After attempting to recruit a great “web developer” someone who can take a design, cut-and-code it pixel perfect, and spit out superb HTML/CSS, and maybe even dabble in a bit of Javascript/AJAX, I’ve decided that there are very few, if any, people that have superb skills and are looking for this type of job - essentially filling the gap between UX/Visual Design and back-end programming.

I have a theory about why folks don’t like to live only in this middle world: it’s tedious and not very creative, and requires a high degree of skill - two sets of things that don’t match well. If someone is skilled enough to do it well, they are likely creative and move on to more challenging jobs(like UX design or back-end server systems). People that move on quickly lose the entire spectrum of skills and are left with a good knowledge of part of the center stage. Those who are more naturally designers move towards UX/Visual design and end up knowing HTML/CSS, but not Javascript, and people who are more naturally inclined to code move toward back-end programming and may or may not stick with their Javascript knowledge, but most certainly abandon their HTML/CSS skillset.

So, web developers are by their very nature meta-stable. Once they are good enough to be really useful, they roll towards one end of the spectrum.

If you disagree with me, prove me wrong - show me a great web developer, and if I hire them, I’ll admit defeat and buy you a beer.