Does outsourcing software development really affect the world of programming? How?

Not a typical entry for this blog. This time, instead of talking about some particular JavaScript techniques or news, I would like to attempt to answer a very important question that many developers must have on their minds from time to time.


Nowadays, the developer market is extremely diverse and globalized. An average custome, interested in having their project coded, can choose from a great range of developers in terms of price, ability, language skill etc. It raises many important questions. Is it always better to hire a more expensive developer? Are cheaper developers from low cost countries always worse in terms of quality? Is there some sort of sweet spot where you get the most quality for a certain level of price per hour?

JavaScript and outsourcing software development

Perphaps JavaScript developers and front end developers in general are the most affected by this globalization of software development services? Because the barrier to entry just to get enough skill to do some basic tasks is really low. Sure, to become a true JavaScritp ninja, one needs to train a lot. But to some basic tasks, all it takes is a bit of HTML, CSS and JQuery. And, mind you, there are plenty of such developers when it comes to outsoucing software development to the cheapest subcontractors. But clients can hardly tell the difference between those pros and those poorly skilled developers. They can always explain the difference in place by the fact that in some countries (such as India or Pakistan) living costs are much smaller than in, say, the U.S. or Germany.

Clients are usually the least knowledgeable when it comes to the nitty gritty of software development. To help them find a software developer or company that actually provides valuable offshore software development services, some basic guidelines should be followed.

Working solo vs working in a software company 

Things change dramatically when you, as a developer, are working for a software house. In that case, you clients are rarely looking at specific developers and their prices only. They also take into consideration the opinions about your software company, its image as well as location (the closer the better). You no longer need to worry about outsourcing software development. Employer actually prefer more experienced and skilled developer even if they really are more expensive as well (just as much as twice the cost of a developer with 1-2 years of experience). Why is that? Most likely simply because their is so much difference between how much a senior and junior software developer can do.

One important and related subject that is rarely brought upon is the fact that it is difficult for universities to quickly mass produce JavaScript developers. This is a subject that is changing simply too quickly! Practically ever week new frameworks and interesting techniques are brought to daylight. The communities of JavaScript-related projects such as AngularJS, ReactJS or Node.js are very energetic are the open source drive paves the way for a great lot of modules, extensions, libraries etc. It would be really difficult to agree upon a Curiculum for JavaScript. Should it be Angular or React? Should it include just front end, or also back-end JavaScript techniques. Just Ajax and some REST or all the way to Node? There are many such questions a lot of them are quickly and inevitable becoming very politcal. This is why self-taught senior developers are so valuable and soguht after.

There is also one more thing, Should a JavaScript based project fail, one usually follows is the need to hire a very experience JavaScript consultant to clean it up. And that means nothing more nothing less but a big paycheck coming up.

What do you think? Do you believe that offshore software developent is threatening your career as a JavaScript or front end developer? Or perhaps you're the one who benefits from it? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. Very much appreciated!