# Blog

> Practical writing from the founders and engineers who build our clients' software: on product, engineering, AI and security.

Source: https://authect.com/insights/blog

- [Talent marketplace vs development studio: Toptal, Upwork or a team?](https://authect.com/insights/blog/studio-vs-talent-marketplace) (Guide): Talent marketplaces such as Toptal and Upwork find you capable individuals quickly, but you manage the work. A studio delivers the product with one accountable team. Which suits you depends on whether you can lead engineers yourself. Fees, terms and checks.
- [Founder-led studio vs large offshore agency: which is right for your project?](https://authect.com/insights/blog/studio-vs-offshore-agency) (Guide): A large offshore agency suits long programmes with strong in-house management that need many engineers. A founder-led studio suits products where direct access to the people building, senior judgement and fast decisions matter most. How to choose.
- [Studio vs in-house developers: the true cost of building your own team](https://authect.com/insights/blog/studio-vs-in-house-developers) (Guide): Build an in-house team when software is your core business and you have a continuous roadmap and someone to lead engineers. Use a studio to ship sooner, cover skills you lack or prove the product before you hire. Costs, timelines and the hybrid path.
- [Development studio vs freelancer: who should build your software?](https://authect.com/insights/blog/studio-vs-freelancer) (Guide): Hire a freelancer for a well-defined job one person can do and you can check yourself. Hire a studio when the product needs several skills, a date you can plan around and someone accountable after launch. Here is how to tell which you need.
- [Custom software vs no-code: when each wins, the limits and the real costs over time](https://authect.com/insights/blog/custom-software-vs-no-code) (Guide): No-code and low-code platforms win for internal tools, prototypes and simple workflows. Custom software wins when the product is your business, needs complex logic, scale or strict security, or when usage-based fees and lock-in outgrow the savings.
- [Weekly briefing, 4 November 2026: the $6.3bn Binance heist, HTTP2Shell keeps spreading, and one robots.txt line for AI training](https://authect.com/insights/blog/weekly-briefing-4-november-2026-binance-heist-http2shell-ai-training-opt-out) (News): How attackers stole $6.3bn from Binance through developer laptops and an internal AI tool, plus exploited WordPress, GitLab and Drupal flaws, HTTP2Shell, Android fixes, a shared AI training opt-out and Claude Platform changes.
- [Passkeys for business applications: how they work and how to roll them out](https://authect.com/insights/blog/passkeys-for-business-applications) (R&D): Passkeys replace passwords with phishing-resistant key pairs built on W3C WebAuthn and FIDO2. How they work, what NIST and CISA say, platform support, rollout patterns, account recovery and enterprise controls such as attestation.
- [New pages: our front-end, back-end and e-commerce development work](https://authect.com/insights/blog/new-frontend-backend-ecommerce-pages) (News): Authect now sets out its front-end development, back-end development and e-commerce work in detail: what each covers, the technologies we choose from, how projects run and the trade-offs we talk through with clients.
- [INP and Core Web Vitals: what actually moves the needle?](https://authect.com/insights/blog/inp-and-core-web-vitals-what-moves-the-needle) (R&D): Interaction to Next Paint is the Core Web Vital most sites now struggle with on mobile. What the field data says, what causes slow interactions, how to measure them with CrUX and RUM, and the fixes that reliably work.
- [Introducing our free software cost calculator](https://authect.com/insights/blog/free-software-cost-calculator) (News): Eight questions, a live estimate of effort, timeline and team, and no prices: how Authect's free software cost calculator works, why it runs entirely in your browser, and how a founder turns it into a written estimate.
- [How to evaluate LLM features in production: test sets, judges, metrics and budgets](https://authect.com/insights/blog/evaluating-llm-features-in-production) (R&D): How to evaluate an LLM feature before and after launch: offline test sets, code checks, human review, LLM-as-judge and its known biases, online metrics, regression testing on model upgrades, safety evaluations, and cost and latency budgets.
- [Authect launches its new website](https://authect.com/insights/blog/authect-launches-new-website) (News): Our new site puts the founders front and centre: service and industry pages, 20 practical guides, comparison lists, a free software cost calculator and a structure built for AI assistants as well as people.
- [Authect is hiring three remote internships](https://authect.com/insights/blog/authect-internships-2026) (News): We are looking for a Social Media Intern, an Outreach Intern and a Marketing Strategy Intern. All three are unpaid, fully remote and run for an initial three months, working directly with Authect's founders on real, published work.
- [Do AI coding assistants make developers faster? What the evidence says](https://authect.com/insights/blog/ai-coding-assistants-what-the-evidence-says) (R&D): What controlled trials, DORA's research and developer surveys actually show about AI coding assistants: where they speed work up, where they slow it down, what they do to code quality and security, and how to adopt them with human review.
- [What is system integration? A practical guide to connecting your software](https://authect.com/insights/blog/what-is-system-integration) (Guide): System integration connects separate applications so data and processes flow between them without retyping. Learn the main patterns, when to use an iPaaS or custom code, what makes integrations reliable and secure, and how to plan the work.
- [What are web development services? A practical guide for buyers](https://authect.com/insights/blog/what-are-web-development-services) (Guide): Web development services cover planning, design, front-end and back-end build, content management, hosting, security and support for websites and web apps. This guide explains what each part includes, how projects run and what to insist on.
- [What are mobile app development services? A guide for iOS and Android](https://authect.com/insights/blog/what-are-mobile-app-development-services) (Guide): Mobile app development services take an app from idea to the App Store and Google Play: strategy, UX, iOS and Android build, backend, testing, store submission and ongoing updates. Here is what each part covers, the store rules that shape it and what to own.
- [What are DevOps services? A practical guide for buyers](https://authect.com/insights/blog/what-are-devops-services) (Guide): DevOps services help your team ship software faster and more safely: automated pipelines, infrastructure as code, monitoring and incident response. This guide covers what is included, engagement models, how to measure results with DORA metrics, and when you don't need it.
- [What are cybersecurity services? A practical guide to what your company needs](https://authect.com/insights/blog/what-are-cybersecurity-services) (Guide): Cybersecurity services protect your systems, software and data: assessments, penetration testing, application security, monitoring, incident response and compliance. This guide explains each type, what to do first, how to choose a provider and when a service is not worth buying.
- [What are cloud migration services? A practical guide to moving to the cloud](https://authect.com/insights/blog/what-are-cloud-migration-services) (Guide): Cloud migration services plan and carry out the move of your applications, data and infrastructure to a cloud provider. This guide explains the 7 Rs, each phase of a migration, what drives cost and timeline, when not to migrate, and how to pick a partner.
- [What are AI development services? A practical buyer's guide](https://authect.com/insights/blog/what-are-ai-development-services) (Guide): What AI development services include, from LLM features and agents to machine learning and document processing; how an engagement runs, what you should own at the end, the risks and regulations to plan for, and when you do not need them.
- [Types of software development: a complete overview](https://authect.com/insights/blog/types-of-software-development) (Guide): The main types of software development explained in plain English: web, mobile, custom and enterprise, SaaS, AI, data, cloud and DevOps, security, integration and more. What each one involves, who does it, and how to tell which your project needs.
- [Software maintenance and support: what it includes and how to plan for it](https://authect.com/insights/blog/software-maintenance-and-support-guide) (Guide): Software maintenance keeps a live system secure, working and useful after launch: bug fixes, updates, platform changes and improvements. This guide explains the four types of maintenance, what a support service and SLA should include, how to estimate the effort and how to choose a partner.
- [Software development outsourcing: models, risks and how to get it right](https://authect.com/insights/blog/software-development-outsourcing-guide) (Guide): A practical guide to outsourcing software development: what to outsource, project, dedicated team and staff augmentation models, onshore versus nearshore and offshore, pricing, contracts, IP and data protection, and how to run the work well.
- [How to build a SaaS product: a practical development guide](https://authect.com/insights/blog/saas-development-guide) (Guide): How to build a SaaS product that holds up: tenancy models, organisations and roles, billing and entitlements, security, the admin tooling nobody mentions, a realistic build plan in weeks, and when SaaS is the wrong model.
- [Native vs cross-platform app development: how to choose in 2026](https://authect.com/insights/blog/native-vs-cross-platform-app-development) (Guide): Native or cross-platform? How Swift, Kotlin, React Native, Flutter and Kotlin Multiplatform really differ in performance, effort, hiring and upkeep, and a step-by-step way to choose the right approach for your app.
- [Legacy software modernisation: options, risks and how to plan it](https://authect.com/insights/blog/legacy-software-modernisation-guide) (Guide): A practical guide to legacy software modernisation: how to tell when a system needs it, the options from rehosting to rebuilding, why incremental replacement usually beats a big-bang rewrite, and how to plan data, testing and the business case.
- [How to choose a software development company: a buyer's guide](https://authect.com/insights/blog/how-to-choose-a-software-development-company) (Guide): A practical, step-by-step way to choose a software development company: the homework to do first, the types of partner, the criteria that matter, questions to ask, how to read proposals and contracts, red flags, and why a paid discovery beats a long pitch.
- [How to add AI to your product: a practical guide to LLM features](https://authect.com/insights/blog/how-to-add-ai-to-your-product) (Guide): How to add generative AI and LLM features to an existing product: picking the right job, choosing a pattern and model, architecture, evaluation, UX for imperfect outputs, security, cost control, rollout and when not to add AI at all.
- [Frontend vs backend development: what's the difference and what do you need?](https://authect.com/insights/blog/frontend-vs-backend-development) (Guide): Frontend development builds what people see and use in a browser or app; backend development builds the servers, data and business rules behind it. This guide explains both, where the line blurs, why security lives on the server, and how to staff each.
- [Ecommerce software development: platforms, custom builds and headless explained](https://authect.com/insights/blog/ecommerce-software-development-guide) (Guide): A practical guide to ecommerce software development: what an online store is made of, when to use Shopify-style platforms, headless or a custom build, and how to get checkout, payments, performance, accessibility and integrations right.
- [Custom software vs off-the-shelf: how to decide what to build and what to buy](https://authect.com/insights/blog/custom-software-vs-off-the-shelf) (Guide): Buy software for the work every business does the same way; build it for the work that sets you apart. This guide compares real costs, the hybrid middle ground, lock-in and exit, and gives you a checklist to make the call with confidence.
- [Custom software development: everything you need to know](https://authect.com/insights/blog/custom-software-development-guide) (Guide): What custom software development is, when it is worth it and when it is not, how a project runs from discovery to support, how contracts, ownership and security should work, and how AI is changing delivery. A plain-English guide for buyers.
- [How much does custom software development cost?](https://authect.com/insights/blog/custom-software-development-cost) (Guide): Why there is no honest single price for custom software, what actually drives the cost, how good estimates are built, and three worked examples in hours, weeks and team shape, plus the costs after launch and how to cut scope without cutting quality.
- [The 11 best web development companies in 2026](https://authect.com/insights/blog/best-web-development-companies) (Article): An honest shortlist of 11 firms that build web applications, not brochure websites, ranked on published criteria, with Clutch ratings, rate bands and minimum project sizes taken from each firm's own pages and a checklist for choosing one.
- [The 12 best software development companies in Spain in 2026](https://authect.com/insights/blog/best-software-development-companies-spain) (Article): A sourced comparison of 12 software development companies with a real base in Spain, from small senior studios to large consultancies, with transparent ranking criteria, Clutch data, best-fit notes and the questions to ask before you sign.
- [The 11 best software development companies for startups in 2026](https://authect.com/insights/blog/best-software-development-companies-for-startups) (Article): A sourced comparison of 11 software development companies for startups and SMEs building an MVP or first product: transparent ranking criteria, Clutch data, published minimums and timelines, best-fit notes and the questions to ask first.
- [The 11 best software development companies in Dubai in 2026](https://authect.com/insights/blog/best-software-development-companies-dubai) (Article): Eleven software development companies with a real base in Dubai, compared on published criteria: UAE presence, who does the work, access to decision-makers, code ownership and independent reviews. Published by Authect, a Dubai studio on the list.
- [The 11 best SaaS development companies in 2026](https://authect.com/insights/blog/best-saas-development-companies) (Article): An honest shortlist of 11 studios that build SaaS products for clients, with transparent ranking criteria, Clutch ratings, rates and minimum project sizes taken from each firm's own pages, and a checklist for choosing between them.
- [The 12 best mobile app development companies in 2026](https://authect.com/insights/blog/best-mobile-app-development-companies) (Article): Twelve iOS and Android app studios compared on mobile depth, seniority, ownership, reviews, pricing and time-zone fit. Authect publishes this list and is in it, so the ranking criteria and weights are shown in full.
- [The 12 best custom software development companies in 2026](https://authect.com/insights/blog/best-custom-software-development-companies) (Article): Twelve custom software development companies compared on published criteria: who does the work, access to decision-makers, code ownership, pricing transparency and independent reviews. Published by Authect, which is one of the twelve.
- [The 12 best AI development companies in 2026](https://authect.com/insights/blog/best-ai-development-companies) (Article): Twelve AI and LLM development studios compared on seniority, production depth, ownership, reviews and pricing. Authect publishes this list and is in it, so the criteria and weights are shown in full.
- [How to scope an MVP without wasting your budget](https://authect.com/insights/blog/how-to-scope-an-mvp-without-wasting-budget) (Article): Scope an MVP around the one assumption that would sink the product if it were wrong, test it as cheaply as possible, and buy or fake everything else. A step-by-step method: assumptions, cutting scope, what to fake or buy, measuring, and prototypes vs MVPs.
- [RAG in production: what actually decides answer quality?](https://authect.com/insights/blog/rag-in-production-what-decides-answer-quality) (R&D): In production, retrieval-augmented generation lives or dies on retrieval, not on the model. What the research and vendor documentation say about chunking, embeddings, hybrid search, reranking, evaluation, freshness, permissions, cost, latency and guardrails.
- [What founder-led delivery changes: why the people who win a project should build it](https://authect.com/insights/blog/what-founder-led-delivery-changes) (Expert opinion): Most software suppliers sell with one group of people and build with another. We think the people who win a project should be the people who build it. The case, argued from delivery research on handoffs, estimates, accountability and communication, with the trade-offs stated plainly.
- [Fixed price vs time and materials: which software contract should you choose?](https://authect.com/insights/blog/fixed-price-vs-time-and-materials) (Guide): Fixed price buys certainty on cost; time and materials buys the freedom to change course. How each model works, who carries which risk, the hybrids in between (capped T&M, phased fixed price, monthly sprints) and how to pick the right one.

## About Authect

- Authect is a founder-led software development studio: clients talk to the founders who build their project, never a salesperson.
- Every project is led by a senior engineer. Delivery is AI-accelerated, and an engineer reviews every line before it ships.
- Clients own their code, infrastructure and designs from day one, with no lock-in.
- Legal entity: AUTHECT - FZCO, Trade License No. 70505 (IFZA). Registered office: Building A1, Dubai Digital Park, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- The team works in Dubai (Dubai Marina, Business Bay, Dubai Silicon Oasis) and in Spain (Madrid and Marbella), and works with partners in Lithuania.
- Clients across Europe, the Middle East and beyond; areas served include Dubai, Madrid, Marbella, Málaga, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Lithuania, Sweden, Norway, Denmark.
- Founders: Pranas Mickevicius (Chief Executive Officer), Oscar Arson Saiz (Chief Technology Officer).
- Cooperation models: fixed-price projects, monthly sprints, and support and evolution.
- Contact: info@authect.com, +971 50 246 5223, or https://authect.com/contact. A founder replies within one working day.
- Profiles: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/authect/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/useauthect/, X https://x.com/useauthect, TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@useauthect, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581141524137.