DevRel Content
When to Use
Use this skill when you need when the user wants to create technical content for developers including blog posts, tutorials, and documentation. Trigger phrases include "write a blog post," "technical article," "developer content," "tutorial," "devrel content," "dev blog," "technical writing," or "content for...
This skill helps you create technical content that developers actually read: blog posts, tutorials, documentation, and thought leadership pieces that build trust and drive adoption.
Before You Start
Load your audience context first. Read .agents/developer-audience-context.md to understand:
- Who you're writing for (role, seniority, tech stack)
- Their pain points (what problems resonate)
- Verbatim language (how they describe things)
- Voice & tone (how formal/technical to be)
If the context file doesn't exist, run the developer-audience-context skill first.
The DevRel Content Framework
Phase 1: Research & Validation
Before writing anything, validate the topic is worth writing about.
| Research Type |
What to Do |
| Search intent |
Google your topic. What already ranks? What's missing? |
| Community signals |
Search Reddit, HN, Stack Overflow. Are developers asking about this? |
| Competitor gaps |
What have competitors written? What haven't they covered? |
| Internal data |
Support tickets, Discord questions, GitHub issues about this topic |
| Keyword research |
Use Ahrefs/SEMrush for search volume on technical terms |
Red flags — Don't write if:
- You're the only one who cares about this topic
- 10 identical articles already exist
- The topic is too broad ("Introduction to JavaScript")
- The topic is too narrow (no search volume, no community interest)
Phase 2: Content Type Selection
Choose the right format for your goal:
| Content Type |
Best For |
Structure |
| Tutorial |
Teaching a specific skill |
Step-by-step, code-heavy |
| Guide |
Covering a topic comprehensively |
Sections, reference material |
| Comparison |
Helping with decisions |
Table-based, pros/cons |
| Announcement |
Launching features/products |
News lead, what/why/how |
| Thought leadership |
Building authority |
Opinion, predictions, takes |
| Case study |
Social proof |
Problem → Solution → Results |
| Troubleshooting |
Solving specific errors |
Error → Cause → Fix |
Phase 3: Outline Structure
Use this outline template:
# [Title that promises specific value]
## Hook (2-3 sentences)
- State the problem or opportunity
- Establish credibility ("We migrated 10,000 repos...")
- Promise what the reader will learn
## Context (optional)
- Brief background if needed
- Link to prerequisites
## The Meat
### Section 1: [First major concept]
- Explanation
- Code example
- Common pitfall
### Section 2: [Second major concept]
- Explanation
- Code example
- Real-world application
### Section 3: [Third major concept]
- Explanation
- Code example
- Advanced tip
## Putting It Together
- Complete example
- Working code
## What's Next
- Links to deeper content
- Call to action (try the product, join Discord, etc.)
Writing Code Examples
Code is the content. Get it right.
The Copy-Paste Test
Every code example must:
| Requirement |
Why It Matters |
| Run without modification |
Developers will copy-paste. If it fails, you lose trust. |
| Include imports |
Don't assume they know which libraries to import. |
| Show output |
What should they see when it works? |
| Handle errors |
Real code has error handling. Show it. |
| Use real values |
No foo, bar, example.com unless necessary. |
Code Example Structure
First, install the dependencies:
\`\`\`bash
npm install your-library axios
\`\`\`
Now create a file called `fetch-data.js`:
\`\`\`javascript
// fetch-data.js
import { Client } from 'your-library';
import axios from 'axios';
const client = new Client({
apiKey: process.env.YOUR_API_KEY // Use environment variables
});
async function fetchUserData(userId) {
try {
const user = await client.users.get(userId);
console.log(`Fetched user: ${user.name}`);
return user;
} catch (error) {
console.error(`Failed to fetch user: ${error.message}`);
throw error;
}
}
// Example usage
fetchUserData('user_123')
.then(user => console.log(user))
.catch(err => process.exit(1));
\`\`\`
Run it:
\`\`\`bash
YOUR_API_KEY=sk_test_xxx node fetch-data.js
\`\`\`
Expected output:
\`\`\`
Fetched user: Jane Developer
{ id: 'user_123', name: 'Jane Developer', email: 'jane@example.dev' }
\`\`\`
Language-Specific Conventions
| Language |
Code Block |
Package Install |
Env Vars |
| JavaScript/Node |
javascript or js |
npm install |
process.env.VAR |
| TypeScript |
typescript or ts |
npm install |
process.env.VAR |
| Python |
python or py |
pip install |
os.environ['VAR'] |
| Go |
go |
go get |
os.Getenv("VAR") |
| Rust |
rust |
cargo add |
std::env::var("VAR") |
| Shell |
bash or shell |
N/A |
$VAR |
Technical Accuracy Checklist
Run through before publishing:
| Check |
How to Verify |
| Code runs |
Copy-paste every snippet and run it |
| Versions match |
Are you using the current library version? |
| Links work |
Click every link |
| Commands work |
Run every CLI command |
| Screenshots current |
Do UI screenshots match the current product? |
| No deprecated APIs |
Check if any APIs used are deprecated |
| Security review |
No hardcoded secrets, SQL injection, etc. |
| Peer review |
Have an engineer read it for accuracy |
SEO for Developer Content
Developers use Google differently than consumers.
Developer Search Patterns
| Pattern |
Example Searches |
| Error messages |
"TypeError: Cannot read property 'map' of undefined" |
| How to |
"how to deploy next.js to vercel" |
| Comparison |
"prisma vs typeorm 2024" |
| Best practices |
"typescript project structure best practices" |
| Alternatives |
"alternatives to firebase" |
| With |
"react with typescript tutorial" |
Technical SEO Checklist
| Element |
Best Practice |
| Title |
Include primary keyword, framework names, year if relevant |
| Meta description |
150 chars, include keyword, promise specific outcome |
| H1 |
Match or closely match title |
| H2s |
Include secondary keywords, make scannable |
| Code blocks |
Use proper syntax highlighting (helps featured snippets) |
| Internal links |
Link to related docs, tutorials, API reference |
| External links |
Link to official docs of tools mentioned |
| URL slug |
Lowercase, hyphens, include keyword |
Example Optimized Title
| Bad |
Good |
| "Using Our API" |
"How to Authenticate with the YourProduct API (Node.js)" |
| "Database Guide" |
"PostgreSQL Connection Pooling: Complete Guide with pgBouncer" |
| "Getting Started" |
"Getting Started with YourProduct: Your First API Call in 5 Minutes" |
Content Quality Signals
What separates great devrel content from mediocre:
Do This
- Show, don't tell — Code over prose
- Address the "why" — Not just how to do it, but when and why
- Acknowledge tradeoffs — Nothing is perfect; developers respect honesty
- Link to sources — Official docs, RFCs, related articles
- Include dates — "Updated March 2024" or version numbers
- Progressive disclosure — Start simple, add complexity
- Real examples — Production scenarios, not just hello world
Don't Do This
- Wall of text — Break up with code, headers, bullets
- Marketing speak — "Best-in-class," "seamless," "revolutionary"
- Assuming knowledge — Define acronyms, link to prerequisites
- Outdated content — Nothing worse than a 2019 tutorial with deprecated APIs
- Buried lede — Put the answer first, explanation second
- No code — Developers came for code, not prose
Content Templates
Blog Post Template
# [Specific, keyword-rich title]
[2-3 sentence hook: problem + promise]
## The Problem
[1 paragraph explaining the pain point]
## The Solution
[Brief explanation of your approach]
### Step 1: [Action]
[Explanation]
\`\`\`language
// Code
\`\`\`
### Step 2: [Action]
[Explanation]
\`\`\`language
// Code
\`\`\`
### Step 3: [Action]
[Explanation]
\`\`\`language
// Code
\`\`\`
## Complete Example
\`\`\`language
// Full working code
\`\`\`
## Troubleshooting
### [Common Error 1]
[Solution]
### [Common Error 2]
[Solution]
## What's Next
- [Link to deeper dive]
- [Link to related tutorial]
- [CTA: Try it yourself]
Comparison Post Template
# [Tool A] vs [Tool B]: [Specific Use Case] ([Year])
[1 paragraph: Who this comparison is for and what you'll learn]
## Quick Comparison
| Feature | Tool A | Tool B |
|---------|--------|--------|
| [Feature 1] | | |
| [Feature 2] | | |
| [Feature 3] | | |
## When to Choose [Tool A]
- [Scenario 1]
- [Scenario 2]
- [Scenario 3]
## When to Choose [Tool B]
- [Scenario 1]
- [Scenario 2]
- [Scenario 3]
## Deep Dive: [Specific Aspect]
### Tool A Approach
[Explanation + code]
### Tool B Approach
[Explanation + code]
## Our Recommendation
[Specific guidance based on use case]
Measuring Content Success
Metrics to Track
| Metric |
What It Tells You |
| Page views |
Reach (but vanity without context) |
| Time on page |
Engagement (are they reading?) |
| Scroll depth |
Did they read to the end? |
| Bounce rate |
Did they find what they needed? |
| Search rankings |
SEO performance |
| Backlinks |
Authority and reference value |
| Social shares |
Resonance (especially HN, Twitter, Reddit) |
| Conversion events |
Sign-ups, installs, docs clicks |
Content → Conversion Path
Track the journey:
- Search/social → Blog post
- Blog post → Docs / quickstart
- Docs → Sign up / install
- Sign up → Activation (first success)
Tools
| Tool |
Use Case |
| Octolens |
Monitor where your content gets shared (HN, Reddit, Twitter). Track competitor content performance. Find content ideas from developer conversations. |
| Grammarly / Hemingway |
Readability and grammar checking |
| Carbon / Ray.so |
Beautiful code screenshots |
| Excalidraw |
Technical diagrams |
| Loom |
Quick video walkthroughs |
| Ahrefs / SEMrush |
Keyword research and SEO tracking |
| Google Search Console |
Track search performance |
Related Skills
developer-audience-context — Foundation for knowing your readers
technical-tutorials — Deep dive into step-by-step content
developer-newsletter — Distributing content via email
developer-seo — Technical SEO optimization
hacker-news-strategy — Sharing content on HN effectively
Limitations
- Use this skill only when the task clearly matches its upstream source and local project context.
- Verify commands, generated code, dependencies, credentials, and external service behavior before applying changes.
- Do not treat examples as a substitute for environment-specific tests, security review, or user approval for destructive or costly actions.
Source: sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills → skills/devrel-content/SKILL.md
Also appears in: sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/plugins/agentic-awesome-skills/skills/devrel-content/SKILL.md, sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/plugins/agentic-awesome-skills-claude/skills/devrel-content/SKILL.md
1---2name: devrel-content3description: When the user wants to create technical content for developers including blog posts, tutorials, and documentation. Trigger phrases include "write a blog post," "technical article," "developer content," "tutorial," "devrel content," "dev blog," "technical writing," or "content for...4---567# DevRel Content8## When to Use910Use this skill when you need when the user wants to create technical content for developers including blog posts, tutorials, and documentation. Trigger phrases include "write a blog post," "technical article," "developer content," "tutorial," "devrel content," "dev blog," "technical writing," or "content for...111213This skill helps you create technical content that developers actually read: blog posts, tutorials, documentation, and thought leadership pieces that build trust and drive adoption.1415---1617## Before You Start1819**Load your audience context first.** Read `.agents/developer-audience-context.md` to understand:2021- Who you're writing for (role, seniority, tech stack)22- Their pain points (what problems resonate)23- Verbatim language (how they describe things)24- Voice & tone (how formal/technical to be)2526If the context file doesn't exist, run the `developer-audience-context` skill first.2728---2930## The DevRel Content Framework3132### Phase 1: Research & Validation3334Before writing anything, validate the topic is worth writing about.3536| Research Type | What to Do |37|--------------|------------|38| **Search intent** | Google your topic. What already ranks? What's missing? |39| **Community signals** | Search Reddit, HN, Stack Overflow. Are developers asking about this? |40| **Competitor gaps** | What have competitors written? What haven't they covered? |41| **Internal data** | Support tickets, Discord questions, GitHub issues about this topic |42| **Keyword research** | Use Ahrefs/SEMrush for search volume on technical terms |4344**Red flags** — Don't write if:45- You're the only one who cares about this topic46- 10 identical articles already exist47- The topic is too broad ("Introduction to JavaScript")48- The topic is too narrow (no search volume, no community interest)4950### Phase 2: Content Type Selection5152Choose the right format for your goal:5354| Content Type | Best For | Structure |55|-------------|----------|-----------|56| **Tutorial** | Teaching a specific skill | Step-by-step, code-heavy |57| **Guide** | Covering a topic comprehensively | Sections, reference material |58| **Comparison** | Helping with decisions | Table-based, pros/cons |59| **Announcement** | Launching features/products | News lead, what/why/how |60| **Thought leadership** | Building authority | Opinion, predictions, takes |61| **Case study** | Social proof | Problem → Solution → Results |62| **Troubleshooting** | Solving specific errors | Error → Cause → Fix |6364### Phase 3: Outline Structure6566Use this outline template:6768```markdown69# [Title that promises specific value]7071## Hook (2-3 sentences)72- State the problem or opportunity73- Establish credibility ("We migrated 10,000 repos...")74- Promise what the reader will learn7576## Context (optional)77- Brief background if needed78- Link to prerequisites7980## The Meat81### Section 1: [First major concept]82- Explanation83- Code example84- Common pitfall8586### Section 2: [Second major concept]87- Explanation88- Code example89- Real-world application9091### Section 3: [Third major concept]92- Explanation93- Code example94- Advanced tip9596## Putting It Together97- Complete example98- Working code99100## What's Next101- Links to deeper content102- Call to action (try the product, join Discord, etc.)103```104105---106107## Writing Code Examples108109Code is the content. Get it right.110111### The Copy-Paste Test112113Every code example must:114115| Requirement | Why It Matters |116|------------|----------------|117| **Run without modification** | Developers will copy-paste. If it fails, you lose trust. |118| **Include imports** | Don't assume they know which libraries to import. |119| **Show output** | What should they see when it works? |120| **Handle errors** | Real code has error handling. Show it. |121| **Use real values** | No `foo`, `bar`, `example.com` unless necessary. |122123### Code Example Structure124125```markdown126First, install the dependencies:127128\`\`\`bash129npm install your-library axios130\`\`\`131132Now create a file called `fetch-data.js`:133134\`\`\`javascript135// fetch-data.js136import { Client } from 'your-library';137import axios from 'axios';138139const client = new Client({140 apiKey: process.env.YOUR_API_KEY // Use environment variables141});142143async function fetchUserData(userId) {144 try {145 const user = await client.users.get(userId);146 console.log(`Fetched user: ${user.name}`);147 return user;148 } catch (error) {149 console.error(`Failed to fetch user: ${error.message}`);150 throw error;151 }152}153154// Example usage155fetchUserData('user_123')156 .then(user => console.log(user))157 .catch(err => process.exit(1));158\`\`\`159160Run it:161162\`\`\`bash163YOUR_API_KEY=sk_test_xxx node fetch-data.js164\`\`\`165166Expected output:167168\`\`\`169Fetched user: Jane Developer170{ id: 'user_123', name: 'Jane Developer', email: 'jane@example.dev' }171\`\`\`172```173174### Language-Specific Conventions175176| Language | Code Block | Package Install | Env Vars |177|----------|-----------|-----------------|----------|178| JavaScript/Node | `javascript` or `js` | `npm install` | `process.env.VAR` |179| TypeScript | `typescript` or `ts` | `npm install` | `process.env.VAR` |180| Python | `python` or `py` | `pip install` | `os.environ['VAR']` |181| Go | `go` | `go get` | `os.Getenv("VAR")` |182| Rust | `rust` | `cargo add` | `std::env::var("VAR")` |183| Shell | `bash` or `shell` | N/A | `$VAR` |184185---186187## Technical Accuracy Checklist188189Run through before publishing:190191| Check | How to Verify |192|-------|---------------|193| **Code runs** | Copy-paste every snippet and run it |194| **Versions match** | Are you using the current library version? |195| **Links work** | Click every link |196| **Commands work** | Run every CLI command |197| **Screenshots current** | Do UI screenshots match the current product? |198| **No deprecated APIs** | Check if any APIs used are deprecated |199| **Security review** | No hardcoded secrets, SQL injection, etc. |200| **Peer review** | Have an engineer read it for accuracy |201202---203204## SEO for Developer Content205206Developers use Google differently than consumers.207208### Developer Search Patterns209210| Pattern | Example Searches |211|---------|-----------------|212| **Error messages** | "TypeError: Cannot read property 'map' of undefined" |213| **How to** | "how to deploy next.js to vercel" |214| **Comparison** | "prisma vs typeorm 2024" |215| **Best practices** | "typescript project structure best practices" |216| **Alternatives** | "alternatives to firebase" |217| **With** | "react with typescript tutorial" |218219### Technical SEO Checklist220221| Element | Best Practice |222|---------|--------------|223| **Title** | Include primary keyword, framework names, year if relevant |224| **Meta description** | 150 chars, include keyword, promise specific outcome |225| **H1** | Match or closely match title |226| **H2s** | Include secondary keywords, make scannable |227| **Code blocks** | Use proper syntax highlighting (helps featured snippets) |228| **Internal links** | Link to related docs, tutorials, API reference |229| **External links** | Link to official docs of tools mentioned |230| **URL slug** | Lowercase, hyphens, include keyword |231232### Example Optimized Title233234| Bad | Good |235|-----|------|236| "Using Our API" | "How to Authenticate with the YourProduct API (Node.js)" |237| "Database Guide" | "PostgreSQL Connection Pooling: Complete Guide with pgBouncer" |238| "Getting Started" | "Getting Started with YourProduct: Your First API Call in 5 Minutes" |239240---241242## Content Quality Signals243244What separates great devrel content from mediocre:245246### Do This247248- **Show, don't tell** — Code over prose249- **Address the "why"** — Not just how to do it, but when and why250- **Acknowledge tradeoffs** — Nothing is perfect; developers respect honesty251- **Link to sources** — Official docs, RFCs, related articles252- **Include dates** — "Updated March 2024" or version numbers253- **Progressive disclosure** — Start simple, add complexity254- **Real examples** — Production scenarios, not just hello world255256### Don't Do This257258- **Wall of text** — Break up with code, headers, bullets259- **Marketing speak** — "Best-in-class," "seamless," "revolutionary"260- **Assuming knowledge** — Define acronyms, link to prerequisites261- **Outdated content** — Nothing worse than a 2019 tutorial with deprecated APIs262- **Buried lede** — Put the answer first, explanation second263- **No code** — Developers came for code, not prose264265---266267## Content Templates268269### Blog Post Template270271```markdown272# [Specific, keyword-rich title]273274[2-3 sentence hook: problem + promise]275276## The Problem277278[1 paragraph explaining the pain point]279280## The Solution281282[Brief explanation of your approach]283284### Step 1: [Action]285286[Explanation]287288\`\`\`language289// Code290\`\`\`291292### Step 2: [Action]293294[Explanation]295296\`\`\`language297// Code298\`\`\`299300### Step 3: [Action]301302[Explanation]303304\`\`\`language305// Code306\`\`\`307308## Complete Example309310\`\`\`language311// Full working code312\`\`\`313314## Troubleshooting315316### [Common Error 1]317[Solution]318319### [Common Error 2]320[Solution]321322## What's Next323324- [Link to deeper dive]325- [Link to related tutorial]326- [CTA: Try it yourself]327```328329### Comparison Post Template330331```markdown332# [Tool A] vs [Tool B]: [Specific Use Case] ([Year])333334[1 paragraph: Who this comparison is for and what you'll learn]335336## Quick Comparison337338| Feature | Tool A | Tool B |339|---------|--------|--------|340| [Feature 1] | | |341| [Feature 2] | | |342| [Feature 3] | | |343344## When to Choose [Tool A]345346- [Scenario 1]347- [Scenario 2]348- [Scenario 3]349350## When to Choose [Tool B]351352- [Scenario 1]353- [Scenario 2]354- [Scenario 3]355356## Deep Dive: [Specific Aspect]357358### Tool A Approach359[Explanation + code]360361### Tool B Approach362[Explanation + code]363364## Our Recommendation365366[Specific guidance based on use case]367```368369---370371## Measuring Content Success372373### Metrics to Track374375| Metric | What It Tells You |376|--------|------------------|377| **Page views** | Reach (but vanity without context) |378| **Time on page** | Engagement (are they reading?) |379| **Scroll depth** | Did they read to the end? |380| **Bounce rate** | Did they find what they needed? |381| **Search rankings** | SEO performance |382| **Backlinks** | Authority and reference value |383| **Social shares** | Resonance (especially HN, Twitter, Reddit) |384| **Conversion events** | Sign-ups, installs, docs clicks |385386### Content → Conversion Path387388Track the journey:3891. Search/social → Blog post3902. Blog post → Docs / quickstart3913. Docs → Sign up / install3924. Sign up → Activation (first success)393394---395396## Tools397398| Tool | Use Case |399|------|----------|400| **[Octolens](https://octolens.com)** | Monitor where your content gets shared (HN, Reddit, Twitter). Track competitor content performance. Find content ideas from developer conversations. |401| **Grammarly / Hemingway** | Readability and grammar checking |402| **Carbon / Ray.so** | Beautiful code screenshots |403| **Excalidraw** | Technical diagrams |404| **Loom** | Quick video walkthroughs |405| **Ahrefs / SEMrush** | Keyword research and SEO tracking |406| **Google Search Console** | Track search performance |407408---409410## Related Skills411412- `developer-audience-context` — Foundation for knowing your readers413- `technical-tutorials` — Deep dive into step-by-step content414- `developer-newsletter` — Distributing content via email415- `developer-seo` — Technical SEO optimization416- `hacker-news-strategy` — Sharing content on HN effectively417418## Limitations419420- Use this skill only when the task clearly matches its upstream source and local project context.421- Verify commands, generated code, dependencies, credentials, and external service behavior before applying changes.422- Do not treat examples as a substitute for environment-specific tests, security review, or user approval for destructive or costly actions.423424---425426**Source:** [`sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills`](https://github.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills) → `skills/devrel-content/SKILL.md`427428**Also appears in:** `sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/plugins/agentic-awesome-skills/skills/devrel-content/SKILL.md`, `sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/plugins/agentic-awesome-skills-claude/skills/devrel-content/SKILL.md`