MySQL works as a database management system for your website.

Here are the steps to install Apache, MySQL, and PHP via Terminal:

To install Apache, type the command below:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install apache2

Next, enter the following command to install MySQL:

sudo apt-get install mysql-server php5-mysql

Lastly, install PHP by typing in the command below:

sudo apt-get install php5 libapache2-mod-php5 php5-mcrypt

Conclusion

Running a Linux server can be a good investment for an organization that needs stability, flexibility, and security.

Once your server is up and running, we recommend learning how to operate and manage it properly to get the full use out of the operating system.

The following is a recap of the steps to building a Linux server:

Choose and download a Linux distribution.
Create a bootable USB.
Install the Linux server operating system.
Run and test the Linux server.
Update and upgrade the Linux server.
Install web server applications.

We hope this guide has helped you understand how to set up a Linux server.

Tips on Creating Awesome Responsive Design: When A Responsive Design Prevails?

Mary J Derosa — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 17:44:40 +0000

Web design is ever-evolving. Nowadays, ensuring responsiveness should become every site owner’s priority as mobile phones steadily dominate the internet traffic.

Responsive web design enables websites, blogs, and web apps to adjust their layout based on different screen sizes and resolutions. Apart from improving readability, a responsive web design helps boost mobile users’ engagement, conversion rates, and return on investment.

While creating a mobile-friendly website doesn’t require advanced technical expertise, many website owners don’t know where to start. This article covers eight tips to create an excellent responsive web design. Let’s get started.

1. Make Your Design Fluid

In the past, web designers used pixels as the measurement unit for their websites. In today’s web design standards, however, percentages play a crucial role.

Web pages consist of layout containers, which include:

Header.
Navigation bar.
Content section.
Sidebar.
Footer.

For example, a 500-pixel header suggests a fixed web layout, maintaining its size across all mobile devices. Using percentages, on the other hand, enables a web page’s elements to adjust sizes depending on the screen.

As a result, a responsive web page’s display looks distinct on different devices. For example, the navigation bar can automatically change to the drop-down form on mobile phones. Meanwhile, it displays the extended content on wider screen sizes like tablets and desktops.

To apply this fluid grid system, modify your website’s CSS. You can always contact your WordPress hosting provider if you ever need some technical help to guide you through the process.

2. Consider Your Content

Besides making a website visually pleasing, website design should enhance visitors’ experience when browsing the site’s content. Therefore, content and web design should be integrated.

As content is the core of any website, implementing a content-first policy should be a priority. Here are some tips for ensuring content-first, responsive design:

Don’t make a separate mobile site. Typically, an M-Dot website contains less content than the desktop version. This can lead to confusion and even frustration as visitors get varying search results from different devices.
Ensure easy access to your other content pieces. Provide a Next button or a Related Articles section to ensure site visitors can browse through content easily.
Be wary of the content’s readability across the different devices. This comes down to the choice of layout, typefaces, colors, and font sizes.

3. Use Responsive Images

Not only design but image sizes should also be adjustable based on different screens. When images are not optimized, they may look good on desktop computers but not on mobile devices.

This step is about making sure your images scale correctly on different devices. One of the most popular ways for this is to add these lines of CSS:

img {
width: 100%;
}

Source: Kraken.io

In addition, site owners should always compress their images before uploading to ensure that they won’t overload a page. Use a compression tool, like Kraken.io, to reduce image size without losing quality. That way, your images can load seamlessly on any device and network.

Alternatively, site owners can also hide images and other web page elements when users load their websites through their mobile phones.

4. Design for Touchscreens

Google has gone mobile-first since July 2019, and today, mobile devices account for 54.8% of internet traffic. For these reasons, develop a web design that caters to both trackpads and touchscreens.

Here are some tips to consider:

Check the button size. For pages that contain a call to action (CTA) button, make sure it’s visible and easy to tap. As a reference, the current standard for a touch target size is 44x44 pt.
Avoid clutter. If you have a long list of menus, check the space between them to ensure users don’t click the wrong button.
Minimize gestures. Reconsider before incorporating elements like swipes and zooms. While users can easily carry out the actions on larger screens, it might be challenging for users on smaller screens.
Don’t force a delay. Although it can be a great way to double-check if a user’s click is intentional, a delay can also harm user experience (UX) as users might feel like the website is less responsive or not working correctly.

5. Take Typography into Account

Source: FontJoy

Using different typefaces helps highlight important information and create context throughout web pages. The latter is vital to help introduce a business’s identity, brand, and values.

On the other hand, choosing the wrong typography combination can make a website look unprofessional or harm a site’s readability.

One of the most common problems with typography and responsiveness is that some typefaces are only compatible with specific devices. Using a tricky font can cause some texts to appear as square boxes.

Other problems include fonts that are too difficult to read on smaller screens and those that add unnecessary HTTP requests. To avoid such issues, let’s see some tips below:

Stick with legible fonts. These include Helvetica, Verdana, and Georgia. Using such fonts ensures compatibility across devices.
Avoid custom fonts. They often cause layout shifts when loading, which can be bad for UX.
Limit your typefaces. Three is the maximum number of fonts a site should have. If you’re having trouble choosing the right combination, font generating tools such as Fontjoy can be a big help.
Adjust font sizes appropriately. To improve readability, match fonts with the screen size using media queries.

6. Avoid Using Pop-Ups

Pop-ups refer to elements that appear when someone is viewing a web page. They can be contact forms, promotional messages, and paid advertisements. While using pop-ups helps increase conversion rates, site owners should reconsider utilizing them.

For mobile users, seeing pop-ups can be irritating because they can take up the whole screen and interrupt the browsing experience. Sometimes pop-ups are not responsive, making it harder for users to find the Close button.

Site visitors may also have a pop-up blocker installed on their browsers. Therefore, site owners may not yield the expected conversion numbers.

That’s why many website owners choose to disable pop-ups for mobile devices. Nowadays, many opt for lead magnets, hello bars, and banners to engage their target audience.

7. Utilize Mobile Responsive WordPress Themes

Using a responsive WordPress theme is among the easiest methods for ensuring a fluid design.
The content management system offers dozens of mobile-friendly, pre-designed templates in its directory. You can also check if it is Mobile Responsive in the theme’s description box.

Regardless, check that your chosen responsive theme works well across different devices. This ensures consistency and provides the same UX no matter what device visitors use to access the content.

Website owners can also create their own responsive WordPress theme. To do this, create a local WordPress environment, prepare a folder for your first responsive theme, and put together a CSS style sheet. Then, start adding some code and play around with the page layout.

8. Take A Responsiveness Test

With the various screen sizes and resolutions, every site owners’ best bet is to test website responsiveness using a tool.

Google’s free mobile-friendly testing tool is among the most reliable ones to utilize. Users will only need to input their site’s address and click Enter to start the analysis.

Source: Google free mobile-friendly testing tool

After a few minutes, the tool will tell users whether they have a responsive website by displaying a green checkmark with a Page is mobile-friendly statement.

Source: Google free mobile-friendly testing tool

On the other hand, a red exclamation mark with a Page is not mobile-friendly description will appear if the tool identifies some responsiveness problems with a website. It will also offer a list of factors on how site owners can better optimize their web design.

Conclusion

Responsive web design enables a WordPress site to adjust its layout based on a given screen. Having one can bring many benefits to a business, from improved user experience and engagement to higher conversion rates and return on investment.

Here’s a quick recap of how to have a responsive website:

1. Make your design fluid. Opt for percentages over the pixel measurement. This will help a site’s elements to adjust based on the various sizes of mobile device screens.

2. Consider your content. Keep in mind to always design a website around its content to ensure visitors can read it with ease.

3. Use responsive images. Apart from making sure they render correctly on different screens, images can also help improve overall performance.

4. Design for touchscreens. Some tips include taking care of the button size and spacing, minimizing gestures, and not forcing delays.

5. Take typography into account. Consider avoiding custom fonts to ensure compatibility across mobile devices. Also, don’t use more than three typefaces to maintain consistency and professionalism.

6. Avoid using pop-ups. As they can take up the whole mobile screen, it’s best to disable it when your site is accessed through a mobile device.

7. Utilize mobile responsive WordPress themes. Take advantage of pre-designed templates to save time and effort, but be sure to check their responsiveness.

8. Take a responsiveness test. Once you’ve settled on a design, check if your website is mobile-responsive using Google’s testing tool.

By taking the above steps, you will get your site ready for mobile users. As a site’s design may frequently change to match with different marketing campaigns, remember to always test your new design before launching.

Good luck with your responsive web design initiative!

How to Transfer a Website to a Different Host (Without Downtime or Issues)

Mary J Derosa — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 11:37:44 +0000

Picking the best hosting provider for your website can be time-consuming as there are so many options available. Unfortunately, sometimes when you make your choice, the service doesn’t meet your expectations, making you feel stuck.

In this case, the next suitable step might be to switch to another hosting company. Yet, this option also has its risks, such as downtime issues and complicated processes.

This article will provide a step-by-step guide to help transfer your website to a different web host safely. You’ll learn all of the essential points, from choosing the best web host to canceling your current hosting service.

1. Choose a New Web Hosting Provider

It’s important to pick a new web hosting provider before canceling your existing hosting plan. Several aspects to consider when choosing a new provider are cost, resources, and performance.

If you don’t want to transfer your website manually, choose a hosting provider that offers free site migration. That way, you only need to make the request and provide website details, like the current hostname and control panel login details.

2. Backup and Transfer Your Files

Backups ensure that you save the latest version of your site. To transfer it to the new web host, log in to the control panel, make another backup and begin the transfer.

One way to move your site is to use a file transfer protocol (FTP) program like FileZilla. It provides access to the files on the current web host’s servers from your computer. Download the files from your old web host, then upload all the files to the new one.

Image source

If you use WordPress, consider installing a migration tool plugin, like All-in-One WP Migration. This plugin will help migrate your WordPress site to a new hosting provider without any technical knowledge.

3. Move Your Database and Import to the New Host

Most content management systems (CMS) depend on a database to store content and settings. To move your database, export it from your old web host using phpMyAdmin.

You should see phpMyAdmin in the Databases if your old hosting provider uses the cPanel. If not, install phpMyAdmin on your PC first.

Follow these steps to export your database once you open the phpMyAdmin:

On the left section, select the database you want to move.
Click the Export tab.

Image source
In the Export method, click Quick and choose SQL for the format.

Image source
Click Go.

After that, create a new database by opening MySQL Databases in your new web host’s control panel. Then, open phpMyAdmin and go to the Import tab to upload the database you downloaded from your old web host.

Image source

4. Install and Configure Applications at the New Host

This step requires editing the wp-config.php by using the FTP program or file manager at the new host’s control panel. Before editing this file, prepare information like database name, username, and password.

Then, install or update your CMS platform, like WordPress or Joomla, and configure other applications you need.

5. Point Your Domain Name to the New Web Host

The first step is to look for the nameservers of your new web host on its control panel.

Then, go to the dashboard of your domain name provider and replace the old nameservers with the new host’s nameservers. Doing so will ensure that visitors come to your website and not receive an error or a misdirect.

The process until your domain name points to the new web host will take up to 24 hours. A DNS checker like Whatsmydns.net helps check the moving progress.

Image source

6. Test Your Website

At this step, your site should work properly on your new hosting provider. However, errors can happen sometimes.

One typical error is broken links. To solve this, consider installing a plugin like Broken Link Checker. It will scan all links on your website and show the status – whether they’re errors or not. Here, you have the option to edit or delete the links.

Also, there is a risk that the database is corrupted. To resolve this, try to disable all plugins and enable them one by one. If you can’t access your WordPress dashboard, it may be necessary to reupload your database.

7. Check Your Email Accounts

There are four possible scenarios when transferring your custom email to the new web host, such as:
-Email is hosted on a third party. It can be Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. It’s the simplest scenario as you can keep using it.

-Email is hosted on a domain registrar. Login to the domain registrar and change the details, like nameservers, into the new hosting provider.
-Email is hosted with the old host. See whether it’s possible to download the email accounts and upload them to the new hosting provider. If not, you have to recreate the accounts on the new web host’s platform manually.

8. Finalize the Move

When the changes are complete, it’s essential to double-check if they work correctly.

First, check your website using a temporary URL. Ask your new host’s support team about the address or use a temporary URL generator. Also, it’s better to inform your visitors about the switch beforehand in case something goes wrong and everything results in downtime.

Image source

9. Close the Previous Web Hosting Account

After making sure everything works well, it’s time to close your old web hosting account.

You’ll see an option to cancel the hosting subscription on the old web host’s control panel. Ensure that you cancel only the hosting plan to avoid losing your domain name if you host your domain name with them too.

Conclusion

The risks of switching hosting services may seem intimidating at first.

However, it’s possible to transfer your website to another web host without any hassle or downtime, as long as you carefully take these steps:

Pick a new web host.
Back up your files and move them to the new web host.
Export and import your database.
Set up necessary applications on the new hosting provider’s platform.
Point your domain to the new host.
Test the website.
Transfer your email accounts.
Cancel your old hosting plan.

This is how you can move your website to a new host. Good luck!

VPS: An Upgrade from Shared Hosting

Mary J Derosa — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 18:44:06 +0000

When creating a website, you’ll need a couple of things: a domain name, a website builder, and a web hosting provider.
You’ll then need to choose what type of hosting you need for your website, as web hosting makes your website available online.

This article will mention two of the most popular hosting types – shared hosting and VPS. I’ll also make a quick comparison between the two and give you the reasons why VPS is better and when you should consider upgrading.

Let’s get started.

What is Shared Hosting?

As the name suggests, shared hosting means sharing a server and its resources with other users. Because you share almost everything, shared hosting is the most affordable option among all hosting types. It’s also the most beginner-friendly hosting type.

But because the resources are shared, you do get a few disadvantages. If other users are experiencing high traffic or encounter any issues, your website is likely to be affected too. Plus, you also get limited storage space and bandwidth.

You should use shared hosting if you:

Have a small company website.
Are on a limited budget.
Want to create a personal website.
Are still new to the industry.

What is VPS Hosting

As for VPS, you still share a server with other users.

However, the main difference is that each user has their dedicated space and resources. As the name suggests, a virtual private server creates virtual partitions in a server and divides them among the users.

VPS solves the main disadvantage of shared hosting, which is other site’s performance affecting yours too.

Since you get dedicated resources for yourself, the price will be higher compared to shared hosting. But if you have the budget, this is the option to go for. If you want to look for great web hosting plans, you can try Hostinger.

You should use a VPS hosting if you:

Have more budget to spare and want to invest in your website.
Plan to scale your business in the future.
Expect high amounts of traffic to your website.

VPS vs. Shared Hosting

Of course, choosing VPS is the better option because it solves all the disadvantages of shared hosting. But there are other reasons why VPS may be the right choice for your business.

Some of them include:

Increased Flexibility – You get access to the root level of your server, giving you the freedom to control the resources and architecture of your website.
Improve Performance – Since it's easily scalable, you can easily upgrade your resources to match your website’s growth, thus improving your performance.
Dedicated IP – You get easy access to your website and have a higher level of control compared to sharing an IP.
Improved Security – You can adjust your site’s security on your own, like adding multi-layer security and firewalls.

When to Upgrade from Shared Hosting to VPS

It may be a good idea for you to start with shared hosting and upgrade to VPS later. However, how do you know when the time is right to make the change?

Here are some pointers that will indicate when you should seriously consider an upgrade in web hosting.

1. Your Traffic Count is High

Image is taken from vectorstock.com.

As your website grows, you’ll receive more traffic. You’ll need a server that can accommodate this increase in traffic without affecting your site’s performance. So if you see your website struggling to load quickly because you have many people accessing your site at the same time, it’s time to consider VPS.

VPS is straightforward to scale. It allows you to upgrade your resources as much or as little as you want without encountering any significant downtime or technical issues.
This is possible because VPS is hosted on a virtual environment called a container. The container will be filled with the resources you’ve picked but also let you deduct or add resources quickly and effortlessly at any time.

2. Upscaling the SEO Strategies

As mentioned before, shared hosting provides one server for multiple sites. When one website encounters any issues, other sites will be affected too. So since you all share the same IP address, when one website has a bad reputation or conducts SEO black hat techniques, your website’s SEO ranking might suffer as well.

Using VPS means your website’s ranking is only affected by your SEO strategies. You don’t have to worry about how other websites conduct their SEO, as they don’t affect your website.

3. Need to Store More Data

Image is taken from istockphoto.com.

When you reach the limit of your shared hosting resources, the only way to grow is to upgrade your hosting plan.

By using VPS, you’ll be getting dedicated resources, including vCPU, bandwidth, and storage space. You can freely adjust the resources based on your needs without worrying about how much the other users are consuming.

VPS is like receiving a dedicated server’s benefits but at a much more affordable price. With this type of hosting, you’ll also be able to handle more traffic without having to spend more.

4. Need More Security

Shared hosting is secure and well protected. You can trust the web host to provide maximum security for your website.

However, there will always be data from other websites stored on the same server. This may pose a security gap if one of these websites gets breached by hackers or malware.

With VPS, you can set up your own security, install additional firewalls, input additional security rules and restrictions. You're in control of who can access your website’s dashboard and root level.

5. Website Customization

Image is taken from Unsplash.com.

As I mentioned before, using VPS lets you access the root level of the server. This means that you can freely customize your website, and you don’t need to contact your hosting provider to do the customizations for you.

With VPS, you can customize various things such as:

Choose an operating system of your choice.
Add more complex web applications.
Install custom web server stack.
Install a custom software package.

6. Running an E-Commerce Site

Even if you decide to run a small eCommerce website, a VPS will always be a better choice and investment for your business. You’ll get a dedicated IP address which means more freedom, as well as better reliability, security, performance, and uptime.

You’ll also get easy scalability so you can quickly upgrade your website’s resources on demand.

Conclusion

VPS hosting is significantly better than shared hosting.

You’ll get increased flexibility, better performance, improved security, reliability, dedicated resources, and an IP address. Provided you have the budget and need more resources, VPS will always outperform shared hosting.

Remember that while VPS is better, it does require you to have more technical knowledge of the operating system and the server.

You will also be responsible for the safety and security of your website and your visitors’ data, which should not be taken lightly.

Good luck!

When Is It Necessary to Hire a Programmer?

Mary J Derosa — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 15:37:52 +0000

A programmer is someone that creates or writes computer software by utilizing specific instructions on multiple programming languages and platforms such as SQL, XML, PHP, HTML, C, and C++.

They are often needed to help clients craft a unique website from scratch. But with the availability of website builders and web hosting services that can help you create websites easily, when exactly should you hire a programmer?

This article will explain several scenarios when a programmer is needed. I’ll also cover the steps of hiring a programmer.

When Should You Hire a Programmer

Let’s take a look at the three main scenarios when you might want to hire a programmer.

When you don’t have the skills to build, design, or maintain a website

You want to create a website, and you have the budget to make for it. Using a website builder or a CMS feels lacking, and you want to be involved throughout the entire process.

You have an idea of how the website should look and the content to put on it. The only issue is you don’t have the necessary skills to bring your designs to life.

Therefore, you’ll need a programmer to create your website and make it operational. You’ll also need them to handle the maintenance of your site and deal with any technical issues that may arise.

When you need a long-term development partner

You have an idea for an online business, and you understand how your business will work. You also know how the website should look and function. The only issue is you don’t have the technical skills and time to do it.

Hiring a programmer is the way to go since you probably will need their services for a while to create custom graphical elements, pages, and content.

When you need to upgrade your website

You already have your website running, but you want to add new sections to it and expand your business. It might be a dedicated blog, or new types of products and services.

For you to have the new features or sections on your website, you’ll need to hire a programmer.

How to Hire a Programmer

There are several things you need to do when hiring a programmer. Let’s take a look at them.

1. Lay Out Your Project Plans

As mentioned above, you first need to know why you need the assistance of a programmer.

Layout your project plans in detail to make it easier for programmers to apply for the job. For a website, you’ll need to start with the UX design, which includes the process of setting up the user interface for your website.

It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the tasks at hand so you and the programmer can communicate more effectively.

Below is a checklist of things you should include in your project plan:

*UX design
*Features and functionalities
*Need vs. nice to have
*Timeline and budget.
*Delivery
*How many programmers are needed

2. Consider Alternative Methods

You may have already decided to hire a local programmer. But you should know that this isn’t your only option.
Take a look at the following alternatives first:

Freelance programmers

The best developer might be someone who lives on a different continent than you. Bear in mind, however, that communication might be an issue because of different timezones.

Software development company

By employing the services of a company, you’ll get help from a dedicated and experienced team. That said, it’ll be much more expensive compared to hiring a programmer.

Website builders

Using software to build your site is affordable and beginner-friendly – you can even do it yourself. However, remember that most website builders offer limited customizability compared to CMSs and coding from scratch.

3. Write an Effective Job Description

The next step is to write a detailed job description to attract the right people for the job.

Here are the things you should include in the job description:

*Job requirements – type of programmers, programming languages, years of experience.
*Job duties – project requirements, workflow.
*Technical skills needed
*Soft skills needed
*A description of your company

4. Short-List Potential Hires and Create Tasks

Once you start getting resumes, you’ll want to shortlist the best candidates. If you received 100 resumes, select less than half of them.

Here are some of the things to look for when shortlisting candidates:

*They meet the requirements.
*The resume has keywords from the job description.
*Find out how often they change jobs.
*Look for quantifiable achievements.

Once you have a shortlist of candidates, you’ll want to narrow it down further. Ask them to do a practical task. Pick the candidates whose performance was the best and quickest.

5. Interview the Candidates

The final step is to interview the candidates. During the interview, you’ll want to choose a programmer that can go to an open-source code library, get what’s needed, put it all together and develop a realistic solution.

A good idea is to include basic interview questions like “what is your greatest strength and weakness?” and “why did you leave your last job?”

6. Do a Proper Onboarding Process

The recruitment process doesn’t end when people enter the workplace. After you hire a programmer, you should follow up with a proper onboarding process.

Onboarding is necessary because the new hire needs to become familiar with the new surroundings and know the culture and rules of your business.

You should get the programmer acquainted with the following:

*Workflow
*Project management tools
*The local environment

Conclusion

You should hire a programmer if you want to craft a website from scratch and make it fit your unique vision. If you have looked at the alternatives, understand the benefits and downsides, and still want to hire a programmer, then follow the steps I’ve laid out.

Let’s recap:

*Lay out your project plans.
*Consider alternative methods.
*Write an effective job description.
*Shortlist potential hires and create tasks.
*Interview the candidates.
*Do a proper onboarding process.

Now that you know when and how to hire a programmer, all that’s left to do is to start detailing your project plan, fill out the job description, and post it on various job boards.

Good luck!