Get advice or a code review
An advice or code review is a short, focused job where an independent developer reads your plan or your code and tells you plainly what is good, what is risky and what to do next. It does not change your product.
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When a second opinion helps
You do not need to be stuck to ask for a review. It is often an inexpensive way to avoid a bigger mistake. People ask for reviews when they cannot judge what they are paying for, or when something feels wrong but nobody can explain it.
- You received proposals that differ a lot, and you want help comparing them.
- You are about to launch and want a check on security and performance.
- A developer says you need a rebuild, and you want another view.
- You are buying a product or taking over a team, and want to know what is inside.
- You wonder if your chosen technology fits your plans.
What a review can cover
| Topic | What the reviewer looks at | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Plan or architecture | Your brief, the technology and how the pieces fit together | A written opinion with risks and alternatives |
| Code quality | Structure, readability, tests and how easy it is to change | A list of findings sorted by importance |
| Security | Secret keys, user access, login and data protection | Problems found, with a suggested order to fix them |
| Performance | Speed, load and the cost of running the product | Where it is slow, and why |
| Proposal check | A quote or milestone plan from another developer | Whether it is realistic and complete |
Plan or architecture
- What the reviewer looks at
- Your brief, the technology and how the pieces fit together
- What you get
- A written opinion with risks and alternatives
Code quality
- What the reviewer looks at
- Structure, readability, tests and how easy it is to change
- What you get
- A list of findings sorted by importance
Security
- What the reviewer looks at
- Secret keys, user access, login and data protection
- What you get
- Problems found, with a suggested order to fix them
Performance
- What the reviewer looks at
- Speed, load and the cost of running the product
- What you get
- Where it is slow, and why
Proposal check
- What the reviewer looks at
- A quote or milestone plan from another developer
- What you get
- Whether it is realistic and complete
What to prepare
- Say what you want to decide: launch, buy, continue, rebuild or switch technology.
- Read only access to the repository is enough. Do not share passwords or secret keys.
- A short description of the product and who uses it.
- Any existing documents, quotes or proposals you want reviewed.
- A list of your worries, even vague ones.
How it runs in milestones
A review is a small project, often one or two milestones. Each milestone is funded before work starts and runs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 weeks. Milestones are from 50 to 2,000 each in your project currency. Agree on the format of the answer before you start, for example a written report plus a call to go through it.
| Topic | What you get | Example timing |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Kick off | A short call to set the questions and share access | A few days |
| Phase 2: Review | The reviewer reads the material and tests the product | For example, 1 to 2 weeks |
| Phase 3: Report and call | A written report with clear priorities, plus a talk about next steps | For example, 1 week |
Phase 1: Kick off
- What you get
- A short call to set the questions and share access
- Example timing
- A few days
Phase 2: Review
- What you get
- The reviewer reads the material and tests the product
- Example timing
- For example, 1 to 2 weeks
Phase 3: Report and call
- What you get
- A written report with clear priorities, plus a talk about next steps
- Example timing
- For example, 1 week
Example only: the weeks are for illustration. Developers set the length of each milestone in their proposal, and each real milestone runs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 weeks.
Questions to ask the reviewer
- Have you reviewed code or plans in this technology before?
- Will the report be written in language I can pass on to others?
- Do you rank findings by how much they matter?
- Can you tell me what is good about the work as well as what is wrong?
- Will you be available for follow up questions about the report?
A reviewer who also hopes to win the repair job has a reason to find many problems. Ask whether the review is independent, and decide on the next step separately.
After the review, you might continue with bug fixing, a rescue or the guide on questions to ask before hiring a developer.
Frequently asked questions
Does the reviewer change my code?
No. A review produces advice. Any changes are a separate piece of work that you agree on afterwards.
Link to this answerCan I understand the report without technical knowledge?
Ask for a summary in plain words at the top, with details below for the next developer.
Link to this answerCan I use a review before buying a product?
Yes. It is a common reason. Make sure the seller allows access, and agree on confidentiality. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Link to this answerIs a review the same as a security audit?
No. A review gives a broad opinion. A formal security audit goes much deeper and is a specialist job. State clearly what you expect.
Link to this answerRelated pages
- Rescue a Stuck App or Software ProjectYour developer disappeared or nobody can change the app anymore. See the first steps, a milestone plan and what to ask a rescue developer.
- Hire a Developer to Fix Bugs in Your AppYour app crashes, loads slowly or does the wrong thing. See how to describe problems, plan fixes in milestones and find a developer.
- Take Over an Existing Codebase SafelyMoving code from another developer or agency? Use this handover checklist for access, documents and a first audit milestone.
- Questions to Ask Before Hiring a DeveloperTwenty plain questions for a first call with a developer, grouped by experience, process, handover and money, and what good answers sound like.
- How to Hire an App Developer, Step by StepA clear process for hiring an app developer: define the job, choose where to look, compare proposals, check fit and start with a small milestone.
- Upwork alternatives for app and SaaS buildsUpwork alternatives for app, SaaS, website and game projects: ErdiBuilds, Fiverr, Toptal, Malt, Freelancer.com and Contra, with sourced facts.