Django is an open source framework used for developing web applications that is written entirely in Python. It is a high level framework that offers fast and effective methods for web development without having to start from scratch. It is fast, secure, and scalable with a pragmatic design and clean code.
Django development is popular with businesses of all types due to this - minimum code with maximum output. Some notable names using Django include Instagram, Spotify, Mozilla and Pinterest, among many.
If you’re looking to hire a freelance Django developer for your company, this guide is going to help you find the perfect fit. We’ve included everything you need to know about hiring a freelance Django developer.
- Django was first developed by a web team consisting of Adrian Holovaty and Simon Willison who were responsible for creating and maintaining newspaper websites using Python back in 2003.
- While working on these websites, the team began to reuse and factor out lots of common code patterns. These (common) code patterns gradually developed into a generic web development framework 'Django'.
- Django was released to the world as a free and open source framework under a BSD license in July 2005.
- The main intention behind Django's creation was inheriting Python's 'batteries-included' (tools and utilities included) approach and contained pre-made apps and modules for web development tasks such as authorization, authentication, admin interface, and database backend support.
- Presently, it is being managed and maintained by DSF (Django Software Foundation) who are developing and keeping up the release cycles of Django with latest version being released in December 2019.
2. Why is Django widespread?
- Apart from a pragmatic design and a clean code, Django's popularity over the years can also be attributed to the fact that it can be used to develop almost any kind of web application from scratch.
- From your average company website to an ecommerce website, or any social networks- Django can deliver data content in almost any format - HTML, JSON, XML, and more. It is compatible with any client side framework.
- Django is also an incredibly secure framework against cyber threats. With powerful encryption packages and well-built authentication systems it is quite hard to find security loopholes.
3. What are the tools used by Django developers?
The following are some of the tools used by Django developers at various stages of development:
1. PyCharm
PyCharm is a cross-platform Integrated Development Environment, created by Jet Brains. It is the developer's first choice because it helps in saving time during deployment through intuitive features.
2. Spyder
Spyder is a very powerful open-source IDE that is more flexible and easy to use. The errors in code are easily pointed out and it has a very huge library that can be downloaded when you install the program with Anaconda.
3. Rodeo
Rodeo is a highly customizable cross-platform IDE. It is lightweight and easy to use by any developer, new and experienced.
4. AWS Cloud9
It is a cloud-based IDE that lets developers write, run and debug their code on a web browser. It doesn't require any installation as everything can be done online.
5. Visual Studio Code
VS Code, developed by Microsoft is an IDE that supports all operating systems like Windows, Linux, macOS, etc. It is highly customizable and extensible.
4. Writing the Job Description to hire a Django developer
Below are some key points that we at Flexiple have learned through trial and error - a process of filtering through over 15,000 developers.
- Years of software development experience: Be specific about the technology you’re looking for and the number of years of experience needed. A proxy to years of experience can be the number of production-level apps worked on.
- Expertise in a specific Framework: All frameworks have their peculiarities and nuances. While good Django developers can pick up other frameworks, it’s a plus point to hire a developer who already has expertise in it.
- Type of products built in the past: Based on the type of product you are trying to build - social network, SAAS product, etc. - you can prioritize certain developers over others.
- Exposure to specific industries: Developers who have built products in certain industries will already know key aspects of laying the foundation for a great product and will be able to predict possible problems.
- Experience working remotely: A developer with past remote work experience is an added advantage as they would have first-hand experience of everything - right from how contracts work to streamlined communication, as well as timelines and deliverables.
- Strong communication: An essential thing to look at when hiring a freelancer is excellent communication skills. Since all the interaction happens online, a freelancer should be able to effectively communicate to ensure a streamlined execution of all work
You can check out a more detailed Python/Django developer job description here.
5. Interview Questions for hiring a Django developer
Now that you have made a quality JD, it can still be tricky to evaluate the skills of your applicants. To help you with that, we have created a pool of questions that a good Django developer should be comfortable with.
It is important to note that the ability to answer these questions doesn't imply that you have a top quality candidate. But it definitely is a big step in that direction.
To help you navigate through these questions, we’ve categorized the interview questions in 3 parts:
A. Basic concepts: Includes all basic concepts used across languages. This section will give you an understanding of how strong their programming foundation is.
B. Advanced concepts: Includes all concepts that someone with higher expertise should know.
C. DS/Algorithm questions: To test the logical capability of the candidate.
A. Basic concepts
Coming soon!
B. Advanced concepts
Coming soon!
C. Data Structure/ Algorithm
Coming soon!
Parting thoughts on hiring a Django developer
That is everything you need to know about hiring a freelance Django developer. As discussed, it isn't easy to find a quality freelance Django developer but this guide makes the process easier for you. To offload the entire hiring process, reach out to us at Flexiple. We've designed a high-quality, 6-step screening process to find the top 1%, freelance developers. You can find the best freelance Django developers here. We've already served over a hundred clients, earning great reviews for the quality of service.
Lastly, to quickly summarize it for you:
1. Note your project requirements and hire accordingly. Do not go for the lowest or the highest-paid developer.
2. Don’t hire without vetting- consider asking questions right from the basics to advanced to logical questions.
3. Look for companies like Flexiple that help you find the perfect fit.
Happy hiring! :)
