As software and technology become increasingly complex, companies need a liaison between technical teams, customers, and their developers. Enter the developer advocate.

A developer advocate is a tech-savvy professional who bridges the gap between technical teams and customers. Their main role is to represent a company in a positive light, provide technical guidance to customers, and gather feedback from the community. In other words, developer advocates serve as technical ambassadors of their company’s products and services.

But what exactly does a developer advocate do on a day-to-day basis? For starters, they spend time with technical teams, working to understand their software and products. From there, they use that knowledge to communicate with customers through various channels (social media, blogs, forums, etc.), answering technical questions and helping to solve problems. They also develop technical content (such as tutorials and documentation) to help bridge the knowledge gap between developers and customers.

Perhaps one of the most important roles of a developer advocate is to act as a bridge between technical teams and the wider community. By being active on social media and online forums, they can help to build meaningful relationships with customers and gather feedback that informs product development.

It’s important to note that while technical knowledge is a crucial aspect of being a developer advocate, other skills are just as important. For example, they must be able to communicate technical concepts to non-technical people in an approachable manner. Additionally, they should be comfortable public speaking and networking with large groups of people.

In terms of education, there’s no one-size-fits-all path to becoming a developer advocate. Some come from a technical background (such as software engineering), while others might have more of a marketing or communications background. What’s most important is a deep understanding of technical concepts and industry trends, as well as experience building relationships with customers and industry professionals.

Overall, developer advocates play a vital role in the technology industry. By acting as a liaison between technical teams and the wider community, they help to ensure that companies are meeting the needs of their customers and staying ahead of the curve in terms of technical innovation.