--- title: "Guides: development subscriptions, hiring and AI in production | Fluff Software" description: "Plain-English guides on development subscriptions, the real cost of hiring developers, clearing backlogs and taking AI-built apps live." url: https://www.fluff.software/guides/ updated: 2026-10-23 publisher: Fluff Software --- # Guides. Plain-English answers to the questions we hear most from CTOs, founders and heads of product. Written by Scott Gulliver, Fluff’s founder. _Image: A team working through ideas on sticky notes_ ## Development subscriptions - [What is a software development subscription? How flat-fee software development subscriptions work, what ‘unlimited requests’ really means, what they cost in the UK in 2026, and who they suit.](https://www.fluff.software/guides/what-is-a-development-subscription/) - [How unlimited requests work Why development subscriptions work one task at a time per track, how that keeps ‘unlimited’ fair, what counts as one request, and how to get more done faster.](https://www.fluff.software/guides/how-unlimited-requests-work/) - [Subscription, retainer or fixed price? The three common ways to pay for software development compared: what each is good for, where each breaks down, and how AI tools have changed the maths in 2026.](https://www.fluff.software/guides/subscription-vs-retainer-vs-fixed-price/) - [How to write a request that ships quickly A simple template for writing feature requests and bug reports your development team can ship fast: the problem, who it’s for, what done looks like, and what to leave out.](https://www.fluff.software/guides/how-to-write-a-good-request/) - [UAT without the bottleneck How to review and sign off development work quickly: a daily slot, clear acceptance checks, one decision-maker and feedback that can be acted on first time.](https://www.fluff.software/guides/uat-without-the-bottleneck/) ## Capacity and hiring - [The real cost of hiring a developer in 2026 Salary, 15% employer NI, pension, recruiter fees and months of hiring time, plus the January 2027 dismissal changes: what a senior UK developer really costs.](https://www.fluff.software/guides/real-cost-of-hiring-a-developer-uk/) - [Brilliant and buried Seven signs your sole developer is overloaded, why it’s a business risk as well as a people problem, and practical ways to take the pressure off before they burn out or leave.](https://www.fluff.software/guides/brilliant-and-buried/) - [Fractional CTO or product team? A fractional CTO gives strategy and leadership; a product team ships the work. When you need which, how they fit together, and the questions to ask before choosing.](https://www.fluff.software/guides/fractional-cto-vs-product-team/) - [How to clear a software backlog A practical method for getting a software backlog under control: delete ruthlessly, sort by value and risk, break big items down, and protect a steady release rhythm.](https://www.fluff.software/guides/how-to-clear-a-software-backlog/) ## AI and production - [From AI prototype to production: the checklist Built your app with Lovable, Bolt, Replit or Cursor? A practical checklist covering access rules, secrets, payments, monitoring and backups before real users and real data arrive.](https://www.fluff.software/guides/ai-prototype-to-production-checklist/) - [Is AI-written code safe? AI coding tools are fast and capable, and their output still needs review. What goes wrong with AI-generated code, what a senior review checks, and what to ask any supplier.](https://www.fluff.software/guides/is-ai-written-code-safe/) - [Should you run AI coding tools in-house? Cursor, Claude Code and AI app builders make one person far more productive. When an in-house hire with AI tools is the right call, and what they still won’t cover.](https://www.fluff.software/guides/running-ai-coding-tools-in-house/) - [Why we stopped charging by the hour Scott Gulliver on what AI tools changed about building software, why hourly retainers and fixed-price MVPs stopped making sense, and what clients pay for now.](https://www.fluff.software/guides/why-we-stopped-charging-by-the-hour/) ## Comparisons - [Hiring a developer vs a subscription The full first-year cost of a senior UK hire in 2026, with a calculator.](https://www.fluff.software/compare/hiring-a-developer/) - [A traditional agency vs a subscription Fixed quotes and change orders against one flat monthly fee.](https://www.fluff.software/compare/agency/) - [AI coding tools vs a product team What the tools do brilliantly, and what they don’t.](https://www.fluff.software/compare/ai-tools/) --- Fluff Software, a senior product team embedded in your business. Book a call: https://www.fluff.software/contact/ or email contact@fluff.software. Agents: see https://www.fluff.software/llms.txt and https://www.fluff.software/AGENTS.md.