Do you want to build a community where users search or hang? – Dan Moore!
Hacker News
February 17, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Building a developer-focused community can significantly benefit tech companies by fostering user engagement, generating content, and creating a competitive edge. However, the success of such communities largely depends on their purpose and structure. As highlighted by Dan Moore, there are two primary types of developer communities: those designed for "hanging out" (like Facebook) and those focused on solving problems quickly (like Google).
In "hangout" communities, users engage in discussions, build relationships, and often participate in real-life events such as conferences. Examples include The Rands Engineering Slack and the Ruby community. These platforms thrive when the technology or tool allows for deeper, sustained engagement. On the other hand, "search-and-go" communities, such as StackOverflow, cater to users seeking quick solutions. Here, anonymity is common, and interactions are brief, centered around problem-solving.
The type of community often correlates with the technology's self-contained nature. Smaller tools, like logging libraries, tend to attract "search-and-go" users, while larger frameworks, such as Rust or Haskell, foster more engaging "hangout" communities due to their complexity and broader discussion potential. Additionally, open-source projects with unifying philosophies or strong interests (e.g., gaming) are more likely to build vibrant "hangout" spaces.
Understanding whether a community should be a "Facebook" or a "Google" is crucial for tech startups and developers aiming to create meaningful engagement. This distinction not only impacts user experience but also influences the long-term sustainability and growth of the community, making it a vital consideration in tech strategy.
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Originally published on Hacker News on 2/17/2026