How to check the work of developers if you don't understand the code?

In previous articles, I covered the early stages of a project: finding the right team and validating your idea. Today, we’ll focus on another critical issue—ensuring your development team delivers high-quality work.

“How can I be sure my team is doing their job properly and that the final product won’t fail?”—this is a common concern among project owners. In this article, I’ll break down what you need to know to assess developer performance and maintain quality control at every stage of your project.

Key steps to evaluating developer performance

Here are the main aspects to focus on:

1. Understanding requirements and clear communication

For a successful development process, your team must fully understand the project goals and be open to discussions. Ensure that your technical specifications are detailed and clear. Conduct regular meetings and demos. Don’t forget to request developer feedback on potential improvements.

2. Code quality and testing

Clean code is the foundation of a stable application. Check for the presence of automated tests and code reviews. Ensure the code is understandable and easy to modify.

3. Documentation and maintenance

Documentation is essential for scalability and long-term support. Make sure your project is well-documented and that documentation is updated as changes are made.

4. Problem-solving and issue reports

It’s not just about how fast developers fix issues but also how well they document them. Pay attention to how detailed and structured their issue reports are, including solutions.

5. Meeting deadlines and budget

Managing time and resources is a key responsibility of developers. Compare actual progress with the initial plan and stay informed about potential delays in advance.

6. Flexibility and adaptability to changes

Your team should be able to adapt to changes in the project. Observe how developers respond to new requests and requirements.

A real-life case study

As the founder of CherryPick Agency and a technical consultant, I often help businesses optimize their development processes.

Recently, a client approached me with a problem: he hired a development team for a mobile app, and everything seemed fine at first. However, after a few months, the project stalled, the budget expanded, and deadlines were constantly missed. The root cause? A lack of clear requirements, irregular feedback loops, and poor code quality control.

Here’s how we fixed it:

1. We established transparent communication with developers.
2. We conducted a thorough code and testing audit.
3. We introduced regular progress reviews.

Result: Within three months, the project was successfully completed under revised requirements, and the team improved its workflow discipline.

How to set up quality control in development

• Use Project Management Tools: Platforms like Jira or Trello help track tasks and progress.
• Implement Code Reviews: Request reports on code quality checks.
• Ensure Automated Testing: Make sure the team integrates automated testing into the development cycle.
• Monitor Key Metrics: Request reports on performance and stability indicators.

Conclusion

Ensuring high-quality development is not just about clean code—it’s also about effective communication, flexibility, and responsibility. By establishing transparency, regularly reviewing progress, and paying attention to key quality metrics, you can take your project from idea to a successful launch without unpleasant surprises.