The DevRel Foundation (Ep 93)

In this episode, Wesley, PJ, and Jason take the opportunity to talk about a new phenomenon - The DevRel Foundation from the Linux Foundation. Learn how folks have gotten involved, what the Foundation intends to do, and how you can share your voice. Topics Discussed: Introduction to the DevRel Foundation: The episode explores the new DevRel Foundation, an initiative under the Linux Foundation, created to address challenges in Developer Relations (DevRel). Wesley Faulkner introduces the foundation, noting that its purpose is to be a nonpartisan hub for discussions about DevRel and to provide resources for defining the profession and its practices. Foundational Goals: The DevRel Foundation aims to address key challenges within DevRel, including defining the role, measuring its impact, and rolling out successful DevRel programs. It seeks to aggregate existing knowledge and create a space for new insights. Wesley discusses his role in the steering committee and mentions the ongoing process of recruiting champions for various topics within DevRel to drive these discussions forward. Open Participation and Community Engagement: The foundation is described as a participative effort, where everyone from managers to community members can contribute. This is highlighted as an important distinction from more passive feedback mechanisms (like town halls). Wesley outlines the process, emphasizing that the foundation is open to diverse perspectives, and all contributions will be available for collaboration through platforms like GitHub and Discord. Challenges of Defining DevRel: A major challenge discussed is the diversity of how DevRel is implemented across different organizations (e.g., startups, enterprises, nonprofits). Wesley talks about the need for an inclusive approach that doesn’t exclude any perspectives while ensuring practical outcomes. Jason Hand asks about how the foundation plans to handle these varied implementations, suggesting that a “one-size-fits-all” approach may not work. The Role of the Linux Foundation: The Linux Foundation’s role is explained as crucial in providing structure, governance, and logistical support for the foundation. The Linux Foundation's history with supporting open-source projects and fostering community-driven initiatives is seen as a key advantage. Real-World Impact and Job Descriptions: Jason Hand discusses the problem of inconsistent DevRel job descriptions in the industry, which often blur the lines between roles like developer advocate, customer success, and sales engineering. The foundation’s work could help standardize expectations for DevRel roles across organizations. The episode touches on how a clearer definition of DevRel could assist job seekers and hiring managers in aligning roles more effectively. Future of the DevRel Foundation: The foundation is still in its early stages, and Wesley emphasizes that while there’s hope for the project, it will take time to make significant progress. They encourage participation in calls, Discord, and GitHub to stay updated and contribute. Key Takeaways: - The DevRel Foundation seeks to unify and provide structure to the diverse, evolving field of Developer Relations. Inclusive participation is at the core of the foundation's mission, aiming to gather input from all sectors of the community. - The foundation is driven by volunteer work and community passion, with the support of the Linux Foundation's structure and resources. - GitHub and Discord are key platforms for collaboration, ensuring that community voices are heard and that contributions are open for review and iteration. - The foundation’s work will eventually help provide clarity in DevRel role definitions, benefiting both organizations and professionals in the field. Action Items: - Join the DevRel Foundation: Individuals can join calls, participate in discussions, or contribute to the work via GitHub and Discord. - Become a Champion: The foundation is actively seeking managers to lead specific topics within DevRel. - Stay Informed: Engage with the monthly updates and open calls to follow the foundation’s progress. Key Words and Themes: DevRel Foundation Developer Relations (DevRel) Linux Foundation Open Participation Inclusive Governance Community-Driven Initiatives Job Descriptions in DevRel GitHub and Discord Collaboration Nonprofit Organization Volunteer-Driven Transcript [00:00:00] PJ Haggerty: Hey everybody. And welcome to another episode of Community Pulse. We're super excited to have you. [00:00:04] PJ Haggerty: This week we decided we would take a look at a new phenomenon, the DevRel Foundation, the Developer Relations Foundation from our friends at the Linux Foundation. [00:00:12] PJ Haggerty: Some of you are probably already aware of it. Some of you are probably in the discord chat. Some people might not know about it at all. So we want to take this opportunity to share some information about it and see what we could find out and how we felt about it. So with t