Vue 2 reached end of life on December 31, 2023. Since then it has received no updates, "including security and browser compatibility fixes" (Vue docs). Plenty of production apps still run on it. That one fact decides which Vue developer you need: someone to build new features on Vue 3, or someone who can get you off Vue 2 without breaking the business. Those are overlapping skill sets, and the second one is rarer.
Key Takeaways
- Vue's own docs recommend the Composition API with single-file components for full applications. Screen for it.
- Pinia is the recommended state library. Vuex is in maintenance mode.
- If you're on Vue 2, hire for migration experience first and feature speed second.
- Vue has a loyal but smaller talent pool (18.4% of professional developers), so a sharp screen beats a wide net.
What Modern Vue Looks Like
The Vue docs are unusually direct about recommendations, which makes screening easier.
For full applications, they say: "Go with Composition API + Single-File Components" (Vue docs). The Options API still works and is fine for simple cases, but a senior hire should be fluent in composables and know why they help large codebases.
For state, the docs say "Vuex is now in maintenance mode" and recommend Pinia for new applications, which the Vue core team maintains (Vue docs). A candidate who still reaches for Vuex on a new build hasn't kept up.
For server rendering, the docs list Nuxt and a few others, and add that "the general recommendation is to use a framework only if you need SSR" (Vue docs). A good hire won't add Nuxt by reflex. They'll ask whether you need SEO or fast first paint before choosing it.
Screening Questions That Work
| Question | What a strong answer includes |
|---|---|
| "When would you write a composable?" | Reusing stateful logic across components, with a concrete example |
| "Vuex or Pinia for a new app?" | Pinia, with a reason (simpler API, TypeScript support, official recommendation) |
| "Our Vue 2 app uses mixins and filters. What's your migration plan?" | Knows filters were removed in Vue 3, converts mixins to composables, migrates in stages |
| "Do we need Nuxt?" | Asks about SEO, first-load performance, and hosting before answering |
| "How do you test a component?" | Tests behavior with a real test runner, not snapshot-only tests |
The migration question does the most work. Vue 3 removed filters entirely (Vue 3 migration guide) and changed enough elsewhere that a large Vue 2 app needs a plan, and the candidates who have actually done it will name specific problems: removed APIs, third-party component libraries with no Vue 3 version, and the test suite that nobody maintained.
A Concrete Version
A seed-stage edtech company built its teacher dashboard on Vue 2 with Vuex and a component library that was abandoned in 2022. The app works. The company's first school-district customer sends a security questionnaire asking whether all frameworks are supported. The honest answer is no.
A senior Vue hire proposes a staged plan. Replace the abandoned component library first, screen by screen, while still on Vue 2. Then move to Vue 3, fixing mixins and removed features. Then move state from Vuex to Pinia, one store at a time. Each stage ships on its own, so the product team keeps releasing.
In this example the migration takes a quarter, and the district deal closes because the answer on the questionnaire changes. That is a business outcome, and it is how you should explain the work to your board.
The Honest Counterpoint
Vue's smaller pool is a real cost. In Stack Overflow's 2025 survey, 18.4% of professional developers reported using Vue, compared with 46.9% for React (Stack Overflow). If you're choosing a framework for a new product and hiring speed matters most, that gap should weigh on the decision. Our React vs Vue comparison goes through the full tradeoff.
The other caution: a small Vue 2 app that nobody touches and that handles no sensitive data may not need a migration this year. Spending a quarter on an internal tool with four users rarely makes sense. Put the migration budget where the risk and the revenue are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a React developer work on a Vue codebase?
Yes, with ramp-up. The concepts carry over, and Vue's docs are good. For a migration project, though, hire someone who has already worked in Vue 2 and Vue 3.
Is Vue good for large applications?
Yes, with the Composition API, TypeScript, and Pinia. Plenty of large products run on it. The bigger risk is the hiring pool as your team grows.
What's the quickest useful Vue technical test?
Give the candidate a small Vue 2 component with a mixin and a filter, and ask them to port it to Vue 3 with a composable. It takes under an hour and tests both current knowledge and migration skill.
The Bottom Line
Hire Vue developers who follow the framework's own recommendations (Composition API, Pinia, SSR only when needed) and, if you're on Vue 2, who have migrated a real app. The pool is smaller than React's, so screen tightly and search wide. To meet senior Vue engineers, see senior Vue developers in LATAM or see available engineers. If Laravel is on the backend, our Laravel hiring guide covers the other half.
Roberto Espinoza is CEO of Ruzora, which helps US startups hire pre-vetted senior LATAM engineers, with a vetted shortlist in 72 hours. See available engineers.
