Hiring a developer is nerve-wracking when you can't read code.
How do you tell a genuinely good Next.js developer from someone
who just talks a good game?
Most hiring guides are written for technical people. This one isn't.
👉 Full guide here
Green flags — signs someone is the real deal
✅ Live projects you can actually click — not screenshots, real URLs
✅ They explain things simply — if they can teach it, they understand it
✅ They ask about your business, not just the tech
✅ They talk about speed and reliability
✅ They mention code ownership from day one
Red flags — walk away
🚩 No live work to show
🚩 Every answer is a wall of jargon
🚩 Vague timelines — "it'll be done soon, roughly a few thousand"
🚩 Dodgy about post-launch ownership
🚩 Price feels too good to be true — $5/hr often costs more in rework
4 questions to ask — no tech knowledge needed
"Show me something similar you've built that's live"
Good: real link + short story. Weak: excuses.
"How will you keep me updated?"
Good: weekly demo + shared board. Weak: "I'll let you know when done."
"Do I own everything after launch?"
Good: straight yes. Weak: vagueness.
"Walk me through how you'd approach my project."
You're judging if they listened — not the tech answer.
The smartest move: start small
Don't bet your whole project on a first impression. Start with
a small paid task or discovery session. In one week you'll learn
more than any interview could tell you.
Good developers welcome this. The ones to avoid resist it.
Full guide with FAQ on technical requirements, frontend-only
developers, and testing before committing:
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