roadmap.sh: DevRel (Developer Relations)

What it is

The DevRel roadmap on roadmap.sh describes the path to becoming a developer advocate or developer relations engineer. It starts with what DevRel is, its history and why companies invest in it, then moves through the skills the job draws on: basic programming, Git and GitHub, understanding APIs and SDKs, writing documentation and tutorials, building sample projects, public speaking and presentation techniques, video and live streaming, blogging and social media, community building, moderation and codes of conduct, events and meetups, feedback collection and loops back to the product team, and analytics and reporting.

The breadth is the point. DevRel roles vary a lot between companies, and the map shows the whole range so you can see which parts you enjoy and which parts a given job actually emphasises.

Who it is for

It is for developers who enjoy teaching, writing or community work and are curious about DevRel, and for students who want to understand the role before building a public portfolio. It assumes you can already code at a basic level, because advocates build demos and sample apps and answer technical questions.

How to use it well

• Read the introduction nodes first and compare them with a few real DevRel job postings. Some roles are mostly content, some mostly community, some closer to product or solutions engineering.
• Pick two areas to practise publicly: for example, tutorials plus meetups, or videos plus sample apps.
• Use the feedback and analytics nodes as a reminder that the job is measured. Learn early how to report what your work changed, not only how many people saw it.

Free vs paid

The roadmap is free. An optional roadmap.sh account adds progress tracking and AI features that you do not need.

Common questions

Do I need to be a strong engineer? You need enough skill to build working examples and read your product's code and docs. Many advocates were software engineers first; others came from support, teaching or community roles and built their coding skills alongside.

Is DevRel marketing? It overlaps with developer marketing, but good DevRel earns trust through useful technical help. The roadmap includes marketing topics because many roles touch them.

How long does it take? It depends on your starting point. The public work that gets people hired, such as tutorials, talks and community help, is built over months, not weeks.