Slithering into Your Pocket: the Python Development Outsourcing Guide 2022

Python, the Programming Language: Origins

Python was developed by Guido Van Rossum in the late 1980s and released in 1991. Van Rossum wanted to create a tool that, unlike other programming languages, would be free from complexity. At the same time, his brainchild had to be powerful and offer a wide spectrum of possibilities for software development.

But how can you make something that powerful that simple?

Van Rossum found the answer in syntax. He decided that if his goal is maximum readability and simplicity in the learning curve, then the language has to be as close to plain English as possible. Moreover, he limited code blocks to have white space instead, so now the appearance is less busy and closer to the point. This syntax made Python a high-level language, i.e., the one that's easy to read thanks to user-friendly environment.

Today, Python is an open-source, object-oriented, general-purpose, and modular programming language.

How do you decipher that?

For your convenience, here’s a comparison table of Python and a few other popular programming languages:

From all the characteristics above, it is clear that Van Rossum's vision became reality: more than 30 years after its release, Python has a reputation as a powerful, effective, relevant, and fast tool for software development. Due to the exceptional readability, the tool feels intuitive. Thus, Python made it easy for developers to write complex code.

But how can you apply that code to practice?

Show Me the Cases: What Is Python Software Development For?

Python works great with all sorts of data. Why? Because of its extraordinarily ordinary syntax: even people with no engineering background can learn how to use it.

For example, Python has libraries for data analysis (e.g., NumPy and Pandas). They allow data scientists to use the language on every stage of the process. It was noted that "data mining, data processing, and modeling along with data visualization are the 3 most popular ways of how Python is being used for data analysis."

Python is also great for artificial intelligence and machine learning due to its ability to work with big data. For this, Python offers libraries like Keras, Scikit-learn, and TensorFlow. As Neptune reports, “These are packages of pre-written Python code that help ML engineers quickly solve common tasks and develop products much quicker.”

Web development is yet another area where Python hardly has a rival. Why? Python's numerous frameworks alongside its ability to process data, interact with databases, and establish communication between servers make it a powerful tool for handling back end.

Similarly, Python is perfect for SEO. It offers a script called "SEO analyzer", i.e., a web crawler that studies all the data (word count, meta description, on-page keywords, etc.) on your website and uncovers any troubling issues.

Also, because of how speedy (hello, amazing syntax!) and powerful Python is, developers widely use it for prototypes and MVP development.

Van Rossum wanted Python to be a good instrument for automating repetitive tasks, and in many ways, these automation abilities won Python its popularity. They do not only allow developers to focus entirely on bigger tasks, but also significantly shorten the development process time. Thus, Python is a vital language for fields like big data, fintech, ML, and it's difficult to imagine a startup that would do without it.

Wait a Minute: Why Outsource Python Development Services?

Now, when we are armed with Python knowledge and its use cases, let's see why you might want to outsource these software development services and not do it on your own.

#1. It's Cost-Effective and Fast

With outsourcing development services, you move from your local talent pool to the worldwide one. Thus, you can meet specialists with unique expertise and much lower rates. On top of that, unlike with in-house staff, your expenses in the case of outsourcing do not include onboarding, benefits, and bonuses. You just pay for their services by the hour.

Additionally, outsourcing allows scaling your project up and down effortlessly. If you need more people on the project, you invite them in. Once the job is done, you part ways. Plus, if you outsource Python development, you avoid long and expensive processes of recruitment and onboarding.

#2. Access to Richer Experience

If you hire an external team of Python developers, Python is their signature dish. They have more expertise in the field than an in-house team and know the latest technologies like the back of their hand. Because of that, Python developers possess more confidence and work faster: they know how to avoid common mistakes. This ensures a higher security level on the project as well as speeds up the delivery of your product to the market.

The unique expertise of an outsourcing team especially comes in handy when your in-house team lacks domain expertise, or when you need to create a prototype or an MVP. Any project in any field has to rely on a prototype, and Python is extremely effective here due to the speed and rich opportunities it grants. 

#3. Knowledge Sharing

It is possible that you will not hand over the project in full to an outsourcing team. Perhaps, you would like to enrich the expertise of your in-house team while dividing the tasks between the two. This means that your own Python development team will not only grow knowledge-wise, but also level up their soft skills.

#4. Focus on Core Business Activities

The development should rest on the shoulders of developers — that's a simple condition. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to follow it through. However, with Python developers outsourcing, you can focus on strengthening the advantages of your business instead of managing day-to-day tasks.

The Biggest Question: How to Find the Right Python Developers?

Your next step is to make sure you partner up with the right Python development company. That said, prepare to ask (and answer) the following questions:

Do They Have the Experience?

Check whether the Python development team in question has experience in your domain and with Python projects similar to yours. You can check the company's portfolio and conduct an interview with developers.

Are Their Skills Good Enough?

Even if you reach out to a Python software development company, you still need to make sure that the developers' skills match your requirements. A good Python developer is someone who:

• Possesses the knowledge of Core Python (variables and data types, data structure, file handling, etc.);
• Can work with both testing and debugging;
• Is very well acquainted with Python libraries. This language has over 137,000 of them, which means that with the right approach, Python developers can utilize a ready-to-use project with its documentation, thus saving the development time;
• Knows how to work with the main frameworks, such as Flask, Django, Web2Py, and Bottle;
• Can integrate databases and data sources into a single system;
• Has experience with front-end technologies like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript;
• Has an understanding of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and deep learning and knows how to apply this knowledge to practice.

How Does Our Communication Feel?

Your communication with your partner has to base on trust, a problem-solving approach, and be flexible. Thus, it is vital to make sure you and the Python outsourcing company you're reaching out to are on the same page and can effectively exchange thoughts and ideas. Talk to the bosses, talk to the developers: how are their soft skills?

Also, pay attention to the possible cultural differences. It might be difficult to find common ground and deal with arising issues due to very contrasting communication styles. Additionally, if your potential partners are from a country in a different time zone, check if it's still possible for both parties to work simultaneously for at least a few hours.

Do They Provide Support?

If a Python development company can deliver your product, that's great. But keep in mind that good software development houses also offer maintenance services. It's a very nice gesture. It signifies that the partner takes full ownership of the Python project they created and appreciates your collaboration.

What about Their Reputation and My Risks?

Reputation is key for an outsourcing company, so it's best to make sure your potential partners are solid and trustworthy. If you see sketchy reviews from the company's staff on Glassdoor, or stumble upon odd feedback from their previous partners, estimate the risks. Ask yourself: is it really worth it to entrust your Python project to the hands of someone who might let you down or be dishonest with you?

On top of that, even if all is well reputation-wise, make sure that the money you're going to pay is fair. It's perfectly fine to analyze the market and conduct several interviews before making a final decision: you have a budget to consider. Luckily, Python development services outsourcing isn't that difficult to come by.

For example, you can reach out to us.

Starting the Engine: How to Prepare for Outsourcing Python Development?

If the question with the team is closed, it's time to move further and find out how you can prepare to outsource Python development.

Talk to Your In-House Team

Outsourcing might be an unnerving process for an in-house team because of some popular misconceptions about it. Your employees might be worried that they're going to be replaced with external software developers. Likewise, they might have a very vague understanding of how this process will unfold.

To avoid any potential hostility towards the new developers and confusion in how the responsibilities will be divided, organize a few meetings with your staff. Emphasize that their jobs are secure, and be ready to answer any questions.

Make Sure Everybody Knows Their Role

Once the in-house team is on the same page with you, clarify it for them and the external developers how the work will be divided, and who everyone has to report to.

In addition, to get team members acquainted and warm up the atmosphere, it would be great for all of you to meet in person. If that's not an option, set up a few meetings online.

Establish Channels of Communication & Make All Data Available

If you decided to go through with Python outsourced development, everybody should know what tools to use to talk to one another (e.g., Slack or Skype). If there are strict communication rules and a certain hierarchy in your company, make sure to deliver this information to the newcomers to avoid confusion and misunderstanding on both sides.

Besides that, open access to all possible resources and prepare logins and passwords for the external specialists. 

Appoint a Product Owner and Keep an Eye on the Progress

A Product Owner is someone who manages and optimizes the product backlog to maximize the value of the product. It is a person vital for both the customer and the stakeholders, so make sure that the position if filled with the right specialist to achieve success.

Two other things to do once the train of outsourcing starts rolling are to host sprint meetings and invite the Python development team to use a CRM tool, e.g., Jira, to keep an eye on the progress.

Get a Clear Understanding of What You Want to Achieve

Finally, if you decided to go for Python outsourced development, it is vital to set your goals, as well as list your ideas and requirements for the outsourcing process. Make sure you know exactly where you're going with outsourcing Python development because otherwise you will not be able to estimate the results. For this, it might be a good idea to define an MVP.

The MVP, or the minimum viable product, is a product with basic features that can attract early adopters and provide your Python development team with market reviews. Thus, deciding on the features you'd like to get feedback on before developing the full project is a good course of action.

It is also useful to estimate the risks that might arise in the process, and think about how you can minimize them starting now.

Shedding the Skin of Doubt

Python easily catches the eye with how user-friendly it is. And "user-friendly" here is not just an alluring word combination. It's the essence of the language which makes it a fantastic development tool and a popular choice for projects of any complexity.

However, even if you're aware of how this tool can serve you, it's vital to know how to utilize it best. For this, there's no greater way than to hand it over to experts. And let us assure you: the more experienced the Python developers are, the grander the benefits for you to reap will be.

If you're interested in outsourcing Python development, please feel free to contact us. We're here to answer any questions and provide assistance!