4 ms·

11 Tips on Hiring a Rails Developer

31 points by luccastera 19y ago

jraines 19y ago
Thanks for this. I am always wondering how far away I am from being a "real" Rails developer -- programming is a longtime hobby for me, and I love Rails and maybe would like to one day build stuff in it for a living. Number 6 on the list is especially encouraging, and numbers 4 and 5 give me some nice to-do's.
mrtron 19y ago
A classic UW grad - suggests that a university degree is not required, but drops in that he just happened to graduate from "Canada's highly-regarded Math/CS program at Waterloo". I suppose it is now only appropriate I say I also am graduate. I have to agree with him that a university degree is not required - but I would still interview a UW grad above a few other candidates. My reasoning? I know much of the basic algorithm, design and other fundamentals will have a higher chance of being there than someone who is entirely self taught. University forces you to learn things that don't necessarily meet your exact interests - but that graph algorithm you didn't really enjoy but learned could come in handy next time you are writing a google maps mashup hack. Edit: I also forgot to mention a huge indicator among my peers is pet projects. The good developers are always working on something (a lot of android apps lately), and the bad developers aren't.
- jkush 19y ago
  I completely understand why you'd interview a UW grad above other candidates. You have to make an intial cut somewhere, right? As a high school dropout, I hate having to compete against those with diplomas. But I guess that's what I get for dropping out.
  - mrtron 19y ago
    Yes it is quite the dilemma. I know one or two people who are self taught and great coders. However, the majority of people I have worked with that are primarily self taught aren't good. I guess the key to competing against diplomas is making separating from the herd - perhaps with pet projects, a blog showing your expertise, etc.
    - jkush 19y ago
      Or alternatively, going the startup route!
    - DanielBMarkham 19y ago
      The key to competing with anybody is to show recent experience. I don't care what kinds of certificates you have -- what have you done lately? It doesn't matter what you did last year. Programming (and startups) are all about what you can do this year.
      - Retric 19y ago
        This seems a little narrow minded. Many highly talented programmers find a lucrative area and stick with it for a while, but they can pick up on the "new big thing" almost instantly. IMO it all comes back to talent and drive which are almost impossible to judge in an interview but they tend to swamp all other factors over time.
        downer 19y ago
        > IMO it all comes back to talent and drive which are almost impossible to judge in an interview but they tend to swamp all other factors over time. I would narrow that down even further, to drive. Plus I don't believe in talent; but one's level of skill will increase if she has the drive to improve.
edw519 19y ago
"A personal rails blog is required." Not only would you be excluding 99% of the population, you'd be self selecting those who have the time to blog. If you want the best, you have to understand that they're already working. And quite possibly, too busy to blog.
- eusman 19y ago
  I agree except in the "too busy too blog". I'd say blogging helps you be concetrated on what you are working on. While writting about it you rethink your choices etc. It's also not that time consuming, if you are not doing it every single second that is...
  - run4yourlives 19y ago
    It's time consuming if you prefer it to be something more than gibberish.
    - eusman 19y ago
      i guess how much time is spend depends on the nature of the blogging someone is doing and if there are any good thoughts to communicate. When someone has an audience I'm sure then don't feel it's a waste of time.
      - run4yourlives 19y ago
        Taking a lot of time and wasting time are not the same things. All I'm saying is that blogging can take more time than it appears on the surface.
  - edw519 19y ago
    "I'd say blogging helps you be concetrated on what you are working on." This makes no sense to me. Working on what you're working on helps you concentrate on what you're working on.
    - 19y ago
hello_moto 19y ago
#5 might counters #8 "but several of the best Rails developers I know didn't study computer science at all" That's because Rails developers were previously PHP developers were previously "Web Designer" or "Graduate from school but interested in Web Development due to DotCom" "First, Rails developers need their MacBook Pros and fat external screens, obviously" I thought Ruby = type less more magics? Why would you need a fat external screens (like those 30" Mac Monitor).
- joshwa 19y ago
  The second screen is to have the api docs (and a PDF of AWDWR) open, since you won't have code-completion to remind you of the appropriate magic to type. Not that I mind this arrangement, personally.
  - hello_moto 19y ago
    Komodo, Eclipse and NetBeans have the ability to code-complete don't they? I remember when I used PyDev (Eclipse plugin for Python) and it works pretty well.
    - DarrenStuart 19y ago
      if you are a visual studio developer and want to get started with ruby and rails there is a fantastic plugin from http://www.sapphiresteel.com/ http://www.sapphiresteel.com/ actually if your a rails developer on windows it's the best I have used. Has all the code complete and formating that you would want plus all the integration with rails that you would expect.
- davidw 19y ago
  > previously PHP developers A lot of people fled from Java and its verbosity, as well. Rails is really a sweet spot in the sense of using a language that doesn't feel like such a drag, yet also being fairly structured, well ordered, and with a culture that places some value on writing good code.
  - 19y ago
tocomment 19y ago
On the employee side, is it worth learning RoR just to get a job? I haven't had much luck finding a Python job.
- hello_moto 19y ago
  Short-term job: maybe Long-term job: I doubt it (small chances) If you want to have a web-dev job, PHP should be good enough seeing that most web-consulting companies will pick either Wordpress, Wikimedia, Joomla/Mambo, and Drupal to get the job done.
- corentin 19y ago
  RoR is the new Java so it may be useful to at least know it.
jkush 19y ago
This is a pretty narrow list of things to look for in a Rails developer. Isn't it more prudent to find a smart developer who has a wide range of interests? Smart developers such as that would surely be able to do the job well.
ardit33 19y ago
"Be wary of holes in proficiency. Rails developers should be fearless. Its reasonable to expect them to have a command of everything from database indices to cross-platform JavaScript. (Bonus points if they are handy in Photoshop and Illustrator.)" -- This is pretty retarded. While most decent developers have toyed around with lots of technologies, it takes a lot of work and time to know one in depth. Anybody that claimes that knows everything: 1. Usually are jack of all trades but master of none. Basically they have mocked around with everything, but they are pretty mediocre and never had the chance to involve in a technology in great depths. 2.Are the "heroic" types, the especially young ones that have played or mocked around with certain technologies, and the "claim" they know them. This is more a naive interpratation of being familiar with a technology is the same as knowing it, and this guys are about a rude-awekening when they actually have to do something serious on their technologies they "know". Yes, I mocked around with photoshop/firwork, but I am not a good designer, I have done some PHP work, but I am not good at it, I have designed some databases, but I am not that knowlageble person to know everything at least I admit it. Be wary of people that don't admit they weakness, but appear to "know everything"
- downer 19y ago
  Apparently this article's advice is "just hire someone who is good at everything!"
gsiener 19y ago
And how do we find a good rails freelancer?
- qaexl 19y ago
  From the other side of the fence: http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/how-to-get-clients-to-come-to-you/ http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/how-to-get-clients-to-com...
nikolaj 19y ago
I run a django shop, and my technique for hiring is finding people who preferably have had freelancer experience (know how to get something out the door), know a little (preferably a ton) of bash, actively learn new things, are up on the latest stuff (i should be able to have a conversation about js kits with them), and when i explain the advantages of django to them they show an understanding of Why it is so cool. Python or django is not 'required'.. i can ramp them up on that with lots of little tasks at first. A big plus is being a unix nerd.
- tocomment 19y ago
  Why the emphasis on bash?
  - nikolaj 19y ago
    i think a sign of a good programmer is the tendency to engage with the computer using a language, not just pointing clicking and dragging. Bash familiarity tends to coincide with shell-aptitude.

31 points by luccastera 19y ago

Thanks for this. I am always wondering how far away I am from being a "real" Rails developer -- programming is a longtime hobby for me, and I love Rails and maybe would like to one day build stuff in it for a living. Number 6 on the list is especially encouraging, and numbers 4 and 5 give me some nice to-do's.

mrtron 19y ago

A classic UW grad - suggests that a university degree is not required, but drops in that he just happened to graduate from "Canada's highly-regarded Math/CS program at Waterloo". I suppose it is now only appropriate I say I also am graduate. I have to agree with him that a university degree is not required - but I would still interview a UW grad above a few other candidates. My reasoning? I know much of the basic algorithm, design and other fundamentals will have a higher chance of being there than someone who is entirely self taught. University forces you to learn things that don't necessarily meet your exact interests - but that graph algorithm you didn't really enjoy but learned could come in handy next time you are writing a google maps mashup hack. Edit: I also forgot to mention a huge indicator among my peers is pet projects. The good developers are always working on something (a lot of android apps lately), and the bad developers aren't.

jkush 19y ago
I completely understand why you'd interview a UW grad above other candidates. You have to make an intial cut somewhere, right? As a high school dropout, I hate having to compete against those with diplomas. But I guess that's what I get for dropping out.
- mrtron 19y ago
  Yes it is quite the dilemma. I know one or two people who are self taught and great coders. However, the majority of people I have worked with that are primarily self taught aren't good. I guess the key to competing against diplomas is making separating from the herd - perhaps with pet projects, a blog showing your expertise, etc.
  - jkush 19y ago
    Or alternatively, going the startup route!
  - DanielBMarkham 19y ago
    The key to competing with anybody is to show recent experience. I don't care what kinds of certificates you have -- what have you done lately? It doesn't matter what you did last year. Programming (and startups) are all about what you can do this year.
    - Retric 19y ago
      This seems a little narrow minded. Many highly talented programmers find a lucrative area and stick with it for a while, but they can pick up on the "new big thing" almost instantly. IMO it all comes back to talent and drive which are almost impossible to judge in an interview but they tend to swamp all other factors over time.
      - downer 19y ago
        > IMO it all comes back to talent and drive which are almost impossible to judge in an interview but they tend to swamp all other factors over time. I would narrow that down even further, to drive. Plus I don't believe in talent; but one's level of skill will increase if she has the drive to improve.

edw519 19y ago

"A personal rails blog is required." Not only would you be excluding 99% of the population, you'd be self selecting those who have the time to blog. If you want the best, you have to understand that they're already working. And quite possibly, too busy to blog.

eusman 19y ago
I agree except in the "too busy too blog". I'd say blogging helps you be concetrated on what you are working on. While writting about it you rethink your choices etc. It's also not that time consuming, if you are not doing it every single second that is...
- run4yourlives 19y ago
  It's time consuming if you prefer it to be something more than gibberish.
  - eusman 19y ago
    i guess how much time is spend depends on the nature of the blogging someone is doing and if there are any good thoughts to communicate. When someone has an audience I'm sure then don't feel it's a waste of time.
    - run4yourlives 19y ago
      Taking a lot of time and wasting time are not the same things. All I'm saying is that blogging can take more time than it appears on the surface.
- edw519 19y ago
  "I'd say blogging helps you be concetrated on what you are working on." This makes no sense to me. Working on what you're working on helps you concentrate on what you're working on.
  - 19y ago

hello_moto 19y ago

#5 might counters #8 "but several of the best Rails developers I know didn't study computer science at all" That's because Rails developers were previously PHP developers were previously "Web Designer" or "Graduate from school but interested in Web Development due to DotCom" "First, Rails developers need their MacBook Pros and fat external screens, obviously" I thought Ruby = type less more magics? Why would you need a fat external screens (like those 30" Mac Monitor).

joshwa 19y ago
The second screen is to have the api docs (and a PDF of AWDWR) open, since you won't have code-completion to remind you of the appropriate magic to type. Not that I mind this arrangement, personally.
- hello_moto 19y ago
  Komodo, Eclipse and NetBeans have the ability to code-complete don't they? I remember when I used PyDev (Eclipse plugin for Python) and it works pretty well.
  - DarrenStuart 19y ago
    if you are a visual studio developer and want to get started with ruby and rails there is a fantastic plugin from http://www.sapphiresteel.com/ http://www.sapphiresteel.com/ actually if your a rails developer on windows it's the best I have used. Has all the code complete and formating that you would want plus all the integration with rails that you would expect.
davidw 19y ago
> previously PHP developers A lot of people fled from Java and its verbosity, as well. Rails is really a sweet spot in the sense of using a language that doesn't feel like such a drag, yet also being fairly structured, well ordered, and with a culture that places some value on writing good code.
- 19y ago

tocomment 19y ago

On the employee side, is it worth learning RoR just to get a job? I haven't had much luck finding a Python job.

hello_moto 19y ago
Short-term job: maybe Long-term job: I doubt it (small chances) If you want to have a web-dev job, PHP should be good enough seeing that most web-consulting companies will pick either Wordpress, Wikimedia, Joomla/Mambo, and Drupal to get the job done.
corentin 19y ago
RoR is the new Java so it may be useful to at least know it.

jkush 19y ago

This is a pretty narrow list of things to look for in a Rails developer. Isn't it more prudent to find a smart developer who has a wide range of interests? Smart developers such as that would surely be able to do the job well.

ardit33 19y ago

"Be wary of holes in proficiency. Rails developers should be fearless. Its reasonable to expect them to have a command of everything from database indices to cross-platform JavaScript. (Bonus points if they are handy in Photoshop and Illustrator.)" -- This is pretty retarded. While most decent developers have toyed around with lots of technologies, it takes a lot of work and time to know one in depth. Anybody that claimes that knows everything: 1. Usually are jack of all trades but master of none. Basically they have mocked around with everything, but they are pretty mediocre and never had the chance to involve in a technology in great depths. 2.Are the "heroic" types, the especially young ones that have played or mocked around with certain technologies, and the "claim" they know them. This is more a naive interpratation of being familiar with a technology is the same as knowing it, and this guys are about a rude-awekening when they actually have to do something serious on their technologies they "know". Yes, I mocked around with photoshop/firwork, but I am not a good designer, I have done some PHP work, but I am not good at it, I have designed some databases, but I am not that knowlageble person to know everything at least I admit it. Be wary of people that don't admit they weakness, but appear to "know everything"

downer 19y ago
Apparently this article's advice is "just hire someone who is good at everything!"

gsiener 19y ago

And how do we find a good rails freelancer?

qaexl 19y ago
From the other side of the fence: http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/how-to-get-clients-to-come-to-you/ http://freelanceswitch.com/finding/how-to-get-clients-to-com...

nikolaj 19y ago

I run a django shop, and my technique for hiring is finding people who preferably have had freelancer experience (know how to get something out the door), know a little (preferably a ton) of bash, actively learn new things, are up on the latest stuff (i should be able to have a conversation about js kits with them), and when i explain the advantages of django to them they show an understanding of Why it is so cool. Python or django is not 'required'.. i can ramp them up on that with lots of little tasks at first. A big plus is being a unix nerd.

tocomment 19y ago
Why the emphasis on bash?
- nikolaj 19y ago
  i think a sign of a good programmer is the tendency to engage with the computer using a language, not just pointing clicking and dragging. Bash familiarity tends to coincide with shell-aptitude.