Frequently Asked Questions

Hashtag Coders is a full-service software development company based in Sri Lanka. We specialize in web development, mobile app development, cloud solutions, AI & machine learning, UI/UX design, DevOps, and digital transformation consulting. We serve clients across Sri Lanka and globally, helping businesses leverage technology to achieve their goals.

Hashtag Coders has been delivering high-quality technology solutions in Sri Lanka, building a reputation for reliability, technical excellence, and outstanding client service. Our team has accumulated years of hands-on experience across diverse industries and technology stacks.

Absolutely. While we are headquartered in Sri Lanka, we work with clients in the UK, Australia, USA, UAE, and other markets. Our teams are proficient in English and experienced in remote collaboration using modern tools like Slack, Jira, and video conferencing. We adapt to client time zones to ensure smooth communication.

We have delivered projects across healthcare, finance and fintech, e-commerce, education, tourism and hospitality, manufacturing, logistics, real estate, and the public sector. This breadth of experience means we understand domain-specific requirements and best practices that generic developers often miss.

Getting started is simple. Reach out via our contact form, email at admin@hashtagcoders.lk, or WhatsApp at +94 77 390-0929. We schedule a free initial consultation call to understand your requirements, then provide a detailed proposal covering scope, timeline, and investment. There is no obligation at this stage.

Our frontend stack includes React, Next.js, Vue.js, and TypeScript - frameworks that deliver fast, SEO-friendly, and maintainable user interfaces. For backends, we use Node.js (Express/Fastify), Python (Django/FastAPI), and PHP (Laravel). Our databases include PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, and Redis. All projects are deployed on cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, or Azure) with CI/CD pipelines.

Timeline depends on complexity. A simple informational website with 5–10 pages takes 2–4 weeks. A standard business website with a CMS and contact forms takes 4–8 weeks. A complex web application with user authentication, dashboards, and integrations takes 2–6 months. We provide accurate timelines during the discovery phase after fully understanding your requirements.

Yes, absolutely. Upon project completion, you receive the complete source code repository with full ownership rights, comprehensive technical documentation covering architecture and setup, API documentation if applicable, and deployment guides. We believe in full transparency and client ownership - you are never locked into our services and can maintain or extend the codebase with any developer team you choose.

Yes, we regularly integrate a wide range of third-party services including payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, PayHere, iPay), CRM systems (HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho), email marketing platforms (Mailchimp, SendinBlue), analytics tools (Google Analytics, Mixpanel), shipping providers, SMS gateways, social media APIs, and more. If a service has a documented API, we can integrate it into your website or application.

Yes, e-commerce is one of our core specialties. We build custom e-commerce platforms, WooCommerce and Shopify stores, and enterprise commerce solutions. We integrate local payment gateways including iPay, PayHere, and Genie, as well as international gateways like Stripe and PayPal. Our e-commerce sites are optimized for conversion, mobile performance, and Sri Lankan SEO.

Every website we deliver is fully responsive - it looks and functions perfectly on smartphones, tablets, and desktops. SEO best practices are built-in from the start: semantic HTML, optimized page speed, proper meta tags, structured data, XML sitemaps, and Core Web Vitals optimization. We also offer ongoing SEO services to improve and maintain your search rankings.

Yes. We offer flexible maintenance packages covering security updates, content updates, performance monitoring, uptime monitoring, bug fixes, and regular backups. We recommend all clients have a maintenance arrangement to ensure their website remains secure, fast, and up-to-date as browsers, frameworks, and security threats evolve.

Yes. We develop native iOS (Swift/SwiftUI) and native Android (Kotlin) applications for maximum performance. We also build cross-platform apps using React Native and Flutter - enabling a single codebase to run on both platforms, reducing development time and cost by 40–60% while maintaining near-native performance and user experience.

Both are excellent cross-platform frameworks. React Native, developed by Meta, uses JavaScript/TypeScript and renders to native UI components - it integrates naturally with existing React web codebases. Flutter, developed by Google, uses the Dart language and renders via its own high-performance graphics engine. Flutter typically offers more consistent UI across platforms; React Native is preferred when sharing logic with a React web app. We help clients choose the right framework based on their specific needs.

Our mobile apps undergo rigorous quality assurance including automated unit testing, manual functional testing across multiple devices and OS versions, performance testing for load times and battery usage, security testing for data protection, usability testing with real users, and App Store/Play Store compliance verification. We test on both real devices and simulators to ensure consistent quality across all user environments.

We publish apps under your company's Apple Developer and Google Play Developer accounts. You maintain full control and ownership of your app store presence. If you don't have developer accounts yet, we guide you through the setup process and can handle the submission on your behalf using your credentials. This ensures you own the app listing, reviews, and analytics completely.

Yes. We manage the complete App Store (Apple) and Play Store (Google) submission process - including creating developer accounts if needed, preparing store assets (screenshots, descriptions, previews), meeting platform guidelines, and addressing review feedback. We also handle app updates and version management post-launch.

We are experienced with all major cloud platforms: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure. We also work with specialized hosting providers like Vercel and DigitalOcean for specific use cases. Our cloud architects help clients choose the best platform based on existing relationships, regional data residency requirements, and specific service needs.

A CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) pipeline automates the process of testing and deploying your software. When a developer pushes code, the pipeline automatically runs tests, checks code quality, builds the application, and deploys it to the appropriate environment - all without manual intervention. This reduces deployment risk, catches bugs early, enables faster releases, and is considered essential infrastructure for serious software teams in 2026.

Yes. Cloud migration is a core service. We assess your existing infrastructure, design the target cloud architecture, execute the migration with minimal disruption, and optimize costs post-migration. Many businesses see 30–50% infrastructure cost reduction after a properly executed cloud migration, along with improved reliability, security, and scalability.

Security is embedded throughout our cloud architecture: principle of least privilege for all IAM roles, encryption at rest and in transit, VPC network isolation, security group hardening, regular vulnerability scans, WAF (Web Application Firewall) for public-facing applications, automated secrets management (no hardcoded credentials), and compliance with industry standards where required.

We follow an Agile-inspired approach with clear phases: Discovery (requirements gathering, technical planning), Design (wireframes, visual design, user flows), Development (iterative coding in 2-week sprints), Testing (QA, user acceptance testing), and Deployment (launch and handover). Throughout the project, you receive weekly progress updates, participate in sprint demos, and have continuous visibility into development progress via project management tools.

Our proposals include a detailed scope of work with feature specifications, proposed technology stack and architecture, project timeline with milestones, deliverables breakdown, support and maintenance options, and our portfolio of relevant past projects. We aim for complete transparency so clients can make fully informed decisions.

Absolutely. We sign NDAs before any sensitive project discussions and include them in client contracts by default. All intellectual property created during the engagement is fully transferred to the client upon final payment - you own your code, designs, and all project deliverables outright. We retain no rights to your software or its codebase.

Agile development naturally accommodates evolving requirements. For change requests within scope, we absorb minor adjustments. For significant scope additions, we follow a simple change request process: document the change, estimate additional effort and timeline impact, get written approval, then implement. This transparency prevents misunderstandings and keeps projects on track.

We provide multiple communication channels tailored to your preference: weekly progress calls via Zoom or Google Meet, daily updates via Slack or email for urgent matters, access to our project management tools (Jira, Trello, or Notion) for real-time progress visibility, and bi-weekly sprint demos where you see working features. We assign a dedicated project manager as your single point of contact who coordinates all communication and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

Our QA process is comprehensive and multi-layered: automated unit testing during development, integration testing for all system components, cross-browser testing (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge), responsive testing across devices and screen sizes, performance testing for load times and scalability, security testing for vulnerabilities, and user acceptance testing with real users. Critical production systems also undergo load testing and penetration testing before launch.

We offer tiered support packages. Our basic package covers email support and bug fixes. Our standard package adds proactive monitoring, monthly performance reports, and priority response times. Our premium package includes 24/7 monitoring, SLA-backed response times, dedicated account management, and a monthly development hours allocation for improvements and new features. All packages include security patches.

Data security is fundamental to everything we build. We implement HTTPS everywhere, secure password hashing (bcrypt/Argon2), SQL injection and XSS prevention, CSRF protection, regular security audits, and GDPR-compliant data handling practices. For applications handling sensitive data (healthcare, finance), we conduct formal penetration testing and implement additional controls like audit logging and data encryption at the field level.

Yes. All managed hosting includes automated daily database backups retained for 30 days, infrastructure snapshots, and documented recovery procedures. For business-critical applications, we design multi-region architectures with RTO (Recovery Time Objective) and RPO (Recovery Point Objective) targets aligned with your business requirements. We also conduct regular recovery drills to verify backup integrity.

Yes. Our AI/ML capabilities include natural language processing (chatbots, sentiment analysis, text classification), computer vision (image recognition, object detection), recommendation engines, predictive analytics, time-series forecasting, and AI-powered automation. We work with leading AI APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini) and build custom models using TensorFlow and PyTorch when proprietary solutions aren't suitable.

Absolutely. AI integration is often more cost-effective than building new software from scratch. Common AI integrations include adding intelligent search to e-commerce platforms, implementing chatbots for customer service, automating document processing and data extraction, generating personalized content recommendations, and building predictive dashboards that surface actionable insights from existing business data.

We balance innovation with pragmatism. Our team continuously researches emerging technologies - blockchain, edge computing, WebAssembly, AI agents, spatial computing - and evaluates them against real business value. We adopt new technologies when they offer genuine advantages for our clients, not for novelty. We always prioritize reliability, maintainability, and long-term value over chasing trends.

Custom development makes sense when your business processes are unique and cannot be accommodated by off-the-shelf software, when you need a competitive advantage through proprietary technology, when you require specific integrations with existing systems that SaaS tools cannot provide, or when long-term total cost of ownership favors custom development over perpetual licensing fees. We help clients evaluate whether custom, off-the-shelf, or hybrid approaches best fit their specific situation.

Yes, legacy modernization is a core service. We assess your existing system, identify technical debt and pain points, design a modern architecture, and execute a phased migration strategy that minimizes business disruption. Common modernization scenarios include migrating desktop applications to web/cloud platforms, replacing outdated tech stacks with modern frameworks, breaking monolithic applications into microservices, and improving performance and scalability of aging systems.

Absolutely. We have extensive experience building multi-tenant SaaS platforms for startups and scale-ups. Our SaaS expertise includes subscription billing integration, user management with role-based access control, multi-tenancy architecture for data isolation, API development for third-party integrations, analytics dashboards, admin panels, and scalable cloud infrastructure. We help founders move from concept to MVP quickly, then scale the platform as the user base grows.

Yes, system integration is a specialty. We build integration layers that connect disparate systems - ERP to e-commerce, CRM to marketing automation, accounting to inventory management, HR systems to payroll providers. We use modern integration patterns including REST APIs, GraphQL, message queues, webhooks, and ETL pipelines. Whether you need real-time synchronization or scheduled batch processing, we design integration architectures that ensure data consistency and reliability.

Yes. Our architects provide independent consulting for businesses planning significant technology investments. We review proposed architectures, identify risks and bottlenecks, recommend technology choices, design scalable and maintainable system architectures, and provide technology roadmaps. This consulting is particularly valuable before committing to large development projects or when evaluating proposals from multiple vendors.

Yes, we offer flexible engagement models including staff augmentation (our developers work as an extension of your team) and dedicated development teams (a complete team allocated exclusively to your projects). This model works well for companies with ongoing development needs, in-house technical leadership, and established processes who need additional capacity without the overhead of direct hiringits. We do not ask for full payment upfront, and final payment is only due once you are satisfied with the deliverable.

No. The initial discovery call and project proposal are completely free of charge with no obligation. We invest this time to thoroughly understand your requirements so we can provide an accurate, detailed quotation. We only begin charging once both parties agree on scope, timeline, and cost and a contract is signed.

Website development timelines depend on scope. A basic informational website takes 2–4 weeks. A professional business website with CMS and custom design takes 4–8 weeks. An e-commerce website takes 6–12 weeks. A complex web application with user authentication, integrations, and dashboards takes 3–6 months. These estimates assume timely client feedback and content provision. Delays in providing content, images, or approvals are the most common cause of project overruns.

A simple mobile app (5–8 screens, basic functionality) typically takes 6–10 weeks. A mid-complexity app with user authentication, push notifications, and API integration takes 3–5 months. A complex, feature-rich app with payment processing, real-time features, or AI capabilities takes 5–9 months. Cross-platform development using React Native or Flutter is typically 30–40% faster than building separate native iOS and Android applications.

Response times depend on your support plan and request severity. For critical production issues (site down, payment processing broken), we respond within 1–2 hours during business hours and 4–8 hours outside business hours. For high-priority issues (functionality degraded but operational), we respond within 4–8 hours. For normal requests (bug fixes, enhancements, general questions), we respond within 24 hours. Premium support plans include 24/7 monitoring and faster response SLAs.

Yes, we can accommodate urgent timelines with dedicated sprint teams and extended working hours. Expedited delivery is available at a premium rate that reflects the additional resource allocation required. We are transparent about what is and isn't achievable within a given timeframe - we will never commit to an unrealistic deadline. If a deadline is genuinely unachievable at acceptable quality, we will tell you honestly so you can make an informed decision.

Our design phase includes two rounds of revisions on wireframes and two rounds on visual designs - sufficient for most projects. Development revisions for items within the agreed scope are included. Additional revision rounds or scope changes are handled through a straightforward change request process: we document the change, estimate the time impact, and get written approval before proceeding. We are always transparent about what falls within scope versus what constitutes a change request.

Yes, comprehensive training is included with every project. For content management systems, we train your content editors on creating and publishing content. For custom applications, we train administrators on user management, configuration, and common workflows. Training typically includes live sessions via video call, recorded video tutorials you can reference later, and written documentation. We also offer ongoing training sessions as your team grows or when new features are added.

We provide weekly progress updates and flag risks proactively - surprises are rare when there is consistent communication. If a delay occurs due to our side, we absorb the additional effort. If delays stem from client-side factors (late content delivery, approval delays, changing requirements), we notify you promptly and agree on a revised timeline. Our contracts outline a clear process for handling delays and scope changes to protect both parties.

Yes. We integrate comprehensive analytics into all projects including Google Analytics 4 for traffic and user behavior, custom event tracking for key business actions (form submissions, purchases, downloads), conversion funnel analysis, user session recordings for UX insights, and custom dashboards for business-specific KPIs. For e-commerce, we set up enhanced e-commerce tracking covering product views, cart behavior, and revenue attribution. We also provide monthly analytics reports for clients on support packages.

We use an Agile-inspired approach for most projects: two-week development sprints, regular demo calls with stakeholders, and iterative delivery. This ensures you see working software early and can course-correct before significant rework is needed. For projects with very rigid, well-defined specifications (such as regulated industries), we can apply a more structured Waterfall approach. We discuss the most appropriate methodology during discovery and adapt to what works best for the client.

WordPress is excellent for content-driven websites (blogs, brochure sites, news portals) where ease of content management and low cost are priorities. It powers 43% of the web and has a vast plugin ecosystem. Custom development is better when you need unique functionality, tight security, very high performance, or a distinctive user experience that templates cannot deliver. For most Sri Lankan SME websites, a well-built WordPress or headless CMS solution is perfectly adequate. For SaaS platforms, web applications, and e-commerce with complex logic, custom development is typically the right choice.

Shopify is the easiest to launch and manage, ideal for straightforward product catalogues and businesses that don't need deep customisation. Its local payment gateway support in Sri Lanka is improving. WooCommerce (WordPress-based) offers more flexibility than Shopify at lower licensing costs, with strong community support. Custom e-commerce is the right choice when you have unique business logic (subscriptions, B2B pricing, multi-vendor, complex inventory) that Shopify and WooCommerce cannot handle well without expensive workarounds. We help clients choose based on current needs, growth trajectory, and long-term total cost of ownership.

Both React Native and Flutter are excellent cross-platform frameworks. React Native, backed by Meta, uses JavaScript/TypeScript and renders native UI components - a strong choice if your team already knows React or you're sharing logic with a React web application. Flutter, backed by Google, uses Dart and renders with its own graphics engine - delivering highly consistent pixel-perfect UI across iOS and Android. Flutter generally outperforms React Native on UI consistency and animation smoothness; React Native wins on JavaScript ecosystem integration. We assess your team's existing skills, backend technology, and performance requirements before recommending one over the other.

Building an in-house team gives maximum control and deep domain knowledge accumulation - ideal for companies where software is the core product. However, hiring, training, and retaining skilled developers in Sri Lanka takes 3–6 months per hire and carries significant overhead costs (salaries, benefits, equipment, office space, team management). Outsourcing to a professional software company like Hashtag Coders provides immediate access to a full multi-disciplinary team, predictable project costs, no recruitment overhead, and no knowledge gaps from developer turnover. Many businesses use a hybrid model: outsource initial development to get a product to market fast, then selectively bring certain roles in-house as the business scales.

All three are world-class platforms with data centres in the Asia Pacific region (Singapore, Mumbai) providing low latency for Sri Lankan users. AWS is the market leader with the deepest service catalogue - the default choice for most use cases. Google Cloud excels in data analytics, machine learning, and Kubernetes workloads. Azure is the strongest choice for businesses already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem (Office 365, Active Directory, Dynamics). For most Sri Lankan startups and SMEs, AWS or Google Cloud with a Singapore region deployment provides excellent performance at competitive costs. We help clients choose based on their specific workload, compliance requirements, and existing vendor relationships.

REST (Representational State Transfer) is the established standard for building APIs - it uses fixed endpoints (URLs) that return predefined data shapes, is simple to understand, and is supported everywhere. GraphQL, developed by Meta, uses a single endpoint where clients specify exactly what data they need - eliminating over-fetching and under-fetching. REST is the right default for most projects and public APIs. GraphQL shines when you have complex, nested data relationships and multiple clients (web, mobile, third-party) with different data needs. We typically recommend REST for straightforward projects and GraphQL when a complex data graph or multiple diverse clients justify the added architecture overhead.

Cloud computing means running your software, databases, and infrastructure on remote servers managed by providers like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure - rather than on physical servers you own and manage yourself. Benefits for Sri Lankan businesses include: pay-as-you-go pricing (no large capital expenditure on hardware), automatic scaling to handle traffic spikes, built-in redundancy so outages are rare, global delivery with low latency, and access to advanced services (AI, databases, analytics) that would be prohibitively expensive to build independently.

An API (Application Programming Interface) is a defined way for two software systems to communicate with each other. Examples: your website calling a payment gateway API to process a card payment, your app calling a Google Maps API to show a map, or your inventory system calling your e-commerce platform's API to sync stock levels. APIs enable your business software to connect with third-party services, share data between your own systems, and allow future partners or developers to build on your platform. In 2026, virtually every modern digital business runs on a network of APIs.

A headless CMS is a content management system that stores and delivers content via APIs, with no built-in presentation layer. Unlike traditional CMS platforms (WordPress, Drupal) that couple content management with templating, headless CMS (Contentful, Strapi, Sanity) separates content from presentation. This architecture is ideal when you need to deliver the same content to multiple channels (website, mobile app, digital signage, smart devices), want maximum flexibility in frontend technology choices (React, Vue, Next.js), or require very high performance and scalability. We help clients choose between traditional CMS, headless CMS, and hybrid approaches based on their specific requirements.

Server-side rendering means web pages are generated on the server for each request, rather than in the browser (client-side rendering). SSR improves SEO because search engine crawlers receive fully-rendered HTML, reduces initial page load time because users see content faster, and provides better performance on low-powered devices. SSR is particularly valuable for content-heavy sites, e-commerce platforms, and any site where SEO is critical. Modern frameworks like Next.js make SSR practical and performant. We recommend SSR for most business websites and applications targeting Sri Lankan and international markets.

UI (User Interface) design is the visual layer - colours, typography, layouts, buttons, and the overall look of your product. UX (User Experience) design is the strategic layer - how users navigate, what steps they take to complete tasks, and how intuitive the experience feels. Good UI/UX directly impacts business outcomes: a well-designed checkout flow can reduce cart abandonment by 20–30%; a confusing interface drives users away regardless of how powerful the underlying technology is. In competitive markets, user experience is often the decisive differentiating factor between two otherwise similar products.

A Progressive Web App is a website built with modern web technologies that behaves like a native mobile app - it can be installed on a home screen, works offline, sends push notifications, and loads instantly. PWAs are an excellent middle ground between a traditional website and a native mobile app: they are developed once, work on all devices and browsers, and cost significantly less than building separate iOS and Android apps. For Sri Lankan businesses wanting a mobile-app-like experience on a tighter budget, or as a complement to an existing website, a PWA is often the smartest investment.

Digital transformation is the process of integrating digital technology into all areas of your business - fundamentally changing how you operate and deliver value to customers. It is not just about having a website; it involves automating manual processes, moving to cloud-based systems, using data for decision-making, and building digital customer experiences. Starting points for Sri Lankan businesses include: digitising manual paperwork into software, moving spreadsheets to a proper database system, building a customer portal, implementing e-commerce, or adopting cloud accounting. Transformation is a journey, not a single project - we help businesses prioritise the highest-impact initiatives first.

DevOps is a set of practices that combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) to shorten the development lifecycle and deliver software reliably and frequently. In practice, a DevOps culture means: automated testing catches bugs before they reach production, CI/CD pipelines deploy code automatically with minimal human intervention, infrastructure is defined as code so environments are reproducible, and monitoring alerts teams to issues before customers notice. For businesses, DevOps means less downtime, faster feature releases, higher software quality, and a more collaborative engineering culture.

Yes, we are always open to hearing from talented engineers, designers, and digital marketing professionals in Sri Lanka. We look for people who are passionate about technology, take ownership of their work, and enjoy solving real-world problems. Check our Careers page for current openings - we list roles in frontend development, backend development, mobile app development, UI/UX design, DevOps, and digital marketing. Even if no specific role is listed, we welcome speculative applications from exceptional candidates.

Our team is a group of passionate software engineers, designers, cloud architects, project managers, and digital marketers based in Sri Lanka. We are a cross-functional team capable of delivering complete end-to-end digital products - from initial strategy and design through development, testing, deployment, and ongoing support. We work collaboratively, value continuous learning, and maintain a flat, open team culture where every voice matters regardless of experience level.

Yes. We operate with a remote-first and hybrid working model. Team members can work remotely, from our office, or a combination of both. We focus on outcomes rather than hours at a desk. We use modern collaboration tools (Slack, Notion, Jira, GitHub, Figma) to ensure seamless remote teamwork. For client-facing and certain coordinated development roles, we do have expectations around core overlap hours for collaboration.

Yes. We run an internship programme for final-year undergraduates and recent graduates in computer science, software engineering, IT, and related fields. Our interns work on real client projects under senior mentorship - not toy exercises. Strong interns frequently receive full-time offers upon graduation. We are particularly interested in candidates with strong fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, version control), curiosity, and the willingness to learn fast. Submit your CV and a brief note about what you'd like to build to admin@hashtagcoders.lk.

For frontend roles: strong JavaScript/TypeScript, React, CSS/Tailwind, and an eye for good UX. For backend roles: Node.js or Python, RESTful API design, SQL/NoSQL databases, and basic cloud familiarity. For mobile roles: React Native or Flutter with at least one shipped app in your portfolio. For DevOps roles: Docker, CI/CD tools (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI), and at least one major cloud platform (AWS/GCP/Azure). For all roles: Git proficiency, good written English, and the ability to work independently with minimal hand-holding are non-negotiable.

Yes - our core development team is entirely based in Sri Lanka. This is a deliberate choice: it ensures tight collaboration, consistent quality standards, strong team culture, and competitive rates for our clients. Working with a Sri Lanka-based team means no concerns about large time-zone gaps (we can align with UK, European, Australian, and Middle East business hours), and you benefit from the significant technical talent pool that Sri Lanka's universities and tech industry have developed over the past two decades.