Fellow developers, have you ever wondered why some companies have an entire team dedicated to "developer relations?" This may seem like a new concept, but in reality, developer relations has been around for quite some time.
In this article, we will explore what developer relations is, the purpose it serves, and why it is vital for the success of both developers and companies.
What is Developer Relations?
In simple terms, developer relations (DevRel) is a set of activities and practices aimed at building and maintaining relationships between developers and companies. These activities may include organizing hackathons, creating open-source projects, offering developer-focused content and resources, and more.
The ultimate goal of DevRel is to help developers be successful using a company's products and services, while also providing valuable feedback to the company about how to improve those products and services.
The History of Developer Relations
While developer relations may seem like a modern concept, it has been around since the early days of computing. One of the earliest examples of DevRel is the IBM Developer Network, which was established in the 1980s to support developers working with IBM products. Since then, many other companies, from startups to large corporations, have established their own DevRel programs.
The Purpose of Developer Relations
The purpose of developer relations is twofold: to help developers be successful and to help companies improve their products and services. Developers are the heart and soul of the tech industry, and their success is essential to the success of any company that creates software or technology.
By providing developers with the resources, support, and community they need, companies can help ensure that their products are used and loved by developers around the world.
At the same time, DevRel also helps companies improve their products and services. By engaging with developers and listening to their feedback, companies can learn how to make their products better and more useful for their customers.
DevRel also helps companies build trust and credibility with developers, which can be critical in an industry where word-of-mouth recommendations and referrals are so important.
Why Developer Relations is Vital for Success
Developer relations is vital for the success of both developers and companies. For developers, DevRel provides access to valuable resources, including documentation, sample code, tutorials, and more. DevRel also helps developers build relationships with other developers, which can lead to collaboration, mentoring, and other opportunities.
For companies, DevRel is essential for building and maintaining relationships with developers, who are often the primary users of their products and services. DevRel also helps companies gain valuable feedback about their products and services, which can help them improve those products and better serve their customers.
Keep Going
Developer Relations is a critical component of the tech industry, with a long history and a bright future. By providing developers with the resources, support, and community they need, companies can help ensure the success of both developers and their own products and services.
As developers, we should be grateful for the efforts of DevRel teams around the world, and as companies, we should continue to invest in these programs to ensure the success of our industry as a whole.