In my early days at Microsoft, I worked as part of our Developer & Platform Evangelism group, and later the Developer Experience group. As part of my role, I was fortunate to be able to interact with several developer communities around the US. Some of these were .NET User Groups, which were great! On the enterprise productivity side, I found helping install and run internal user groups and communities to be as equally beneficial.

Internal developer communities are becoming increasingly popular as organizations recognize the value of promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration among their technical teams. These communities provide an avenue for developers to connect, learn from one another, and collectively contribute to the growth and success of the organization. Let’s look at some of the other core benefits of an internal developer community and provide some basic tips on how to create one.

One of the primary benefits of an internal developer community is the opportunity for knowledge sharing. By bringing together developers with diverse backgrounds and experiences, you create a platform for sharing ideas, best practices, and solutions to common challenges. This can help to foster innovation and improve the quality of your codebase. Additionally, it can help to create a more cohesive and collaborative team culture.

Another benefit of an internal developer community is the ability to promote continuous learning. As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, it’s essential that developers stay up-to-date with the latest tools, techniques, and trends. By providing a forum for learning and professional development, you can help your team members to stay current and improve their skills. This can, in turn, improve the quality of your products and services and enhance your organization’s reputation as an innovative and forward-thinking company.

An internal developer community can also help to improve team morale and job satisfaction. By providing opportunities for collaboration and recognition, you create a sense of belonging and engagement that can help to retain top talent. Additionally, it can help to break down silos and promote cross-functional communication, which can improve team dynamics and foster a sense of community.

So, how can you create an internal developer community? Here are some tips to get started:

1. Establish clear goals and objectives for the community and communicate these to the team.
2. Provide a platform for communication and collaboration, such as a dedicated Teams channel or GitHub repo.
3. Encourage participation and contribution from all team members, regardless of seniority or experience level.
4. Offer opportunities for learning and development, such as regular lunch and learns, workshops, or hackathons.
5. Recognize and reward team members for their contributions to the community and the organization as a whole.

Also, consider the size of your developer ecosystem when setting up your community. Is it small enough for a single community, or is the organization large enough to have an over-arching community with smaller, more technology-focused user groups?

While another organization (like Microsoft ;)) can help initiate and facilitate these communities, the most successful ones are self-sustaining.

An internal developer community can provide a range of benefits for your organization, from improving code quality and innovation to promoting team morale and retention. Good luck! And if you’d like to learn more, contact me to help create a thriving community that supports the growth and success of your technical teams.