Building technical communities, with Swyx, Head of Developer Experience at Temporal
Dec 14, 2021
01:15:26
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Quick takeaways
Building a technical community can be the most effective moat for startups.
Learning in public and engaging with tech communities can lead to career growth and opportunities.
When building a community, hiring individuals from within can ensure shared values and attract like-minded individuals.
Deep dives
The value of focusing on new technologies and industries
Focusing on new technologies and industries can offer fewer competitors and more opportunities. However, it is necessary to gain context by studying history and previous discussions.
The importance of financial independence and pursuing fulfilling work
The podcast guest shares their journey from a finance career to programming, realizing that money isn't everything and finding fulfillment in coding and building user interfaces.
The strategies for community building and career growth in tech
The guest highlights the importance of learning in public and engaging with tech communities. Building a good reputation, starting conversations, and amplifying others' messages can lead to career growth and opportunities.
The Importance of Hiring from Within the Community
When building a community, it is crucial to hire individuals who are already part of that community instead of seeking those with a proven track record in a different community. By hiring from within, you can ensure that the person understands and embodies the values and characteristics that are important to the community. This individual can then serve as a beacon, attracting more like-minded individuals and influencing product decisions and marketing strategies.
Creating a Category and Building a Prominent Community
One effective strategy for community building is creating a category that extends beyond just promoting one's own company. By spearheading a movement and rallying competitors and like-minded individuals, the impact becomes bigger than any single organization. People are more likely to join a community that represents something greater than an individual company. Additionally, cultivating a strong sense of identification and loyalty within the community can help keep members engaged and prioritize the community over their current employment.
Why is building a technical community the most effective moat out there for startups? In this episode, swyx, who runs DevRel at Temporal and co-founded the Svelte Society, joins Beyang Liu, co-founder and CTO of Sourcegraph, to discuss the stress-induced heart palpitations that led him to transition from finance to tech, show how you can harness a willingness to look stupid to become a standout member of your community, and explain why every book should come with a Discord. Along the way, swyx shares some of the ways learning in public has changed his life, including how one blog post earned two job offers.
Show notes & transcript: https://about.sourcegraph.com/podcast/swyx/
Sourcegraph: about.sourcegraph.com
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