What are some of the ways we can go from a few hundred to a few thousand to 10s of thousand devs knowing and trying my product?

Any developer community is about building something that resonates, something that developers genuinely want to be a part of. But, before we dive into the "how," let's really question the "why."

Why are we after this exponential scale? are we looking at developer communities like a top of the funnel tactic? If that's the only reason, we're already on the wrong track. Because here's the truth: a massive, disengaged community is worse than a small, passionate one. It's like having a room full of people who are all on their phones, not talking to each other. The key is engagement, not just eyeballs. We want this to be an amplifier, not just a megaphone.

So, why do we want to grow? We want to create a network effect, where the community itself attracts more developers, creating a virtuous cycle.

At its core we have to understand: this kind of growth doesn't only come from us. It comes from the community itself. They should be the ones talking about it, "remarking" on it, and sharing it with their peers. that means the core value a developer gets from the community is genuinely high (technically in such cases this question wouldn't even arise). You provide the fertile ground, but the community SHOULD do the rest.

So how do you go from hundreds to thousands? In the early days, those first few hundred, it's about intimacy. It's about getting to know your developers, understanding their needs, and making them feel like they're part of something special. It's like hosting a small dinner party; you can give everyone individual attention. You can learn their stories, their preferences. You can make them feel seen. But this is the point where you figure out the CORE of your community as well. what does it stand for? What core mission or need this community is driving, that it is creating a sense of belonging. then you look to scale and make thousands of developers feel like they matter?

I would focus on the following

• Reciprocity: Devs are more likely to engage when they feel like they're getting something in return. Recognize and reward contributions, not just with swag, but with meaningful recognition. Give them a platform to share their expertise.

• Social proof: People are more likely to join a community that they see is active and vibrant. Showcase success stories, highlight active discussions, and celebrate milestones. Salesforce does this really well. They award a golden jacket and a title on stage at Dreamforce for a developer that hit a milestone on certifications. This is during their keynote.

• Belonging: People want to be part of something bigger than themselves. This is where strong community identity, a shared sense of purpose is crucial. What do you stand for?

• “Remarkability”: we talk about things that are remarkable. Create experiences that are worth sharing, that make developers say, "Wow, this community is amazing." Make it unique. Maybe even quirky. Empower them to become advocates, to spread the word organically.