Frequently Asked Questions

Golden Compass is a boutique digital agency founded in 2020 in Kharkiv, Ukraine. We are a team of Top-Rated Frontend Experts and Full-Cycle Product Developers who build web apps, mobile apps, and digital products for startups and growing businesses. The agency is led by CEO and Frontend Architect Bohdan Chernetskyi, and has delivered 50+ products for clients across the U.S., EU, and MENA.

We offer six core services: Full-Cycle Web Development (React, Vue, Next.js, Node.js, Golang), Mobile App Development (iOS & Android via React Native/Flutter), UI/UX Implementation (Figma-to-code), Product Discovery & Business Analysis, API & Third-Party Integrations (Stripe, HubSpot, custom REST/GraphQL), and Ongoing Support & Optimization.

We specialize in SaaS web applications, e-commerce platforms, fintech and healthtech products, startup MVPs, mobile apps for iOS and Android, enterprise dashboards, and legacy system modernization. Our expertise spans startup-stage products to enterprise-scale solutions serving millions of users.

Timelines depend on scope: a Product Discovery sprint is 1–2 weeks, simple websites take 2–4 weeks, mobile apps take 6–12 weeks, and complex SaaS or enterprise systems take 3–6 months. We provide a detailed milestone plan after the initial discovery session.

Our core stack: React, Next.js, Vue 3, Nuxt 3, Angular (frontend); Node.js, NestJS, Golang, .NET, Ruby on Rails (backend); PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Supabase, Firebase (databases); React Native, Flutter (mobile); AWS, GCP, Azure, Docker, Kubernetes (cloud/DevOps).

We offer fixed-price contracts for clearly defined projects and time-and-materials for evolving or ongoing work. Pricing depends on scope, complexity, and timeline. Use our free Project Cost Calculator at goldencompass.io/calculator for an instant estimate, or book a free consultation.

Our five-step process: (1) Discovery — align on goals and constraints; (2) Architecture & Design — technical blueprints and UI prototypes; (3) Development — agile sprints with weekly demos; (4) QA & Launch — automated testing and staged deployment; (5) Support & Growth — monitoring, analytics, and iterative improvements.

Yes. We specialize in legacy modernization, code refactoring, performance optimization, and adding features to existing applications. We assess your codebase, identify bottlenecks, and deliver a phased modernization roadmap with minimal disruption to your live product.

Yes — our clients come from the U.S., Western Europe, Israel, the UAE, and beyond. We accommodate multiple time zones, communicate in English, and use modern remote collaboration tools to keep projects transparent and on schedule.

Golden Compass is a senior-only boutique — every project is handled by experienced developers, not juniors. We bring both deep technical skill and product thinking, helping clients make the right architecture and feature decisions. Our 99% client satisfaction rate and 50+ delivered projects reflect this approach.

Yes. We offer post-launch support packages including uptime monitoring, regular updates, security patches, Core Web Vitals optimization, and iterative feature development. We stay with your product as a long-term technical partner.

Security is built into every project: OWASP secure coding standards, regular security audits, encrypted communications, GDPR and HIPAA compliance when applicable, role-based access control, and strict NDAs for all team members.

Everything from architecture and API design to frontend implementation, cloud deployment, testing, and a documented handoff. You get a working, maintainable product rather than a pile of code to figure out yourself.

We choose the stack that fits your product, not our comfort zone. Typically React, Next.js, Vue, Nuxt, or Angular on the frontend, and Node.js, Golang, or .NET on the backend, with PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or Supabase and deployment on AWS, GCP, or Azure.

Yes. We start with an audit of the current codebase, tell you honestly what state it is in, and continue from there - whether it was built by another team, a freelancer, or an AI tool.

It depends on scope. A focused MVP is usually a matter of weeks, while a larger platform runs longer. After a short discovery we give you a realistic timeline and milestones rather than a vague guess.

Yes. We offer ongoing support and optimization - monitoring, performance tuning, fixes, and iterative improvements - so the product keeps working and improving after go-live.

Yes - this is exactly what the service is for. We take AI-generated or vibe-coded apps, audit what is there, fix the security holes and bugs, and get the product stable enough for real customers.

It can be, once a senior engineer has reviewed it. AI is great for speed but tends to miss security, edge cases, and testing. A rescue pass closes those gaps so the fast build becomes a dependable product.

The most common issues we see are hardcoded API keys and passwords, missing input validation, placeholder or fake authentication, no tests, duplicated logic, and unhandled edge cases that only surface in production.

It depends on scope. A pre-launch review is a small fixed-scope engagement; a full production rescue is scoped after a short audit so you get a real number, not a guess. Book a free triage call and we will give you an honest estimate.

Yes. A pre-launch audit is one of the most valuable things you can do - we catch the security and stability problems before your first real users do, and hand you a prioritized list of what to fix.

No. Every rescue ends with documentation and a clean handoff so any team can keep building. You can continue with us on a retainer if you want to, but you are never dependent on us.

Payment gateways, CRMs, authentication providers, analytics, email and messaging services, and more. If it exposes an API, we can almost certainly connect your product to it reliably and securely.

Yes. We integrate Stripe, PayPal, Braintree, and similar providers, including subscriptions, webhooks, and secure handling of payment flows.

Yes. Alongside connecting to third parties, we design and build your own REST or GraphQL APIs with proper authentication, documentation, and versioning.

Yes. We sync data between your app and CRMs such as HubSpot or Salesforce so your sales and marketing tools stay up to date automatically.

Secrets are kept out of the codebase and stored securely, every endpoint is properly authenticated and authorized, and we follow least-privilege access - so an integration never becomes a security hole.

Both. We build fully native iOS and Android apps when performance and platform feel matter most, and cross-platform apps with React Native or Flutter when a shared codebase makes more sense for your budget and timeline.

Yes. We handle the full submission process for both stores, including store listings, review requirements, and the technical setup needed to get approved.

Yes. We build offline support, local caching, and push notifications as standard capabilities, so the app stays useful without a connection and can re-engage users.

Yes. We can design and build the backend, APIs, and integrations your app needs, so you have one team responsible for the whole product rather than coordinating several.

Yes. You own the source code and your developer accounts. Every engagement ends with a clean handoff and documentation so any team can continue the work.

Discovery is a structured process to validate your idea and define what to build before development starts. It surfaces risks, aligns everyone on goals and scope, and prevents expensive rework later - the most common cause of blown budgets.

A technical specification, a user story map, an architecture blueprint, Figma wireframes or prototypes, and a project roadmap. You leave with a clear, buildable plan - whether you build it with us or not.

It scales with the size of the product, but most discovery engagements are a focused, time-boxed effort measured in weeks rather than months. We agree the scope up front so it does not drag on.

Yes. Because discovery produces the architecture and roadmap, we can move directly into building with no ramp-up - but that is your choice, not a requirement.

No. The deliverables are yours and are written to be handed to any capable team. There is no lock-in - discovery is valuable on its own.

Performance monitoring, bug fixes, security patches, dependency updates, SEO and Core Web Vitals improvements, QA, and iterative feature work. In short, we keep your product healthy and improving after launch.

Yes. On a retainer we agree response-time commitments and dedicated availability, so you know issues will be picked up quickly rather than whenever someone is free.

Yes. We audit performance and technical SEO - Core Web Vitals, metadata, structured data, and more - and implement the fixes that move the needle, not a generic checklist.

Yes. We start with an audit to understand the codebase, then support it from there. If it was built with AI tools and is unstable, our AI Vibe-Code Rescue service is the better starting point.

A monthly retainer for continuous support, or time and materials for occasional, well-defined work. We help you pick whichever matches how much ongoing attention your product needs.

This service focuses on implementation - turning finished designs into production-ready code. If you also need the design itself, our Product Discovery and UI/UX work can create it first, then we implement it.

Yes. Pixel-perfect Figma-to-code is exactly what this service is for. We translate your designs into clean, responsive, maintainable components that match the intended look and behavior.

Yes. Every implementation is responsive across devices and built to accessibility (WCAG) standards, including keyboard navigation, semantic markup, and sufficient contrast.

Yes. We can implement a documented component library and design system so your UI stays consistent and future features are faster to build.

Primarily React, Vue, Next.js, Nuxt, and Angular. We match the framework to your existing stack or recommend one if you are starting fresh.