If you’ve worked in DevRel, you know the question’s coming sooner or later:
“So… how do we measure all this?”
It’s a fair ask — but the answer is rarely simple. Because DevRel doesn’t sit neatly in one function. It touches product, marketing, community, and support. That means traditional metrics often miss the mark.
So here’s a breakdown of the DevRel signals I’ve found actually useful — especially in early-stage ecosystems:
1. Developer Activation, Not Just Signups
Vanity: # of developers who registered
Real: # of developers who built something or used your SDK within 7 days
2. Meaningful Community Engagement
Vanity: Discord member count
Real: % of community members participating in technical threads, answering others’ questions, or submitting GitHub issues
3. Documentation Feedback Loop
Real DevRel impact shows up in how often your docs get flagged, updated, or improved — and who’s driving that loop (hint: engaged developers)
4. Time to First Hello World
How long does it actually take a dev to go from “I heard about this” → to “I deployed a test project”?
The shorter that path, the stronger your DevRel + DX are.
5. Developer Sentiment (Yes, It’s Qualitative)
If the only signals you track are quant, you’ll miss the why.
Surveys, interviews, casual 1:1s — these are your best leading indicators.
DevRel isn’t just about reach. It’s about developer momentum.
What other signals have you tracked that actually showed impact?