Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about hiring Mike John, timelines, web application builds, security, AI-assisted development, and typical project process.
Why hire a solo developer instead of an agency?
You work directly with the person shipping your product—fewer handoffs, faster decisions, and one owner for quality. I still follow structured milestones and written updates; you just skip the layers between you and the build.
Can you deliver on time as a solo developer?
Yes, when scope is honest. I break work into milestones with visible deliverables, ship in small testable increments, and use a modern toolchain (TypeScript, automated checks, solid Git hygiene) so changes stay predictable. If trade-offs appear, we adjust the plan together instead of quietly slipping the date.
How do you use AI without sacrificing security or code quality?
I treat AI as an accelerator, not a source of truth. I review every important change, keep secrets out of prompts, and default to secure patterns for validation, auth, and data handling. Linters, tests, and dependency review still apply—especially for anything touching money, PII, or auth.
What does your typical build process look like?
Discovery and scope → UX/data-flow design → implementation in milestones → QA and performance → launch and handover. You get regular updates, a clear changelog, and preview builds when it helps so feedback stays concrete.
What technologies do you work with?
I build modern web apps with TypeScript, SvelteKit, Tailwind, and component-driven UI where it fits. I integrate REST or GraphQL APIs, databases, auth providers, and CI/CD, and I optimize for maintainability so the project is easy to extend or hand off.
How do we collaborate day to day?
I am comfortable with async communication (email, chat, Notion) and scheduled calls when we need to decide something together. I share repos, PRs, and preview deployments so you can review progress without waiting for a big reveal.
Can you take over or extend an existing codebase?
Often, yes. I start with a short review of the repo, deployment, and pain points, then propose incremental improvements. I will say no if the timeline or risk does not match what you need—I would rather be upfront than optimistic.
Do you provide support after launch?
Yes. I can cover stabilization, fixes, and follow-on features, and I can document the system so your team—or another developer—can run with it. Ongoing work is usually scoped as a small retainer or milestone-based sprints, depending on what you prefer.
How do you handle time zones and availability?
I work well with distributed clients: clear written updates, overlapping hours for reviews when needed, and async-friendly workflows so decisions do not get stuck waiting for a meeting.