In my previous posts, I talked about what a developer community is, why it's important and how to build a developer community. Now let's look at what to do if you're a developer. Why would you want to get involved in developer communities, and how do you find them.
Whether you’re stepping into a local meetup or joining an online Discord server, developer communities offer one of the fastest routes to career growth. But how do you find a good developer community? Let's outline what to look out for in a great developer community.
How to evaluate a community
Before diving in, evaluate the space against key signals:
- Is it active? Check if meetups are regular and online channels have recent, healthy discussions.
- Is it vendor-orchestrated or community-first? Determine if the space offers genuine support and learning, or if it's just a channel for vendor self-promotion.
- Does it match your goals and preferences? Does the stack fit your interests (e.g., Python) and engagement style (async forums vs. live stream coding).
Choose your contribution style
You don't need to be a keynote speaker on day one. Determine the role that fits your current capacity:
- Passive listener: Attend meetups, read threads, and absorb best practices quietly.
- Active builder: Share what you're building, ask questions, or answer questions from your peers.
- Formal champion: Step into an ambassador role, write documentation, host meetups, attend round tables with product managers.
Maximise your individual ROI
Ask yourself these basic diagnostic questions regularly:
- Do I feel safe, respected, and welcomed here?
- Is my feedback being heard and actioned on?
- Am I unblocked technically, building my network, and gaining new opportunities?
- Am I continuously learning?
The golden rule of developer communities is simple: the more you engage—whether fixing a documentation typo or speaking on stage—the more value you extract for your career, and the more you empower others to do the same.
Practical tips for engaging in an online community
Okay, so now you have a good overview of what it means to have a great community. What does that look like in practice? Let's look at some practical tips for engaging with a developer community. Many of these tips apply whether you are joining an online, in-person, or hybrid community.
Welcoming and onboarding
Look out for welcoming and onboarding guides. These might come in the form of official onboarding for a Discord channel, a prompt for "join group on Meetup.com", or a registration desk when you join an in-person event. It's important to read any information that comes with welcome and onboarding and any other information the community offers when you join.
When you join a new community, take the opportunity to introduce yourself, your interests, and what you might be able to offer the community. If you want to start as a more passive community member, join channels and see what others are doing.
Rules and guidelines
As part of your onboarding, there are usually rules and guidelines that you need to recognise, read, and adhere to. Doing so will earn you favour within that community and you’ll get the most out of it. Make sure you follow the directions of moderators and enforcers to ensure you have a good and enjoyable time.
Read and adhere to any guidelines posted:
Contribute in ways that make sense
Think about the kind of community member you want to be. In the previous article I outlined the tiers of a developer community from passive to active members, formal ambassadors, leaders, and internal members. What is it you want to do? Do you want to be a speaker, even if you've never been one? Connect with others for mentoring, offer to host or chair a session where you get to introduce a speaker to give you a taste of what it's like.
Share and contribute in the correct channels. If you have a project you want to share, look for a #show-and-tell Discord channel or a "project" flair on Reddit. Always follow the guidelines the moderators have set out and don't always be just a poster. Check if others have posted similar information and join that conversation rather than starting a new one. If you start to become active in a community, people will see this, and it can increase your career and job prospects.
Find the right channels and contribute in the correct way:
Make the most of live events
One of the great things about live events is they are live. Whether they are in-person or online, the ability to interact in real-time is valuable. Take these opportunities to ask questions, learn from others, or even just react with a "hello" or emoji. Once your name is known, you're out there, and it does wonders for your networking. During these live events, look out for specific members of a community. They could be identified by Discord tags, Reddit flairs, Twitch badges, or conference lanyards. Network with these key people and immerse yourself in the community.
Go and join a community
Now you have some practical tips around finding and getting involved in developer communities. I hope this is insightful, and if you have tips to share, post them in the comments, or let me know which ones helped you the most.
For the community managers, leaders, and Developer Relations people out there, make sure you check out my article on building great developer communities.
