How to Market on r/programming
A subreddit for discussion and news about computer programming.
r/programming Rules & Self-Promotion Policy
Understanding the rules is critical for successful marketing. Here's what you need to know about r/programming.
Strict Self-Promotion Policy
This subreddit has strict rules against self-promotion. Product mentions should be rare and only when genuinely helpful.
Community Rules
- 1Must be about programming
- 2No memes
- 3No surveys or homework
- 4No career questions
- 5No "how do I learn" posts
How to Write for r/programming
Technical, precise, and substantive. Avoid hype. Present facts and let the work speak for itself. Be ready to engage in technical debate.
Best Practices for r/programming
Maximize your impact by understanding when, what, and how to post.
Best Times to Post
- Weekday Morning Pst
- Monday Wednesday Morning
Posts stay relevant for about 24-48 hours
Content That Works
- Interesting technical articles
- Open source project announcements
- Language and framework news
- Deep technical discussions
Who's Here
Professional developers with high technical sophistication. Strong opinions. Low tolerance for marketing. Appreciates intellectual depth.
Common Mistakes on r/programming
Avoid these pitfalls that get marketers banned or ignored.
Posting about your startup or product
Even technical products are seen as self-promotion unless the content is genuinely interesting to developers.
Instead
Share genuinely novel technical content. If it's interesting, people will find your project.
Asking career or learning questions
These are explicitly banned. r/programming is for programming discussion, not career advice.
Instead
Use r/cscareerquestions for career questions, r/learnprogramming for learning questions.
Posting content without substance
"X vs Y" listicles or basic tutorials get downvoted.
Instead
Content should teach something non-obvious or spark interesting technical discussion.
Post Formats That Work on r/programming
These content formats consistently perform well in this community.
Technical Article
Example Format
"Deep dive into a programming concept with novel insights or analysis."
Why It Works
The community values intellectual depth. Quality content gets shared widely.
Open Source Announcement
Example Format
"New open source project with clear explanation of what it does and why it matters."
Why It Works
The community appreciates open source. Focus on the problem it solves.
Language/Framework News
Example Format
"Announcements of new versions, features, or interesting developments."
Why It Works
News about tools developers use gets engagement. Provide context and analysis.
Related Communities & Use Cases
Expand your reach with similar subreddits and see who uses r/programming for marketing.
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Who Should Target r/programming
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about marketing on r/programming
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