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Introduction
If you've spent any time in tech communities, you've likely heard of DevRel, short for Developer Relations. But what exactly is it? Is it marketing? Engineering? Community management? The answer: it's a mix of all three—and more.
This article breaks down what DevRel is, why it's important, and how teams structure it to build trust and engagement with developers.
What Is Developer Relations?
Developer Relations (DevRel) is a multidisciplinary role that bridges the gap between a company and the developer community. At its core, DevRel is about:
- Advocating for developers inside your company
- Promoting your technology to developers outside your company
- Creating a feedback loop between users and product teams
DevRel professionals can wear many hats: speaker, writer, coder, content creator, educator, and community builder.
The Pillars of DevRel
DevRel work usually falls into 3 (sometimes 4) categories:
1. Developer Advocacy
Think of this as outbound DevRel—explaining your product to developers. Advocates:
- Speak at conferences and meetups
- Create sample apps and demos
- Write blog posts and documentation
- Host workshops and webinars
2. Developer Experience (DX)
Here’s where inbound feedback shines. DX teams focus on improving how developers interact with your product:
- Is the onboarding smooth?
- Are APIs well-documented?
- Are SDKs easy to use?
They often work closely with product and engineering.
3. Community Management
Building and nurturing a healthy, inclusive, and active developer community:
- Moderating forums, Discords, or Reddit
- Running ambassador programs
- Organizing hackathons or community events
4. Content & Education (sometimes a fourth pillar)
Creating educational content like:
- Tutorials and walkthroughs
- Video series and podcasts
- Courses and certifications
Real-World Example: DevRel in Action
Imagine your company just launched an API for a new AI service.
Your DevRel team might:
-
Write a getting-started tutorial (
content) -
Build and open-source a Node.js SDK (
DX) -
Present the product at PyCon (
advocacy) -
Host a virtual hackathon with Discord support (
community)
Each action helps educate and inspire developers, gather feedback, and improve the product.
Common Misconceptions
“DevRel is just glorified marketing.”
DevRel isn’t about selling—it’s about educating and empowering developers. The best DevRel teams build trust first.
“It’s not real engineering.”
While not all DevRel roles write production code, many involve deep technical work, especially around tooling, SDKs, and demos.
Measuring DevRel Impact
DevRel isn’t always easy to measure, but common KPIs include:
- Documentation views or tutorial completions
- GitHub stars, forks, or contributions
- SDK downloads or NPM installs
- Community engagement (e.g., Discord activity)
- Event attendance and feedback
Remember: DevRel is a long game. Relationships take time.
Is DevRel Right for You?
You might thrive in DevRel if you:
✔ Enjoy teaching and explaining complex ideas
✔ Like writing, public speaking, or content creation
✔ Have empathy for developers and users
✔ Are comfortable switching between technical and non-technical conversations
Key Takeaways
✔ DevRel bridges the gap between devs and product teams
✔ It spans advocacy, experience, community, and education
✔ Strong DevRel improves adoption, trust, and feedback loops
✔ It’s a technical, creative, and people-focused discipline
Conclusion
Developer Relations is one of the most rewarding and multifaceted roles in tech. It’s not just about explaining code—it’s about building genuine relationships between developers and the products they use.
Whether you're looking to build a DevRel program or join one, remember: developers don’t want to be sold to—they want to be supported.
Meta Description
A practical introduction to Developer Relations (DevRel)—what it is, why it matters, and how it bridges engineering, community, and content creation.
TLDR – Highlights for Skimmers
- DevRel helps companies connect with developers in authentic, educational ways.
- Core pillars: advocacy, experience, community, and content.
- Great DevRel builds trust, improves product feedback, and supports developer success.
- It’s a hybrid role that values both technical skills and people skills.
Are you working in DevRel or thinking about joining the field? Share your experience or ask questions below!
Are you working in DevRel or thinking about joining the field? Share your experience or ask questions below!