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

The growth of developer advocacy

Geertjan Wielenga: Over the last five years, developer relations has even become a service: you can hire a company to come in and set up a program for you. What has led to this progression?

Patrick McFadin: I think it's just a maturing of our industry and more companies understanding how much developers make a difference. Developer advocacy has grown so much in recent years because software is eating the world.

The dynamics of how we consume and buy software have changed. Open source, I would say, is to blame for that. Previously, when you bought software it was the most expensive part of your IT budget; now it's not. There's been such an explosion of options. Companies are fighting to get noticed and they're going to employ any strategies they can to make that happen.

"Businesses are starting to realize that developer relations is a significant way to get market share."

—Patrick McFadin

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