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What is DevRel? The Truth About Web3 Developer Relations in 2024

what is devrel

Hey there, fellow tech enthusiasts! 👋 Let’s cut through the social media glamour and talk about what Developer Relations is – both the shiny parts and the not-so-Instagram-worthy moments. As someone deep in the Web3 DevRel trenches, I’m here to give you an unfiltered perspective on what is devrel. which you won’t find in those perfectly curated LinkedIn posts.

Breaking the DevRel Myth

What is devrel? Scroll through tech Twitter, and you might think DevRel is all about jet-setting between conferences, collecting swag, and being a “tech influencer.” I used to believe that too. Then I became one. The reality is far more intricate and demanding. DevRel professionals are technical therapists, educators, firefighters, and diplomats all rolled into one. We’re the voice of developers within our organizations while simultaneously being the voice of our platform to the developer community. And in Web3? That’s where things get interesting.

What People Think DevRel Is:

  • 🎤 Being a tech influencer
  • ✈️ Traveling to exotic conferences
  • 🎯 Giving perfectly rehearsed talks
  • 🎉 Networking at fancy events
  • 📱 Growing a massive Twitter following

What DevRel Is In Reality:

  • 🔧 Being the bridge between developers and your platform
  • 📚 Translating complex technical concepts into digestible content
  • 🤝 Building and nurturing genuine developer communities
  • 🎭 Playing multiple roles: educator, advocate, support engineer, and more
  • 📊 Constantly measuring and proving your impact

Why Web3 DevRel is Different

Web3 DevRel isn’t just your standard DevRel role with a blockchain twist – it’s a whole different beast. The true challenge of Web3 DevRel isn’t just the technical complexity, though explaining rollups to newcomers for the tenth time in a day certainly tests your patience. It’s the constant balancing act: maintaining technical depth while fostering community engagement, understanding market dynamics while empathizing with developer struggles, and maintaining global awareness while staying locally relevant.

The documentation you spent three days perfecting? The protocol just announced an update. That comprehensive tutorial you were working on? Two new competing standards emerged overnight. This is a world where “staying current” feels like chasing a hyperloop on a bicycle, and yet somehow, we need to make it all accessible to developers at every skill level.

The Mental Challenges 💼

1. Perpetual FOMO

  • New protocols launching daily
  • Countless Twitter Spaces you “should” attend
  • Endless Discord conversations to follow
  • The Constant pressure to be everywhere at once
  • Fear of missing critical industry shifts

2. Imposter Syndrome on Steroids

  • Everyone seems to know more about everything
  • Other DevRels appear to ship content 24/7
  • Community members asking increasingly complex questions
  • Keeping up with both Web2 and Web3 developments
  • Balancing technical depth with community engagement

The Professional Challenges 💼

Content Creation Pressure

  • Creating deep technical content while staying current
  • Writing documentation that won’t be outdated tomorrow
  • Producing content for different technical levels
  • Managing multiple content platforms
  • Balancing quality with quantity

Community Management Reality

  • Moderating heated crypto discussions
  • Managing expectations during market downturns
  • Handling FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt)
  • Supporting developers across time zones
  • Maintaining community health in bear markets

Technical Depth vs. Breadth

  • Understanding multiple blockchain protocols
  • Keeping up with security best practices
  • Balancing L1s, L2s, DeFi, NFTs, etc.
  • Maintaining coding skills while community-building
  • Staying updated with tooling ecosystems

A Day in the Life: Asian Web3 DevRel Edition 🌏

Let’s dive into what a real day looks like, not the highlight reel you see on social media:

8:00 AM: Reality Check
- Wake up to 50+ Discord notifications
- 3 urgent integration questions
- 2 community members stuck with smart contract deployment
- 1 heated debate about gas optimization
- Multiple "wen token" messages to filter through 😅
- 15 GitHub notifications
- 7 urgent Telegram messages

9:30 AM: Global Catchup
- Scan what happened while APAC slept:
  - 20 new Web3 protocols launched
  - 5 new L2s announced
  - 3 major partnerships
  - 2 "revolutionary" new standards
  - First wave of FOMO kicks in

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Content Creation Sprint
- Start technical tutorial
- Protocol updates midway – restart
- Browser tabs multiply exponentially
- Questions flood in while writing

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Community Management
- Review 5 GitHub PRs
- Debug 3 community projects
- Answer 15+ technical questions
- Monitor 7 different Telegram groups
- Track 4 Discord servers

1:00 PM: Working Lunch
- Monitor crypto prices (why do we do this?)
- Catch up on Web3 Twitter drama
- Save 12 articles to "read later"
- Update documentation
- Fight imposter syndrome watching other DevRel's output

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Workshop & Support
- Host technical workshop
- Live debugging session
- "Quick questions" turn into deep dives
- Add 5 topics to "must learn" list
- Promise to follow up on 10 questions

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Content Tornado
- Record tutorial video
- Write blog post
- Update Github repos
- Create social media content
- Wonder how others post 3x daily

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Evening Community
- Host Twitter Space
- Try to sound energetic
- Take notes on new tools mentioned
- Add to endless learning backlog
- Question life choices

08:00 PM: Final Checks
- Discord never sleeps
- Europe waking up
- New trending topic
- Tomorrow's calendar filling up
- FOMO intensifies

Random Midnight Thoughts:
- Should I learn Rust now?
- Did I miss another airdrop?
- How do others seem to know everything?
- Is my content technical enough?
- Should I join that new DAO?
- Will this tutorial be relevant tomorrow?

Building Success One Block at a Time

Success in Web3 DevRel isn’t measured by follower counts or conference appearances. The real metrics are found in the developers who successfully launched their projects because of your help, the communities that thrive under your guidance, and the bridges you build between complex protocols and the developers who use them.

The key lies in sustainability – creating systems that scale, documentation that lasts, and communities that support each other. Your role isn’t to be the hero who solves every problem; it’s to build an ecosystem where developers can become heroes themselves.

Success Strategies for Web3 DevRel 🎯

Sustainable Content Creation

Time Management That Actually Works

Priority Framework:
1. High-impact technical content
2. Community support escalations
3. Documentation maintenance
4. Relationship building
5. New feature exploration

Community Building Tactics

  • Set clear community guidelines
  • Build ambassador programs
  • Create support triage systems
  • Develop documentation contribution programs
  • Foster peer-to-peer support

Personal Sustainability

Bonus: Tools of the Trade

Measuring Success in Web3 DevRel 📊

Quantitative Metrics

  • Developer adoption rates
  • Documentation engagement
  • Community growth
  • Content performance
  • Technical support resolution rates

Qualitative Indicators

  • Community sentiment
  • Developer success stories
  • Ecosystem partnerships
  • Product feedback implementation
  • Community contributions

Getting Started in Web3 DevRel 🚀

Build Your Foundation

Create Your Portfolio

Network Effectively

  • Participate in hackathons
  • Join Discord communities
  • Attend virtual events
  • Contribute to discussions
  • Share learnings publicly

The Truth About Web3 DevRel Success 🎭

Success in Web3 DevRel isn’t about:

  • Having the most Twitter followers
  • Speaking at every conference
  • Knowing every new protocol
  • Being online 24/7
  • Pretending to know everything

Real success is about:

  • Building genuine developer relationships
  • Creating lasting educational impact
  • Contributing to ecosystem growth
  • Maintaining technical credibility
  • Staying authentic and balanced

Looking Forward: The Evolution of Web3 DevRel

As Web3 matures, the role of DevRel evolves with it. We’re moving beyond the hype cycle to an era where sustainable community building and genuine developer success matter more than ever. The future belongs to those who can balance technical depth with human connection, and global reach with local understanding.

Conclusion: Is Web3 DevRel Right for You?

Do you know why Web3 DevRel isn’t just another tech job – it’s a lifestyle choice that demands passion, resilience, and genuine love for both technology and community. It’s not about being a “crypto influencer” or conference hopper. It’s about being the bridge between complex technology and the developers who build the future.

If you’re excited about:

  • Learning constantly
  • Teaching passionately
  • Building genuinely
  • Contributing meaningfully
  • Growing continuously

Then Web3 DevRel might be your calling. Just remember: those perfect social media posts? They’re just the tip of the iceberg. The real work happens in the Discord trenches, late-night documentation sessions, and countless moments of community building that never make it to Twitter.

Ready to start your Web3 DevRel journey? Focus on building real value, stay authentic, and remember: that everyone started somewhere. Even the most followed DevRel was once debugging their first smart contract. Get started with your journey of being a DevRel in web3 with me at Metaschool.

P.S. Found this helpful? Let’s connect! Drop a comment about your own DevRel experiences or questions about getting started. Remember: we’re all learning together in this space! Reach out to the Metaschool team on X or LinkedIn