DEV Joins Major League Hacking: What It Means for Developers and Agencies

The DEV community is officially part of Major League Hacking (MLH)—a move that reshapes the landscape for developer‑focused platforms, hackathons, and open‑source tooling. For agencies building products with React, Next.js, or TypeScript, this partnership offers fresh pathways to engage talent, amplify content, and leverage a massive global network of creators.

Why the Merge Matters

• Scale meets community – MLH runs hackathons, fellowships, and meet‑ups for over 1 million developers across 100+ countries. DEV brings a thriving online hub of 3 million+ readers and a robust open‑source project (Forem) that powers the site.
• Resource exchange – The announcement emphasizes a “resource exchange, creative energy, and a unified vision”, meaning agencies can tap into MLH’s event infrastructure while still accessing DEV’s content pipeline.
• Future‑proofing – With AI reshaping how developers learn, the combined platform aims to bridge “online conversations and IRL creation”, a sweet spot for product teams seeking both knowledge sharing and hands‑on experimentation.

A Decade‑Long Journey Comes Full Circle

The post traces DEV’s roots back to a 2014 side project that grew into a full‑blown community over ten years. Founders Jess, Peter, and PBJ (the author) stress that the original team stays intact while taking on new roles within MLH. This continuity reassures agencies that the platform’s culture won’t be lost in the transition.

What’s Changing for the DEV Community

Core Initiatives Getting a Boost

• Trusted Moderator program – Plans to revamp moderation to keep discussions high‑quality and safe.
• CodeNewbie focus – A dedicated sub‑community for newcomers will receive more resources, helping agencies nurture junior talent pipelines.
• Forem independence – The open‑source engine behind DEV will be positioned as a stand‑alone project, encouraging broader contributions and custom deployments.

Immediate Benefits for Agencies

• Access to MLH events – Direct invitations to hackathons and fellowships provide live testing grounds for new features or beta products.
• Cross‑promotion – Content published on DEV can be highlighted during MLH’s global hack weeks, driving traffic and SEO value.
• Community‑first mindset – Both organizations commit to “community‑first improvements” rather than pure sales pushes, aligning with agencies that prioritize authentic developer engagement.

The Bigger Picture: Learning, Building, and Growing

MLH’s stats underline the educational impact of its programs: 91 % of participants learn something they don’t get in school or at work. By integrating DEV’s knowledge base—articles, tutorials, and discussions—agencies can offer a seamless learning journey from theory (DEV posts) to practice (MLH hackathons).

The post also highlights the evolving definition of a “developer” as AI‑driven tools expand the creator pool. For agencies, this means:

• Broader talent pools – Including AI hobbyists and non‑traditional coders.
• New content formats – AI‑generated prompts, code‑assist tools, and interactive tutorials.
• Diversified product strategies – Building features that cater to both seasoned engineers and emerging creators.

How Agencies Can Leverage the New Alliance

• Sponsor a hackathon track – Align a product launch with an MLH event to get real‑world feedback.
• Publish thought leadership on DEV – Use the platform’s SEO strength to position your brand as an industry authority.
• Contribute to Forem – Open‑source contributions boost your engineering reputation and give you early access to platform enhancements.
• Engage CodeNewbie – Offer mentorship or entry‑level resources that attract fresh talent into your pipeline.

Upcoming Fireside Chat: Get Your Questions Answered

MLH co‑founder @theycallmeswift will moderate a live Q&A with PBJ, Jess, Peter, and Jon on February 19th, 11:30 am ET during Global Hack Week. Agencies should tune in to hear roadmap details, partnership logistics, and how to get involved.

Looking Ahead: The Next Decade

The announcement closes on an optimistic note: the combined forces aim to “foster new and critical communities for career software developers, code newbies, AI hobbyists, and the ever‑expanding world of software creators”. For web‑development agencies, this signals a fertile ground for:

• Long‑term community building – Sustainable engagement beyond one‑off campaigns.
• Innovation labs – Co‑creating tools that blend DEV’s discussion platform with MLH’s event infrastructure.
• Talent pipelines – Direct access to a global pool of developers at various skill levels.

Key Takeaways

• DEV’s integration into MLH merges a large online knowledge base with a massive global event ecosystem.
• The partnership focuses on community‑first improvements, not sales, ensuring authentic developer experiences.
• Agencies can leverage hackathons, content publishing, and open‑source contributions to strengthen their brand and talent acquisition.
• Upcoming Fireside Chat offers a chance to ask specifics about roadmap and partnership opportunities.

By staying tuned to both DEV and MLH channels, agencies can ride this new wave of developer engagement, turning community interaction into tangible product growth.

Happy coding!