DevRel's Death as Zero Interest Rate Phenomenon
Growing concerns surround Developer Relations (DevRel) decline in tech, yet San Francisco's demand for DevRel professionals remains high. Layoffs and reduced compensation impact junior roles. DevRelCon participation drops, signaling market changes. Companies like Tailwind CSS thrive without extensive DevRel teams, hinting at industry shifts. Reevaluation and alignment with company goals are urged for DevRel strategies to evolve and stay relevant.
Read original articleIn the past six months, there has been a growing discussion about the potential decline of Developer Relations (DevRel) in the tech industry. Despite this speculation, the demand for DevRel professionals in San Francisco remains high, indicating the continued importance of DevRel in raising developer awareness and education. The industry has seen layoffs and compensation decreases, particularly affecting junior roles. DevRelCon has experienced a decline in participation, reflecting a shift in the market. Companies like Tailwind CSS, PlanetScale, and LangChain have succeeded without extensive DevRel teams, suggesting a changing landscape in the industry. The article highlights past shortcomings in DevRel practices during the Zero Interest Rate Phenomenon (ZIRP), emphasizing the need for a reevaluation of strategies and a focus on aligning DevRel efforts with company goals. Moving forward, there is a call for the evolution of DevRel practices to adapt to the changing industry dynamics and ensure continued relevance.
Related
Alas, in these days we & our companies are having more of a burnt out Gluetrain Manifesto moment/age (through probably only a little bit of fault of DevRels). https://doc.searls.com/2008/08/10/remembering-gluetrain/
I definitely felt the bottom fall out of the DevRel job market. My last company eliminated the position (though maybe I wasn't any good, I don't know... )