Hiring a developer from a proposal is hard. Pitches, portfolios and quotes all describe what someone says they can do. None of them show how they would handle your actual project.
One way around this is to ask three developers for a small piece of working proof first, using the same brief for each, so the answers are easy to compare. That is the idea behind Show2Build.
How it works
According to the site, a client does this:
- Post one brief. You define the outcome, your budget and the small proof you want to see. Creating a project is free.
- Ask three developers for proof. Each gets identical requirements and assets, and the same 24-hour window.
- Compare what comes back. Each developer builds a relevant slice of your real project, not a generic portfolio piece. You review the working proofs, demo videos, prices and delivery plans, then choose.
Developers can join to take part in live build challenges.
See it in 88 seconds
The site has a short explainer video that walks through the same steps: watch the Show2Build explainer.
Writing a brief that makes proofs comparable
This works with or without any platform. The proofs are only comparable if the brief is specific:
- State the outcome, not the technology. "Visitors can book a session and pay a deposit" beats "build a booking system".
- Name the small proof. Pick one slice that is quick to build but tells you a lot, such as the booking form and its confirmation.
- Give everyone the same assets (copy, logos, example data) so differences come from the work, not the inputs.
- Set a budget up front so the prices you get back can be compared.
Things the site says plainly
Communication, agreements and payments are meant to stay on the platform, and deposits, cancellation rules and dispute outcomes are set by the project agreement. Read those terms before you start, and check the pricing and developer fees pages, since I'm not going to quote figures I can't confirm.
Disclosure: I'm affiliated with Show2Build.
