This is part of the dev.to Official Help Guide. See more community resources here: https://dev.to/help/community-resources
Important Information: This post is not a "get popular fast" approach. This guide is meant to help people get the most out of dev.to. Keep in mind that this post will continue to be refined and modified based on community feedback to make this the most beginners friendly guide into being part of the Dev.to community! Feedback in the comments is appreciated!
All Images are own by The Pokemon Company!
Introduction 👋
If you are new to Dev.to or are veteran, welcome! This article allows you to get started on Dev.to whether you are new on the platform or returning and in need of a refresher. Whether what it may be, this article is for everyone!
To get started, understand one thing! Dev.to is a space where developers come together and interact within the community with inclusiveness when it comes to sharing one’s journey in the development world. We must treat others with respect and understand we all have different views on various subjects.
This article is a guide that allows you to get the most out of Dev.to and in hopes that this platform will leverage you in your professional career!
Dev.to Profile 🧑💻
Your Dev.to profile is the most important part! It allows others to see who you are! Here are some things you can add to your profile as a starter:
Header: Under your name, add what your role is and other things you believe are important. For example, I added my role and a quote that stood by me as a developer. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it’s a good starting point for others to know your occupation and what you are up to.
Skills/Languages: Add your skills and Languages that you use in your development. It can be Python, Java, etc.
Currently Learning: Add what you are learning right now as a developer. It can be “Learning AI” for example.
Currently Hacking on: It essentially means what you are currently “building”. If you are not building anything, that’s ok!
Available for: This means a lot of things. It could mean that you are currently available seeking opportunities to contribute to open source or a subject to talk about.
Check out my profile as reference:
Note: You do not need to fill out everything that I have listed. However, it is helpful for others to understand you and your niche. It is a great first steps into other seeing who you are in a unique way.
Writing your Posts 📄
When making your post on Dev.to, there are some things to keep in mind. You don’t need to be a perfect writer. Writing from a learner’s perspective is important on Dev.to and it makes you stand out from the crowd! Your post can range from:
- Documenting your daily/weekly/monthly journey.
- Talking about a specific topic (Ex: AI, learning Python, etc).
- Funny Developer Jokes.
- Any topic related to development in some way!
You can write about anything you want. Just to keep in mind to keep it "developer" related. Remember, it will be difficult at first, but the more you start putting yourself out there, the more people will meet! Check out @javz post on his experience on DEV:
If you would like to learn more about writing your post and how to make a great post, take a look at these resources:
Pro Tip: There is no such thing as a “correct” posting schedule on Dev.to. Some people write weekly while others write daily. However, the most important thing is consistency. If you are engaging with a community in a healthy way, it’s a win-win (You get to learn and grow as a developer and you gain connections on Dev.to)!
Disclaimer: If you used AI to assist on your writing in some way, it is highly recommend to leave a disclaimer with the intention of how you used AI.
Interacting with the Dev.to Community 💬
Engagement on Dev.to is the best way to get yourself out there in the community. How else would anyone know you? There is a lot of great topics on Dev.to and there is no pressure into reading the topics that stood out to you.
When engaging to a post, it is not about “farming for likes”. It is about having a genuine conversation about the topic. That is what makes Dev.to a great space. You get actual feedback from users about the topic you wrote and being able to learn something new instead of seeing comments like “Great Post!”. The way I approach commenting is starting off what reside with me and what to add on. For example,
“I agree about what you say about ‘X’. [Anything to add in that first sentence].”
That way, you will get engagement naturally and will receive genuine responses.
Another thing to note is to remember to be respectful to other people's point of view. The general vibe you may experience in the comments section in the post:
- Suggestions or alternative approaches.
- Questions that spark deeper thinking.
- Encouragement from people who’ve been there before.
The key is to stay open. Not every comment will perfectly align with your perspective, but most are written with the intention to help. Responding thoughtfully builds trust and shows that you value the community aspect of the platform.
Here is an example of a post with an engaging discussion by @sylwia-lask:
Of course, your comment doesn't need to be professional. It can just be casual. Just be yourself and enjoy reading other people's thoughts! A great way is to follow @ben! He post "Meme Monday" every Monday (Who would have thought) and it's great way to showcase your sense of humor and just to have fun if you would like to take a break from reading! Here is one of the Meme Monday post below as an example:
Meme Monday
Pro Tip: Balance is key when you are both posting and commenting on other people's post! These small interactions go a long way on Dev.to and it is a way to grow your following. For me, I started commenting before I made my first post on Dev.to! A great balance allows you to get recognize from the community.
Other Fun Things Dev.to Offers! 🥳
Here are some things you can also do on Dev.to!
Participate in Dev.to Hackathons/Challenges!
Dev.to offer events every month where you get the chance to participate in challenges. Events usually last either a minimum of a few days to a few months! It is a great way to showcase your work to others on Dev.to and even on the MLH discord server! Here is one example where they announce the Google Gemini Writing Challenge along with the Winners!
Keep a lookout for events and make sure to participate on the Dev.to Challenges Page!
Pro Tip: When submitting to any challenges, the most likes on a post DOES NOT mean you will guarantee win the challenge. In my experience, winners tend to have little engagement to no engagement at all! With that said, do not be overwhelmed by the likes. Focus on polishing your work!
Did you know: You win serious prizes such as cash, items, and even a Dev++ Membership for Free!!
Dev.to Education Tracks!
If you like to learn and earn certifications to build your portfolio as a developer, the Dev Education Track is the go-to! You get great experience and will prepare you for your career in tech! Keep in mind that more courses are to be publish in the future!
DEV is open source!
You hear that right. dev.to is built on Forem (For Empowering Community)! It is own by the same developers who owns dev.to, @ben, @jess, and @peter!
If you want to get into open-source and know the full stack, Forem is a great place to get your feet wet and understanding how dev.to runs! Learn more here:
Want to contribute and make dev.to a great place for developers? Visit the official GitHub Repository below!
Forem 🌱
Welcome to the Forem codebase, the platform that powers dev.to. We are so excited to have you. With your help, we can build out Forem’s usability, scalability, and stability to better serve our communities.
What is Forem?
Forem is open source software for building communities. Communities for your peers, customers, fanbases, families, friends, and any other time and space where people need to come together to be part of a collective See our announcement post for a high-level overview of what Forem is.
dev.to (or just DEV) is hosted by Forem. It is a community of software developers who write articles, take part in discussions, and build their professional profiles. We value supportive and constructive dialogue in the pursuit of great code and career growth for all members. The ecosystem spans from beginner to advanced developers, and all are welcome to find their place…
Congratulations! You made it! 🙌
You have made it to the end of the guide! If you find this helpful, leave a like and share to others who are new or returning to Dev.to! Thanks for reading and hope your journey goes well on Dev.to! Any question about DEV can be reach out below:
Fun Fact: If you engage with the Dev.to community, you may be entitled to be a Dev.to Mod! Check out the Community Moderation page for more information: https://dev.to/community-moderation
