Communities

dev.to and Hashnode

Write tutorials that solve a real problem. Readers arrive from the feed and from search.

Visit dev.to
Cost
Free

Free to use. No paid tier is needed to list or post.

Verdict
works

Slow burn: tutorials keep getting found in search for years.

Difficulty
Medium

Needs preparation, a review, or a steady habit before results.

Effort
Medium

About 5 to 10 hours a month.

First result
1 to 3 months

A rough range for one person working on it part-time.

Payoff
Compounds

keeps growing while you keep at it.

Best for

Developer products that solve a problem a tutorial can explain.

Not for

Non-technical consumer products.

Pros

  • Tutorials keep ranking in search
  • Built-in developer readership

Cons

  • Slow to compound
  • Needs real technical writing

The full guide

Last verified 2026-10-30

Links checked 2026-10-30 · All links answer

01What it is and who is there

dev.to and Hashnode are blogging platforms for developers. Each has a feed where readers find new posts, and posts also rank in search. Readers are developers looking for tutorials, explanations and tools. A practical tutorial that solves a real problem can bring readers for years.

02Cost and what you actually pay for

Publishing is free on both. Your cost is writing time. Check current terms for any paid features.

03Is it right for you?

It fits developer tools, APIs, libraries and AI tools that a tutorial can show. It fits poorly for non-technical consumer products. If you cannot write a useful tutorial, start with documentation instead.

04Before you start

  • Accounts on both platforms, with your name, bio and link.
  • A real problem developers search for, which your tool helps solve.
  • Code samples that run, and screenshots.
  • Read each platform's guidelines on promotion and canonical links.

05Step-by-step: how to distribute here

  1. Pick one specific problem developers search for.
  2. Write a tutorial that solves it step by step. Your tool should appear only where it helps.
  3. Publish on your own blog first if you have one, then cross-post with a canonical link.
  4. Add relevant tags.
  5. Reply to comments and update the post when the code changes.
  6. Publish regularly; a library of tutorials compounds.

06What to post or submit

Title formula:

How to [do specific task] with [language/framework] (step by step)

Outline:

The problem: [one paragraph].
Step 1 to Step N: [code and explanation].
Where [tool] helps: [one section, honest].
Full code: [repo link].

07Common mistakes and do-nots

  • Do not write an ad dressed as a tutorial.
  • Do not publish code that does not run.
  • Do not stuff tags that do not fit.
  • Do not forget canonical links when cross-posting.

08How to measure it

  • Track referrals from dev.to and hashnode.
  • Track sign-ups from tutorial readers.
  • A realistic test: five tutorials over two to three months.

09Time budget

  • Per tutorial: 3 to 6 hours.
  • After: 30 minutes a month to answer comments.

10Pair it with

11Sources

Sources