---
title: Kickstart
teaser:
tags: news
author: Dan Croak
published_on: 2008-12-10
---

We do work for some companies with their own **in-house development team**. They
often don't have much Ruby experience. Others are **startups**. They need to
hire developers but don't know how to **interview potential Rubyists**. Neither
want to **delay development** of their projects while they wait to build their
team.

In response to their needs, we're pleased to announce our new consulting
service:

[![''](http://images.thoughtbot.com/ui/2008-12-11-title-kickstart.gif)](http://thoughtbot.com/services/kickstart)

## In a nutshell

* We begin [work](http://thoughtbot.com/work) on your Rails app immediately.
* We help hire (if needed) and [train](http://thoughtbot.com/training) your
  in-house team.
* We pair program with your team at [our
  office](http://blog.railsrumble.com/workshare#tb) or yours.
* When your team is self-sufficient, you take the reins.

## Hiring

Software is a team sport. You need good people whom you trust and whose company
you enjoy. Additionally, the ideal Kickstart client understands the value of
[pair programming](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pair_programming). Your team
members should be willing and able to pair regularly.

We will help you hire by **pairing with interviewees** on real Ruby code. This
even works with developers coming to Ruby from other languages. In this case,
the interviewee dictates what should be done, and the thoughtbot developer
implements it in Ruby.

## Training

![''](http://images.thoughtbot.com/ui/2008-12-10-rocky4strain2.JPG)

We are [experienced trainers](http://thoughtbot.com/training) of Ruby, Rails,
and related software practices such as
[refactoring](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_refactoring), version control,
and [Test Driven
Development](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test-driven_development).

Transitioning to **a new toolset can be scary**, but it doesn't have to be.
Internally at thoughtbot, we have a proven track record of making great Ruby
developers out of **Java, .NET, Python, or <abbr title="PHP: HyperText
Preprocessor">PHP</abbr> developers**. We all came from other technology
backgrounds and know how to take you down the same path.

## Programming

We have consulted on dozens of [Rails projects](http://thoughtbot.com/work) for
the last three years. We’ve **made the mistakes** your Ruby team is about to
make.

Imagine your developers sitting at their keyboard, source code in one window,
tests flying by in another, with a thoughtbot developer sitting right there,
stepping in immediately when a mistake is about to happen.

## Self-sufficiency

We believe this is the fastest way to impart Ruby skills to other developers.
Our greatest triumph will be when you say:

> We don't need thoughtbot anymore. We have a maintainable app with clean code
> that works. We have an expert development team with a unified vision of where
> to the app goes next.

[Let's get started](http://thoughtbot.com/contact).