Software Development
What is a coder?
A coder is simply anyone who can write computer programs. The coder was a distinct role in the early days of computing—responsible for taking a programmer’s written code and physically punching it into the correct format on a card. But today the term is used interchangeably with “programmer” and can differ in scope depending on the organization.
Generally speaking, you hire developers to design software products and coders or programmers to write complex custom code.
How do you hire a coder?
You can source coding talent on Upwork by following these three steps:
- Write a project description. You’ll want to determine your scope of work and the skills and requirements you are looking for in a coder.
- Post it on Upwork. Once you’ve written a project description, post it to Upwork. Simply follow the prompts to help you input the information you collected to scope out your project.
- Shortlist and interview coders. Once the proposals start coming in, create a shortlist of the professionals you want to interview.
Of these three steps, your project description is where you will determine your scope of work and the specific type of coder you need to complete your project.
How much does it cost to hire a coder?
Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions. Learn about the cost to hire a coder.
How do you write a coder job post?
Your job post is your chance to describe your project scope, budget, and talent needs. Although you don’t need a full job description as you would when hiring an employee, aim to provide enough detail for a contractor to know if they’re the right fit for the project.
Job post title
Create a simple title that describes exactly what you’re looking for. The idea is to target the keywords that your ideal candidate is likely to type into a job search bar to find your project. Here are some sample coder job post titles:
- Ruby coder needed to script custom gems for a Rails app
- Seeking a Python coder for a data science project
- Need a JavaScript coder to write unit tests for a React app with Karma
Project description
An effective coder job post should include:
- Scope of work: From custom code to documentation, list all the deliverables you’ll need.
- Project length: Your job post should indicate whether this is a smaller or larger project.
- Background: If you prefer experience with certain technologies, programming languages, or developer tools, mention this here.
- Budget: Set a budget and note your preference for hourly rates vs. fixed-price contracts.
Coder job responsibilities
Here are some examples of coder job responsibilities:
- Write well-documented, testable, and reusable code
- Build and maintain test suites for development and production environments
- Troubleshoot and debug existing code
- Maintain project documentation on GitHub
Coder job requirements and qualifications
Be sure to include any requirements and qualifications you’re looking for in a coder. Here are some examples:
- Coding
- Computer science
- Working knowledge of desired programming language (e.g., Java, Python, C++)
- Code documentation