In the first part of a series on evaluating development assignments, this post delves into assessing the codebase and technical practices of a project. It guides software development consultants on key questions to ask, such as the state of the codebase, handling of technical debt, code review processes, and development methodologies. Understanding these aspects can help determine whether a project offers innovative work opportunities or constant firefighting. The post emphasizes the importance of a well-maintained codebase, managed technical debt, effective code reviews, and flexible methodologies that support the team.