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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. 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)!
Reading and Engaging with the 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! 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 badges for your profile, the "Dev Education Track" is the go-to! You get great experience and will prepare you for your career in tech!
Congratulations! You made it!
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
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!
IMPORTANT: This post is an Unofficial Dev.to Guide and it is not a "get popular fast" approach. This guide is meant to help people getting the most out of Dev.to. Take everything on this post as a grain of salt! 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!
Top comments (15)
Thank you so much for the mention! 😊
I genuinely love the discussions on DEV, especially when a post actually makes people stop and think.
When I publish more technical articles, the comment section often turns into a full-on conference Q&A session, which honestly feels like the best kind of warm-up 😄
Woah. This is really helpful! I got a few great ideas myself out of reading, thanks for sharing! 🙏
Hey hey Swift, the CEO of MLH! Thanks for reading and appreciate the comment!! Glad you got great ideas from this. Hope you are doing well! :D
I am new to DEV.to, really new a few days only. I have commented a few times in posts that I truly admire, cause there is really good material in here.
I am new to programming, I want to become a Data Analyst, either freelancing or employed, and I need some Python get going on, so I try to learn.
What I think is a bit hard for me - is to find within DEV.to, commenting or posting material that is understandable for people that are just starting, like me.
To be honest, I do not have a clue what MCP is, what Notion is, and many many other things are almost unknown to me, I may have read a name or heard a name of those, but I don't have a clue.
This post was a lovely one. Thank you.
Love this! Some good pointers on how to get started.
A tip I would add to this guide is to check out ongoing challenges regularly as they provide a way to engage and get inspired + structure to write posts around a certain theme or project built. Also they are fun to participate in and you can win nice prizes!
Hey Julien! Great idea (forgot to add that lol). Will add it in a bit! Thanks! :D
Well said! Thank you to provide a guidance for the new dev. members. It will give them some positive message.
Thanks Benjamin! Especially would be useful to share in the Welcome Thread as well, so others can have a great start on their journey on dev.to! :D
Appreciate it!!
Thank you :).
I love a good unofficial guide!
Indeed Amara! Gotta add a disclaimer there so other would not think I am a dev.to staff lol. I appreciate the comment and thanks for reading!!
Thank you! I greatly appreciate the information! 🙏 🤲
Thanks Daft! :D
Great post ! very helpful !
Thanks! Appreciate it :D