Article

10 Software Development Red Flags Every Non-Technical Founder Should Know

Mate Varkonyi · VeryCreatives Free Beginner

This is the most concrete checklist we found for a founder who cannot read the code but can watch the behavior. It names the exact tells (demos that keep slipping, a developer who cannot explain the architecture, everything deferred to later) that usually mean the build has drifted off course. It is written for the person doing the watching, not for engineers, which is the whole point here.

  • When demos are repeatedly postponed, the honest read is usually that there is no working software yet, or software they would rather you not see.
  • A developer who cannot explain the architecture in plain terms, or who bristles at your questions, is a warning sign about the product, not just the person.
  • Fixes are practical: ask for a working demo every week or two, get a third-party code audit, and confirm you own the accounts and credentials.
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The question it answers

  1. How do I evaluate the code quality of a build I inherited from an agency?

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