Book Image

Developer, Advocate!

By : Geertjan Wielenga
Book Image

Developer, Advocate!

By: Geertjan Wielenga

Overview of this book

What exactly is a developer advocate, and how do they connect developers and companies around the world? Why is the area of developer relations set to explode? Can anybody with a passion for tech become a developer advocate? What are the keys to success on a global scale? How does a developer advocate maintain authenticity when balancing the needs of their company and their tech community? What are the hot topics in areas including Java, JavaScript, "tech for good," artificial intelligence, blockchain, the cloud, and open source? These are just a few of the questions addressed by developer advocate and author Geertjan Wielenga in Developer, Advocate!. 32 of the industry's most prominent developer advocates, from companies including Oracle, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, open up about what it's like to turn a lifelong passion for knowledge sharing about tech into a rewarding career. These advocates run the gamut from working at large software vendors to small start-ups, along with independent developer advocates who work within organizations or for themselves. In Developer, Advocate!, readers will see how developer advocates are actively changing the world, not only for developers, but for individuals and companies navigating the fast-changing tech landscape. More importantly, Developer, Advocate! serves as a rallying cry to inspire and motivate tech enthusiasts and burgeoning developer advocates to get started and take their first steps within their tech community.
Table of Contents (36 chapters)
34
Other Books You May Enjoy
35
Index
36
Packt

Variation in the role

Heather VanCura: Yes, I like to do different things because I get bored easily. I like that there's a technical challenge to this job. I don't have a technical background, but I understand and have learned about tech at a high level. I've had to learn that. There's always something new to learn from people and the way they use Java around the world.

There are many different jobs that one can have within this industry. Often, people think that tech is not for them because they don't see themselves as being a programmer. There are many different roles and being a developer advocate is one of them. There are different official job descriptions for that position, as we've discussed. You wouldn't necessarily say that the chairperson of the JCP is an advocate, but that's definitely part of my job.

Geertjan Wielenga: Earlier, you mentioned women in software development. Could you talk about that further?

Heather VanCura: Part of my role...