Tag Archive for: developer

Remember the good old days of DevRel? You’d roll into a conference with your company-branded laptop stickers, armed with a slick slide deck and the unshakeable belief that your product was going to change the world. You’d take the stage, demo your latest API, and watch as developers’ eyes lit up with possibility. Then you’d head to the after-party, hand out some t-shirts, and call it a job well done.

Ah, nostalgia. It’s a hell of a drug.

But here’s the thing: if you’re still doing DevRel like it’s 2010, you might as well be trying to woo developers with a flip phone and a MySpace page. The world has changed, my friends, and traditional developer evangelism is going the way of the dodo.

The Fall of the Evangelist

Let me tell you a story. A few years back, I was at a major tech conference, watching a well-known developer evangelist do his thing. He was charismatic, his demos were flawless, and his jokes landed just right. By all traditional measures, it was a successful presentation.

But as I looked around the room, I noticed something. While people were nodding and smiling, they were also… distracted. Many were on their phones or laptops, probably checking out the product’s GitHub repo or scrolling through Twitter discussions about it. The days of developers simply taking an evangelist’s word for it were long gone.

This, my friends, was the moment I realized: the era of the all-knowing developer evangelist, descending from on high to bestow wisdom upon the masses, was over.

Why One-Way Streets Lead to Dead Ends

So, what happened? Why isn’t traditional evangelism cutting it anymore? Well, for starters, developers got smart. I mean, they were always smart, but now they’re savvy too. They’ve been burned by too many overhyped products, sat through too many sales pitches disguised as tech talks.

Today’s developers don’t want to be talked at; they want to be talked with. They’re not looking for evangelists; they’re looking for partners. The one-way communication model of traditional DevRel is about as effective as shouting into the void – you might make some noise, but you’re not going to get much back.

Think about it: when was the last time you made a significant technology decision based solely on a conference talk or a product demo? If you’re anything like me, you probably went straight to Google, checked out some reviews, maybe asked some colleagues, and definitely poked around the documentation and community forums.

This shift isn’t just about skepticism, though. It’s about the changing nature of how we build and use technology.

The Open Source Revolution

Remember when companies guarded their code like it was the recipe for Coca-Cola? Those days are long gone. Open source has taken over the world, and it’s changed everything about how developers interact with technology.

Nowadays, developers don’t just want to use your product; they want to look under the hood, tinker with it, maybe even contribute to it. They’re not content with being passive consumers; they want to be active participants in the technologies they use.

This open source mindset has spilled over into every aspect of developer relations. Developers expect transparency, collaboration, and the ability to shape the tools they use. A slick demo and some API docs just don’t cut it anymore.

The Rise of the Developer Community

Here’s another truth bomb for you: developers trust other developers way more than they trust company representatives. Shocking, I know.

In this new world, the most valuable voice isn’t the evangelists – it’s the community. Developers want to hear from their peers who are in the trenches, actually using the technology day in and day out. They want real stories, warts and all, not polished marketing narratives.

This is why you’re seeing a shift from big, flashy vendor-led events to smaller, community-driven meetups and unconferences. It’s why developer forums and open source repositories have become the new battlegrounds for mindshare.

From Evangelism to Enablement

So, if traditional evangelism is dead, what’s taking its place? In a word: enablement.

Modern DevRel isn’t about preaching the gospel of your product. It’s about empowering developers to do amazing things, whether that’s with your technology or not. It’s about fostering communities, facilitating learning, and yes, sometimes just getting out of the way.

This new approach requires a whole different skill set. Instead of being the all-knowing expert, you need to be a facilitator, a connector, a community builder. You need to be comfortable saying “I don’t know, but let’s figure it out together.”

It’s about creating spaces – both physical and digital – where developers can learn, share, and collaborate. It’s about providing resources and then trusting developers to use them in ways you might never have imagined.

The New Face of DevRel

So, what does this new world of DevRel look like in practice? Let me paint you a picture:

Imagine a DevRel team that spends less time on stage and more time in GitHub discussions. They’re not just answering questions, but asking them too, genuinely seeking input from the community on everything from feature prioritization to documentation improvements.

Picture developer events that are less about showcasing products and more about solving real problems. Workshops where the agenda is set by the attendees, not the sponsors. Hackathons where the goal isn’t to use a specific API, but to create something genuinely useful, with whatever tools fit the job best.

Envision a world where a company’s most valuable DevRel asset isn’t their slide deck, but their open source contributions. Where success is measured not by the number of business cards collected, but by the pull requests merged and the stackoverflow questions answered.

This is the new face of DevRel. It’s messier, less controllable, and infinitely more exciting than the old ways.

Embracing the Revolution

Now, I can already hear some of you protesting. “But wait,” you’re saying, “we still need to promote our products! We still need to hit our numbers!”

You’re not wrong. At the end of the day, most of us in DevRel still work for companies that need to make money. But here’s the kicker: this new approach, when done right, is actually more effective at driving adoption and loyalty than the old evangelism model ever was.

Why? Because it’s built on trust, on genuine relationships, on providing real value to developers. And in a world where developers have more choice than ever, trust and genuine value are the most precious commodities of all.

The Path Forward

So, where do we go from here? If you’re in DevRel, it’s time for some serious self-reflection. Are you still relying on the old evangelism playbook, or are you adapting to this new reality?

Here’s my challenge to you: Take a hard look at your DevRel strategy. Are you talking more than you’re listening? Are you showcasing more than you’re collaborating? Are you focused on short-term wins at the expense of long-term community building?

If the answer to any of these is yes, it might be time for a revolution of your own.

The future of DevRel isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right questions, fostering the right conversations, and building spaces where developers can thrive. It’s about being a partner, a facilitator, a community member – not just a spokesperson.

The age of the developer evangelist is over. The age of the developer enabler has begun. Are you ready for it?

Picture this: You’re at a bustling tech conference, chatting with a developer who’s using your company’s API. She’s excited about the product but mentions a pain point that’s been bugging her team for months. You make a mental note, thinking, “Our engineering team needs to hear this!”

Fast forward to Monday morning. You’re sitting in a product roadmap meeting, surrounded by engineers and product managers. As they discuss the next quarter’s plans, you realize: This is your moment. You’re about to transform from a DevRel professional into a bridge—a human connection between the outside developer world and your internal teams.

Welcome to the high-wire act of DevRel in product development. It’s part translator, part diplomat, and part fortune teller. Confused? Don’t worry; we’re about to unpack this crucial role and show you how to nail it.

The DevRel Dilemma: Caught Between Two Worlds

Let’s face it: as a DevRel professional, you often feel like you’re living a double life. On one side, you’re immersed in the developer community, hearing their triumphs, frustrations, and wildest feature requests. On the other, you’re part of your company’s team, privy to the constraints, plans, and vision that shape your product.

It’s like being bilingual in a world where each side speaks a different language. Developers talk in terms of use cases, integration challenges, and “wouldn’t it be cool if…” While internally, it’s all about sprint cycles, resource allocation, and strategic priorities.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it (who are we kidding, it’s in your job description), is to bridge this gap. But how? Let’s break it down.

The Art of Translation: From Developer Feedback to Product Insights

Remember that developer at the conference? Her feedback is gold—but only if you can translate it into something your product and engineering teams can use. This is where the art of “developer feedback translation” comes in.

Here’s the secret: It’s not about relaying messages; it’s about telling stories. Instead of saying, “Developers want feature X,” try painting a picture: “I spoke with a team lead from a fintech startup. They’re trying to use our API to build a real-time transaction monitoring system, but they’re hitting a wall because of limitation Y. This is causing them to consider alternative solutions.”

See the difference? You’re not just passing along a feature request; you’re providing context, use cases, and potential business impact. You’re speaking the language of product development while representing the voice of developers.

Pro tip: Start collecting these stories systematically. Create a “developer feedback repository” where you and your team can log these insights. Over time, you’ll start seeing patterns that can inform larger product decisions.

The Roadmap Whisperer: Influencing Product Direction

Now that you’re fluent in translating developer feedback, it’s time to level up: influencing the product roadmap. This is where things get really interesting.

Imagine you’re in that product roadmap meeting we mentioned earlier. The team is discussing priorities for the next quarter. This is your chance to be the “roadmap whisperer”—advocating for developer needs in a way that aligns with business goals.

Here’s how to nail it:

  1. Come armed with data: “Based on our community forums and support tickets, 40% of our enterprise users are struggling with this particular API limitation.”
  2. Link to business outcomes: “By addressing this, we could potentially increase adoption among enterprise clients by 25%.”
  3. Offer solutions, not just problems: “I’ve spoken with our top users, and here are three potential approaches we could take…”
  4. Think long-term: “This might seem like a minor issue now, but as we expand into the IoT market next year, it’s going to become critical.”

Remember, your unique value is your bird’s-eye view of both external developer needs and internal company goals. Use it to your advantage!

The Feedback Loop: Keeping Developers in the Development Cycle

So, you’ve successfully influenced the product roadmap. Developers are going to love the new features coming down the pike. Job done, right? Not so fast!

One of the most crucial roles of DevRel in product development is maintaining a constant feedback loop. This means keeping developers informed about what’s coming, gathering their input during development, and managing expectations.

Consider implementing a “developer preview” program where select community members get early access to new features. Their feedback can be invaluable in refining the product before general release.

But here’s the kicker: this feedback loop goes both ways. Just as you bring developer insights to your internal teams, you also need to communicate product decisions back to the community—even when those decisions might not be popular.

This is where your diplomacy skills come into play. You might find yourself explaining to developers why that feature they’ve been clamoring for isn’t on the roadmap, or why a beloved API is being deprecated. It’s not always fun, but it’s a crucial part of maintaining trust and transparency with your community.

The Crystal Ball: Anticipating Future Developer Needs

Here’s where things get really exciting. As a DevRel professional deeply embedded in both the developer community and your product team, you’re in a unique position to anticipate future needs.

You’re not just reacting to current feedback; you’re proactively identifying trends that could shape your product’s future. Maybe you’re seeing a surge of interest in serverless architectures among your community members. Or perhaps you’re noticing that developers are increasingly asking about AI integration capabilities.

Bringing these insights to your product team isn’t just helpful—it can be game-changing. You’re essentially giving them a crystal ball, a glimpse into the future demands of your market.

To do this effectively:

  1. Stay on top of industry trends: Attend conferences, read widely, and engage in discussions beyond just your product’s ecosystem.
  2. Look for patterns in developer behavior: Are there common workarounds developers are using? These could point to unmet needs.
  3. Engage in “what if” discussions with your most innovative users: Their blue-sky thinking could inspire your product’s next big feature.
  4. Collaborate with your sales and marketing teams: They might be hearing different perspectives that could complement your insights.

The Human Element: Building Empathy Across Teams

At the end of the day, your most powerful tool in bridging the gap between developers and engineering teams is empathy. You have the unique opportunity to humanize both sides to each other.

For your internal teams, this might mean bringing in developers for face-to-face (or virtual) meetings. Nothing builds understanding quite like hearing directly from users. For your developer community, it could involve showcasing the human side of your engineering team through blog posts, interviews, or AMAs.

By fostering this mutual understanding, you’re not just building a bridge—you’re creating a two-way street of communication and collaboration.

The Never-Ending Story

Bridging the gap between developers and engineering teams isn’t a one-time task; it’s an ongoing journey. It requires persistence, creativity, and a whole lot of communication. But when done right, it can lead to better products, happier developers, and a more aligned organization.

So, DevRel superstar, are you ready to be the bridge? To translate, influence, anticipate, and empathize? The developers are waiting on one side, the product team on the other, and you’re the one who can bring them together.

Remember, in the grand story of product development, you’re not just a character—you’re the narrator, the translator, and sometimes, the hero. Now go forth and bridge that gap!