is to look at open source projects that are related to the products that you want this "superstar" to work on. Review the code base and compare the commit logs to get the names of the ones that wrote great code. Almost all superstars care more about the code than making gobs of money, so they will be out there in the public projects committing their hearts away.:)
Reviewing code is FAR preferable to interviewing for finding that right programmer. Have your existing staff look around if you aren't comfortable in your ability to see good code when it's in front of you. Even if you are comfortable with the code, take samples of code that you like and present them with numbers instead of names to your existing staff to vote on which code is the most elegant, easy to read, and efficient. Approach the top 10 names on the list and you will probably find one or two that are currently between projects.
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is to look at open source projects that are related to the products that you want this "superstar" to work on. Review the code base and compare the commit logs to get the names of the ones that wrote great code. Almost all superstars care more about the code than making gobs of money, so they will be out there in the public projects committing their hearts away. :)
Reviewing code is FAR preferable to interviewing for finding that right programmer. Have your existing staff look around if you aren't comfortable in your ability to see good code when it's in front of you. Even if you are comfortable with the code, take samples of code that you like and present them with numbers instead of names to your existing staff to vote on which code is the most elegant, easy to read, and efficient. Approach the top 10 names on the list and you will probably find one or two that are currently between projects.