How much does it cost to hire an offshore C developer?

C is a high-level structured-oriented programming language. It is a machine-independent language used to create a wide range of applications and different types of systems, such as Windows and Linux.

Moreover, C is the base programming language of such software as Git and Oracle databases. As well as the based programming language of Python, Java, JavaScript, PHP, and many others.

Software engineers prefer C over other programming languages due to:

• The ability to create a wide range of software as C has features of high-level and low-level languages.
• The availability of numerous libraries provides a great variety of built-in features.
• The speed of applications created with the C programming language. The language itself is faster and doesn’t have any additional processing overheads.
• Easier learning of widely used programming languages–C++ and Java as both of them have the basis of C language.

There are the main ways how to use the C programming language:

• OS building. The most popular and widely used operating systems (OS) are primarily built using the C language. iOS, Android, and Windows Phone are also written in C language as they are mainly modifications of the PC operating systems.
• Database development. C language is the main programming language used in developing such popular databases as Oracle Database, SQL, and MySQL due to its efficiency and versatility.
• Back-end development. C language, along with Python, is widely used for the back-end as it is easy to read and maintain.
• App and web development. C programming language is used by web developers as it is a good option to create web servers with. It is a middle-level language that includes features of high-level and low-level languages. That means it can be used for scripting kernels or software.

Below you can find the most popular tools for C development.

• Eclipse. It is a powerful IDE for C developers with cross-platform support and Git integration.
• Atom. Created by the GitHub community, this environment allows the creation of efficient applications and has some good features (plugin support, package manager).
• Visual Studio Code. An open-source IDE that helps to create high-quality applications, debugging support is available, and it is possible to customize the software itself.

C developer is an IT specialist with expertise in C programming. Their main responsibilities are to create and maintain efficient C code, proceed with troubleshooting and debugging.

As C language is a base programming language for C++ and Java and has some similar features, it is possible to find C programmers among Java developers and C++ developers.

Based on the experience developers have, they are divided into three types: junior, middle, and senior developers.

• Junior C developers
  Junior developers who begin their career path and have up two two years of experience (Entry-level). They have basic knowledge of C programming language a little experience with the library as specified by ISO and ANSI. Junior engineers also have a basic understanding of low-level threading primitives. These developers usually work on basic tasks and learn new technologies from their more experienced teammates and senior engineers.
• Middle C developers
  Middle developers have from three to five years of experience. These engineers have advanced knowledge of C programming language and have experience with writing native modules for high-level languages such as Java, Python, Ruby, etc. They know data structures, algorithms, XML, and relational databases. Middle engineers are experienced enough to provide their own software solutions for the projects. They also have enough expertise to develop products by themselves.
• Senior C developers
  Senior software engineers have more than five years of experience. It requires them to have advanced knowledge of C and at least two other programming languages and their frameworks. They understand Object-Oriented Analysis, design, and language tools, such as Lint, Valgrind, and code versioning tools (Git, SVN, and Mercurial). Senior developers also have advanced collaboration and problem-solving skills to efficiently manage the development process and team.

When C developer works on a project or in a team, they usually have the following responsibilities:

• Write clear, readable, and efficient code in C language.
• Proceed with troubleshooting and debugging.
• Implement performance and quality modules.
• Develop libraries, embedded systems for high-level languages, and libraries.
• Perform modifications and break fixes with VBA code and C program.
• Provide testing and maintenance of the C code.

When hiring a C developer, employers often look for the following skills:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field.
• Experience in C development and knowledge of the language specification.
• Knowledge of low-level threading primitives and real-time environments.
• Experience with language tools, such as Lint, Valgrind, etc.
• Experience with code versioning tools (Git, SVN, and Mercurial).
• Advanced problem solving and collaboration skills.

C developers are divided into three types according to their working model–freelancers, in-house, and outsourced developers.

• Freelance C developers
  Freelance developers are a good option for short-term projects or those with a low level of complicity. The main advantage is that freelancers can begin working the same day you hire them. Moreover, they are a cheap option compared to other hiring models. Although, the quality of the product may be poor, and freelancers may quit when you don’t expect it as they often have more than one project at the same time. In addition, it is hard to find a programmer that will match all your requirements as skilled and experienced developers already have interesting projects or work on tech companies.
• In-house C developers
  If your project is one the stage of core development or you need to have a development team in your company on a regular basis, then you should hire in-house developers. These engineers are the most dedicated and engaged in the development process. In-house computer programmers are more motivated to provide software solutions to make the product better. But such an option is money consuming as to keep the in-house development team, you have to supply them with all the needed technologies, pay salaries, bonuses, and taxes.
• Outsourced C developers
  Another option is to hire outsourced developers, where you can choose either outsourcing or staff augmentation models. Outsourcing means you can hire a whole dedicated team with developers, QAs, designers, and PMs. It is a cost-effective solution as most outsourced developers live in countries with a lower cost of living that also influence the average salary. Thus, the expertise is still on a high level. Staff augmentation means you can hire one or several skilled and experienced developers as a helping part of your in-house team. It allows you to hire developers fast, gives you a wide talent pool to choose from, and has a convenient cost of hiring as you only pay for developers’ working hours.

Before looking for developers, it is important to write an attractive job description. It can help to find the best matching candidates that can already come up with some interesting software solutions for your project. Here’s the list of what you have to write:

• Write the job title and shortly describe the developer’s role.
• List important tech and soft skills.
• Write what responsibilities the developer will have.
• Point out the project’s development stage (core development or maintenance).
• Describe what expectations you have of the project.
• Write about the field your company works in (the developers with job experience in the same field can come up with appropriate solutions for your project).

To check the developer’s expertise and tech skills, you can ask them the following questions:

• Why is it important to integrate the C language when building high-level coding applications?
• What has been the most complex application system you have coded using C language?
• What is the difference between #include “…” and #include <…>?
• Why is it usually a bad idea to use gets()? Suggest a workaround.
• What’s the difference between source codes and object codes?
• When should the keyword “void” be used in a function?