DEV.to is more than just a blogging platform — it’s a thriving community for developers to share knowledge, learn, and grow. Whether you’re new to DEV or have been around for a while, here are 10 essential features every member should know about:
1. 📝 Write & Publish Articles
The core of DEV is writing. You can share tutorials, case studies, opinions, or personal stories. DEV supports Markdown, making it simple to format your posts with code snippets, images, and embeds.
2. 🏷️ Use Tags Effectively
Tags are powerful for discoverability. When writing, you can add up to 4 tags that describe your article. Popular tags like #javascript, #python, #webdev, and #programming can help reach the right audience.
3. 💬 Engage Through Comments
DEV isn’t just about writing — it’s about conversation. Engage with readers and writers in the comments. Meaningful discussions often add as much value as the article itself.
4. 🔖 Save Posts with Reading List
Found something interesting but no time to read? Hit “Save” and add it to your Reading List. You can access it anytime from your profile to keep track of useful resources.
5. ❤️ Reactions & Unicorns
Besides a standard like (❤️), DEV offers fun reactions like unicorns 🦄 for magical posts and raised hands 🙌 for agreement. These small touches make engagement more expressive.
6. 🌱 Follow Authors & Tags
Build your feed by following your favorite authors and tags. This personalizes your experience so you see content that matches your interests and career growth goals.
7. 📊 Analytics for Writers
When you publish, you can track how your article performs through built-in analytics. View stats like page views, reactions, and comment activity to understand what resonates with readers.
👉 You can access analytics by going to your Dashboard → Posts → “Stats” on any article.
8. 🤝 Connecting with Other Members
DEV encourages open and public interactions. You can connect with others in two simple ways:
- Comments → Share your thoughts, ask questions, or start conversations directly under posts.
- Profile links → Many members include links to their GitHub, Twitter, portfolio, or email on their profiles if they’re open to external connections.
This approach keeps discussions transparent while still giving you ways to network with developers outside the platform.
9. 🚀 Forem & Open Source Nature
DEV is powered by Forem, an open-source platform. This means the community can contribute improvements, request features, or even spin up their own communities using the same software.
10. 🎯 DEV Challenges
One of the most exciting ways to participate on DEV is through DEV Challenges. These are themed, community-wide prompts where you can share articles, tutorials, or projects around a specific topic.
Here’s why Challenges are worth exploring:
- Learn by doing → Each challenge gives you a theme or problem to solve, encouraging you to experiment with new technologies or practices.
- Boost your visibility → Challenge submissions often get featured and attract more reactions, comments, and followers than standard posts.
- Connect with the community → Since many people contribute, challenges spark discussions and let you see diverse approaches to the same topic.
- Gain recognition → Some challenges are sponsored and include special shoutouts, badges, or even small prizes for participants.
👉 You can find active and past challenges directly on DEV’s Challenge page.
✅ Final Thoughts
DEV.to is more than a blogging site — it’s a learning hub, networking space, and open-source project. By using these 10 features, you’ll get the most out of your experience, whether you’re here to learn, share, or connect.
Top comments (2)
Thanks for sharing!
Welcome! 👍