Developer relations is where an API operation puts real people between its technology and its consumers. I want every serious API to have someone whose job is to support developers, gather their feedback, and advocate for their needs inside the organization. Developer relations closes the loop that turns one-time integrators into long-term partners. I have seen developer relations make or break API programs, because it is the human function that catches everything the documentation and the gateway miss. Investing in DevRel is investing in the relationship, not just the product, and that relationship is what compounds over years. The operations that staff this well are the ones consumers actually trust.
APIs Invest in Developer Relations
Policies
Developer Relations Program
Require that any API meant for real adoption is backed by a developer relations function responsible for supporting, advocating for, and growing its community of consumers. Endpoints and documentat...
Community Engagement Channels
Require that an API provides real channels for its community to engage, whether a forum, chat, mailing list, or regular office hours. Consumers need a place to ask questions, share solutions, and c...
Experiences
Advocacy
Advocacy is the experience of an API having someone in its corner, speaking up for its consumers and carrying their needs back into the operation. Developer relations, evangelism, and outreach are ...
Developer Experience
Developer experience is the sum of every interaction a developer has with an API, from the first time they land on the portal to the hundredth time they call an endpoint in production. It covers do...
Community
Community is the experience of an API having a living network of people who use it, support each other, and shape where it goes. A forum, a Slack, a set of active contributors, or just consumers wh...
