Tools, platforms, and resources for marketing to software developers.
The usual marketing tactics don't work on developers. They decide what to use by reading docs, scanning repos, and hearing from people they trust -- not by sitting through demos. This list covers what developer marketing teams actually use.
- Developer Advertising Platforms
- Sponsorship Marketplaces
- Developer Newsletters for Sponsorship
- Content Marketing Platforms
- Newsletter Platforms
- Documentation Platforms
- Developer Communities and Networks
- Community Management Tools
- Developer Relations Tools
- Open Source Marketing
- Product-Led Growth
- Developer Experience
- Analytics and Attribution
- Market Research
- Social Media for Developers
- Video and Streaming Tools
- Events and Conferences
- Developer Marketing Agencies
- Case Studies
- Books
- Blogs, Newsletters, and Podcasts
- Guides and Frameworks
Paid ad networks and platforms for reaching developer audiences.
- BuySellAds - Ad marketplace connecting advertisers with developer and tech publisher inventory, also operates the Carbon Ads network.
- daily.dev Ads - Native advertising platform for reaching developers through in-feed and email digest placements across the daily.dev network.
- EthicalAds - Privacy-focused ad network for developer sites, run by the team behind Read the Docs.
- Stack Overflow Advertising - Advertising products targeting developers by technology tags on Stack Overflow.
- Reddit Ads - Self-serve advertising platform with targeting for programming and technology subreddits.
- Google Ads - Search and display advertising with keyword targeting for developer-related queries.
- LinkedIn Ads - Professional network advertising with job title and skills-based targeting for technical roles.
Platforms for finding and booking sponsorships across developer channels.
- Paved - Marketplace for buying sponsorship placements in developer and tech newsletters.
- Passionfroot - Platform for booking sponsorships with developer content creators and newsletters.
- AdvertiseCast - Podcast advertising marketplace with tech and developer show inventory.
- Podcorn - Marketplace connecting brands with podcast hosts for integrated sponsorships.
- plug.dev - Platform connecting developer tool companies with developer influencers for campaigns across YouTube, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and newsletters.
Newsletters reaching developer audiences that accept sponsorships or advertising.
- TLDR - Daily newsletter covering tech, startups, and programming with topic-specific editions for AI, web dev, DevOps, and more.
- daily.dev Digest - Personalized developer content digest reaching 1.6M+ developers weekly.
- JavaScript Weekly - Weekly JavaScript and web development news roundup, part of the Cooper Press network.
- Bytes - Twice-weekly JavaScript and web development newsletter with a conversational style.
- PyCoder's Weekly - Weekly Python newsletter covering articles, tools, and job listings.
- Cooper Press - Publisher of language-specific newsletters including Node Weekly, Golang Weekly, Ruby Weekly, and React Status.
- Changelog - Weekly newsletter covering open source and software development news.
- Real Python - Weekly Python tips and tutorials newsletter for Python developers.
- Console - Weekly newsletter highlighting new and interesting developer tools.
- Hacker Newsletter - Weekly curated digest of the top stories from Hacker News.
- Software Lead Weekly - Weekly newsletter for engineering managers and technical leaders.
- This Week in React - Weekly newsletter covering React, React Native, and the surrounding ecosystem.
- Quastor - Backend engineering newsletter covering system design, data engineering, and distributed systems.
- iOS Dev Weekly - Hand-picked roundup of the best iOS development links delivered weekly.
- Last Week in AWS - Weekly newsletter covering AWS news, changes, and cloud infrastructure updates.
- CSS Weekly - Weekly roundup of CSS articles, tutorials, experiments, and tools.
- Kotlin Weekly - Weekly newsletter covering Kotlin development, libraries, and ecosystem news.
Platforms for publishing technical content to reach developer audiences.
- Dev.to - Community platform where developers publish and discuss technical articles.
- Hashnode - Blogging platform for developers with custom domain support and built-in community features.
- Medium - Publishing platform hosting developer-focused publications like Better Programming and Level Up Coding.
- HackerNoon - Technology publishing platform with community-driven editorial review.
- freeCodeCamp News - Publication by the freeCodeCamp community covering programming tutorials and career topics.
- DZone - Developer knowledge platform with community-contributed articles on Java, DevOps, and cloud.
- InfoQ - Technology media platform covering software development practices and architecture.
- SitePoint - Web development publisher with tutorials, books, and community forums.
- daily.dev Squads - Group publishing feature on daily.dev for creating developer-focused communities around topics, projects, or teams.
Tools for building and sending your own developer-focused newsletter.
- Substack - Newsletter publishing platform with built-in subscriptions and audience growth tools.
- Beehiiv - Newsletter platform with growth features, ad network, and audience analytics.
- ConvertKit - Email marketing platform for creators with automation and subscriber tagging.
- Buttondown - Minimal newsletter tool with Markdown support and API access, popular among developers.
- Ghost - Open source publishing platform with built-in newsletter and membership features.
- Mailchimp - Email marketing platform with audience management and campaign analytics.
- Resend - Developer-first email API for transactional and marketing emails with React Email integration.
Tools for building developer documentation that doubles as a marketing and adoption channel.
- Mintlify - Documentation platform with built-in analytics, optimized for developer tools and APIs.
- ReadMe - API documentation and developer hub platform with usage analytics and personalization.
- Docusaurus - Open source documentation site generator by Meta, widely used for technical docs.
- GitBook - Documentation platform with collaborative editing and Git sync.
- Read the Docs - Free documentation hosting for open source projects with versioning support.
- Nextra - Documentation site framework built on Next.js with MDX support.
- Starlight - Documentation site builder powered by Astro, optimized for speed and accessibility.
- Swagger UI - Open source tool for rendering interactive API documentation from OpenAPI specs.
Where developers spend their time online and find new tools.
- daily.dev - Developer content network where millions of developers find programming news and tools.
- Hacker News - Y Combinator's link aggregation and discussion forum for technology and startups.
- Reddit - Social platform with active developer subreddits including r/programming, r/webdev, r/devops, and r/experienceddevs.
- Stack Overflow - Q&A platform where developers ask and answer technical questions across every major language and framework.
- Discord - Chat platform hosting thousands of developer communities organized by language, framework, and project.
- GitHub Discussions - Built-in discussion forums attached to GitHub repositories for project-level conversation.
- Product Hunt - Product launch and discovery platform popular for developer tools and SaaS.
- Indie Hackers - Community for developers building and growing independent software products.
- Lobsters - Invite-only link aggregation site focused on computing and programming topics.
Tools for running developer communities and tracking engagement.
- Common Room - Community intelligence platform aggregating member engagement signals across channels.
- Discourse - Open source forum software used by many developer and open source communities.
- Circle - Community platform with spaces, events, and course features.
- Forem - Open source platform for building developer communities, the engine behind Dev.to.
- Luma - Event hosting platform for community meetups and virtual gatherings.
- Slack - Messaging platform used to host many developer community workspaces.
- Bettermode - Community platform with customizable spaces, gamification, and integrations.
Tools for managing DevRel programs, SDKs, and API experiences.
- Backstage - Open source developer portal framework by Spotify for managing services and documentation.
- Speakeasy - Platform that generates idiomatic client SDKs from API specifications.
- Fern - API development platform for generating SDKs and documentation from API definitions.
- Stainless - SDK generation tool that produces typed client libraries from OpenAPI specifications.
- Moesif - API analytics and monitoring platform for understanding developer usage patterns.
- Postman - API development platform for designing, testing, documenting, and sharing APIs.
- Stoplight - API design and governance platform with collaborative editing and style guides.
Using open source projects and ecosystems as distribution and growth channels.
- GitHub Sponsors - Built-in sponsorship for funding open source maintainers and projects on GitHub.
- Open Collective - Transparent fiscal hosting platform for open source project funding and sponsorship.
- Tidelift - Platform connecting enterprise subscribers with open source maintainers for commercial support.
- CNCF Landscape - Interactive map of cloud native technologies that many developer tools aim to be listed on.
- Hacktoberfest - Annual October event encouraging open source contributions, used by projects to attract new contributors.
- Good First Issues - Aggregator of beginner-friendly open source issues for attracting new contributors to a project.
- Thanks.dev - Automated funding distribution to the open source dependencies a project relies on.
Tools for building product-led growth motions in developer tools.
- PostHog - Open source product analytics suite with feature flags, session replay, and A/B testing.
- Amplitude - Product analytics platform for tracking user behavior and conversion funnels.
- Mixpanel - Event-based analytics for understanding user engagement and retention.
- LaunchDarkly - Feature flag management platform for progressive rollouts and experimentation.
- Statsig - Feature gating and experimentation platform with automated statistical analysis.
- Pendo - Product adoption platform with in-app guides, analytics, and feedback collection.
- June - Product analytics built for B2B SaaS with auto-generated company-level reports.
Tools for improving developer onboarding and the hands-on experience of using a product.
- CodeSandbox - Browser-based development environment for creating instant, shareable demos and code examples.
- StackBlitz - Browser-based IDE for running full Node.js projects instantly in the browser.
- Replit - Online coding environment with collaboration features, used for interactive tutorials and demos.
- Gitpod - Cloud development environment enabling one-click project setup for contributors and evaluators.
- DX - Survey platform for measuring developer experience and engineering productivity.
- Scarf - Package and container analytics for understanding open source adoption and download patterns.
- Haxor - Platform for observing developers using your product in real time to find UX friction.
Tools for measuring the effectiveness of developer marketing campaigns.
- Plausible - Privacy-friendly web analytics that works without cookies or personal data collection.
- Fathom - Simple, privacy-focused website analytics with GDPR compliance built in.
- Koala - Visitor identification and intent signal platform built for B2B software companies.
- HockeyStack - B2B marketing attribution platform connecting website activity to pipeline and revenue.
- Heap - Auto-capture analytics that records all user interactions without manual event instrumentation.
- Clearbit - Data enrichment platform for identifying companies visiting your documentation and marketing pages.
- UTM.io - UTM parameter management tool for consistent campaign tracking across marketing channels.
Reports, surveys, and data sources for understanding developer audiences.
- Stack Overflow Developer Survey - Annual survey covering developer tools, technologies, compensation, and work preferences.
- GitHub Octoverse - Annual report on open source development activity and language trends across GitHub.
- SlashData Developer Nation - Bi-annual survey of global developer populations segmented by language, platform, and region.
- JetBrains Developer Ecosystem Survey - Annual survey covering programming language adoption, tools, and development practices.
- State of JS - Annual survey tracking JavaScript ecosystem trends, frameworks, and developer satisfaction.
- State of CSS - Annual survey on CSS features, tooling, and developer preferences.
- Evans Data Developer Survey - Developer population research covering global workforce trends and technology adoption.
- DORA State of DevOps Report - Google's annual research on DevOps practices, team performance, and software delivery metrics.
- RedMonk Programming Language Rankings - Quarterly language popularity rankings based on GitHub and Stack Overflow activity.
Social platforms and tools for reaching developer audiences.
- Twitter / X - Social platform widely used for developer discussions, open source announcements, and technical threads.
- LinkedIn - Professional network for reaching engineering leaders and technical decision-makers.
- Mastodon - Decentralized social network with developer-focused instances like hachyderm.io and fosstodon.org.
- Bluesky - Decentralized social network with growing adoption among developers and open source maintainers.
- Typefully - Writing and scheduling tool for crafting Twitter/X threads and LinkedIn posts.
- Buffer - Social media scheduling and analytics platform for managing multi-channel posting.
Tools for creating developer-focused video and audio content.
- Loom - Screen and video recording tool commonly used for developer product demos and walkthroughs.
- OBS Studio - Free open source software for video recording and live streaming.
- Descript - Audio and video editor with AI transcription and text-based editing workflow.
- Riverside - Remote podcast and video recording platform with separate high-quality audio tracks.
- StreamYard - Browser-based live streaming studio for webinars and developer events.
- Transistor - Podcast hosting platform with analytics and support for multiple shows under one account.
Conferences and launch platforms relevant to developer marketing.
- DevRelCon - Conference series focused on developer relations strategy, tooling, and practice.
- CMX Summit - Annual conference for community builders and community-led growth practitioners.
- GitHub Universe - GitHub's annual developer conference for product launches and community engagement.
- KubeCon + CloudNativeCon - CNCF's flagship conference for cloud native technology with major sponsorship and exhibition presence.
- Web Summit - Large technology conference with developer-focused tracks and startup programs.
- DeveloperWeek - Multi-track developer conference with workshops, hiring fair, and product showcases.
- Collision - Technology conference in Toronto with developer and SaaS-focused programming.
- All Things Open - Open source technology conference covering community, adoption, and developer tooling.
Agencies and consultancies specializing in marketing to developer audiences.
- Catchy - Full-cycle developer marketing agency offering GTM strategy, demand generation, and developer experience services.
- Draft.dev - Technical content agency with a network of 300+ engineer-writers producing blog posts, tutorials, and video for developer tool companies.
- Dev Spotlight - Enterprise-focused technical content production covering blogs, whitepapers, ebooks, and tutorials.
- DevRel Bridge - Fractional DevRel agency providing content, community, events, and DX strategy without long-term contracts.
- Hoopy - DevRel consultancy offering strategy, audits, training, and content production, known for running the DevRelCon event series.
- DevRel.Agency - Developer experience audits and developer-led growth consulting, also runs the annual State of Developer Relations survey.
- Devrella - Boutique agency focused on developer marketing, branding, and community adoption for developer-first SaaS startups.
- Growtika - Developer-focused marketing agency specializing in B2D strategy, SEO, and technical content.
- Freeman & Forrest - Tech influencer marketing agency with an outcomes-based pricing model for event promotion and social campaigns.
- Literally.dev - Agency specializing in technical documentation, example applications, and developer adoption strategy.
- Hackmamba - Technical content marketing agency with a focus on documentation-driven growth and developer SEO.
- ércule - Content strategy agency focused on SEO, analytics, and editorial workflows for technology companies.
- Wizard on Demand - Boutique agency offering content marketing and paid media services for developer tools.
- Campfire Labs - Agency producing technical thought leadership content for technology companies.
- Growth Plays - GTM strategy and content consultancy for technical B2B SaaS companies.
- Infrasity - Technical content marketing agency offering startup-friendly pricing for B2B SaaS.
- Open Strategy Partners - B2B technology marketing agency specializing in messaging, content strategy, and thought leadership.
- DeveloperMedia - Media company focused on reaching developer decision-makers through advertising and audience research.
- Meridian DevRel - Fractional DevRel leadership and content creation with tiered monthly packages.
- Edify Content - Technical content agency with a credit-based pricing model focused on landing pages and lead generation.
Published growth stories and analyses of developer marketing strategies.
- Developer Marketing Examples - Curated collection of real developer marketing campaigns and strategies analyzed by Flo Merian.
- Heavybit Library - Talks, articles, and case studies on building and marketing developer products.
- First Round Review - In-depth company-building articles including developer tool growth stories from First Round Capital.
- PostHog Blog - Transparent writeups on developer marketing tactics, pricing experiments, and open source growth.
- OpenView Blog - Go-to-market analyses and case studies of developer-first and product-led companies.
- Foundation - Content marketing case studies and strategy analyses of B2B and developer tool companies.
Books on developer marketing and developer relations.
- Developer Marketing and Relations: The Essential Guide - SlashData's guide covering developer marketing strategy and program building.
- Developer Marketing Does Not Exist - Adam DuVander's guide to reaching technical audiences through authentic, developer-first approaches.
- The Business Value of Developer Relations - Mary Thengvall's book on building and measuring developer relations programs.
- Ask Your Developer - Jeff Lawson's book on how businesses can partner with developers and build developer-first cultures.
- Working in Public - Nadia Eghbal's research on open source communities and the economics of maintaining public projects.
- Developer, Advocate! - Conversations with developer advocates about building careers in DevRel, edited by Geertjan Wielenga.
- Developer Relations - Caroline Lewko and James Parton's guide to building and growing a developer relations program.
- Getting Started in Developer Relations - Sam Julien's ebook on breaking into and succeeding in developer relations.
- Picks and Shovels - Prashant Sridharan's guide to marketing developer tools during the AI era.
Ongoing publications about developer marketing strategy and practice.
- daily.dev Business Blog - Articles on developer marketing strategy, campaign planning, and reaching technical audiences.
- Developer Markepear - Newsletter on developer marketing with real examples and campaign breakdowns by Flo Merian.
- DevRel Weekly - Weekly newsletter curating articles about developer relations, community, and advocacy.
- Draft.dev Blog - Guides on technical content marketing for developer-focused companies.
- Scaling DevTools Newsletter - Newsletter about building and growing developer tool businesses.
- DevRelX - Research and articles on developer relations trends, tools, and program strategy.
- Every Developer - Developer marketing strategy blog and resources by Adam DuVander.
- Developer Avocados Weekly - Weekly newsletter curating developer advocacy and DevRel resources.
- Scaling DevTools - Podcast with interviews on building and growing developer tool companies.
- Community Pulse - Podcast covering community management and developer advocacy topics.
Reference guides, methodologies, and frameworks for developer marketing.
- The Developer Advocacy Handbook - Christian Heilmann's free online guide to developer advocacy practices and strategy.
- Community-Led Growth by Commsor - Framework and resources for using developer community as a growth engine.
- How to Market to Developers by Heavybit - Practical primer on developer marketing fundamentals from the Heavybit accelerator.
- DevRel Collective Resources - Community-curated collection of developer relations tools, articles, and speaking resources.
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