8 Best Blogging Platforms for Developers to Build Their Online Presence

For developers looking to establish themselves online, blogging is one of the most effective strategies to build expertise and community. The benefits of blogging for developers are numerous: it allows you to share hard-earned skills, get feedback on personal projects, become a better writer and communicator, and create a portfolio to attract clients or jobs.

But with so many blogging platforms out there, how do you choose where to create your developer blog? In this comprehensive guide, I evaluate the top 8 blogging platforms specifically suited for developers, programmers, and coders based on key criteria:

• User Experience: Is the platform intuitive and easy to use?
• Reader Experience: Does the platform allow you to embed code, media, tweets etc to showcase your skills?
• Community: Is there an engaged audience of developers already active on the platform?
• Monetization: What options are available to make money blogging as a developer?

For each platform, I share actionable steps to get started and best practices to find success blogging as a developer. Let‘s dive in!

DEV

DEV is an active community of software developers who come together to learn and share their knowledge. With over 2 million monthly visitors, it‘s quickly become a popular place for devs to engage with like-minded peers.

Some key advantages of blogging on DEV:

• Built on open source Forem software, so everything is transparent
• Easy account creation using GitHub, Twitter, Google, etc.
• Ability to embed code snippets, images, tweets, etc.
• Use popular hashtags like #javascript, #webdev, #programming to tap into existing audiences
• Seamless import of posts from external blogs

To get started on DEV, simply:

1. Visit dev.to and click "Create Account"
2. Select your login provider like GitHub or Twitter
3. Add a tagline and interests
4. Start writing!

Review DEV‘s FAQ if you need help. Focus on contributing original, helpful content to build a following.

Medium

With over 30 million monthly readers, Medium offers developers a massive built-in audience and flexible publishing tools. While not solely focused on tech, it has an active community of coders who share everything from tutorials to personal projects.

Standout features of Medium for developers:

• Customizable publication to showcase your skills
• Ability to embed images, tweets, code blocks, and more
• Wide reach across non-developer readers
• Clear content guidelines to follow
• Simple sign-up using Google, Facebook, or email

To start blogging on Medium:

1. Click "Get started" and create your account
2. Choose username, interests, and publications
3. Use Markdown formatting for code blocks and highlighting
4. Embed media to reinforce your concepts
5. Publish high-quality, original content consistently

Hashnode

Hashnode is a free developer blogging community built with coders in mind. Their Markdown-optimized editor makes writing developer-friendly content simple and intuitive.

Why Hashnode stands out:

• Create code snippets, tweets, images, and more
• Choose a custom subdomain to brand your blog
• Auto-save posts to GitHub for backup
• Follow tags like #javascript, #webdev, #programming
• Built-in readership of developers

Getting started on Hashnode:

1. Sign up with Google, GitHub, Twitter, etc.
2. Select "Writer" and your experience level
3. Pick your subdomain to use in your URL
4. Choose tags relevant to your skillset
5. Compose posts using Markdown formatting
6. Embed code snippets, images, tweets and more
7. Share your knowledge with the Hashnode community!

HackerNoon

HackerNoon is a popular tech publication targeting programmers and developers. With over 1 million monthly visitors, it‘s a great platform to tap into an existing audience interested in coding topics.

Notable features of HackerNoon for developers:

• Strong focus on tech/coding/startup content
• Human editors review submissions and provide feedback
• Promotion on HackerNoon‘s social media accounts
• Clear guidelines for writing compelling articles
• Monetization through web tags

Here is the process to publish on HackerNoon:

1. Study their guidelines for writers
2. Create your account and select "Community Writer"
3. Compose your article in their editor
4. Submit draft for review by their team
5. Make edits if requested and resubmit
6. Get published and promoted to their readership!

FreeCodeCamp

FreeCodeCamp is a non-profit community with thousands of coding lessons and certifications. While focused on helping learners build developer skills, they also publish tutorials written by professional coders.

Why publish on FreeCodeCamp:

• Give back by educating aspiring developers
• Have your post reach their millions of monthly readers
• Get feedback from their strict editing process
• Review their guide for writers
• Must submit writing samples before being approved

To contribute:

1. Study their style guide
2. Apply by submitting 3 writing samples
3. Write draft once approved
4. Submit to their team for review
5. Make edits based on feedback
6. Get published on a highly trusted platform

Indie Hackers

Indie Hackers is an engaging community to discuss side projects, startups, and bootstrapped businesses. If you‘ve built products or companies as a developer, it‘s a great place to share your story.

Key benefits of Indie Hackers:

• Targeted readership interested in startups/side projects
• Share wisdom from your product build/launch
• Learn from others who‘ve bootstrapped successful companies
• Build your personal brand as a product creator
• Tap into the site‘s existing founder community

Getting started is straightforward:

1. Create your Indie Hackers account
2. Click "Submit Story" to draft your post
3. Review the writing guidelines
4. Share the story of your product/startup
5. Engage with your peers for feedback and advice!

DZone

DZone bills itself as a "developer community" with over 3 million monthly visitors. It‘s focused on helping programmers learn and stay up-to-date on the latest coding news and tutorials.

Why publish on DZone as a developer:

• Established readership of developers
• Active forums to discuss coding topics
• Submit articles for team review
• Build your portfolio by showcasing expertise
• Promote your personal brand as a coder

Steps to contribute:

1. Sign up for a free account
2. Consume content to understand their style
3. Compose helpful, educational articles
4. Submit pieces for review by their editors
5. Get published and participate in discussions

LinkedIn

While not a traditional blogging platform, LinkedIn offers developers a unique opportunity to tap into their existing professional network.

Advantages of publishing on LinkedIn:

• Already popular platform among tech/business users
• Showcase skills to your established connections
• Simple article publishing process
• Chance to connect with tech leaders/influencers
• Demonstrate thought leadership to potential employers

To get started:

1. Create a LinkedIn account if you don‘t have one
2. Compose your post in the share box
3. Use the headline field for the article title
4. Publish your content and share your unique perspective

The best blogging platform for you depends on your specific goals and audience. I recommend trying out a few options from this list to determine which feels like the best fit.

No matter which you choose, consistency and high-quality content focused on helping your readers are key to building a successful developer blog. The benefits are immense for coders who want to establish their expertise, get recognized, amplify their projects, and grow their careers.

What platform will you use to start blogging as a developer? Let me know in the comments!