What you consume intellectually shapes you – and a large portion of Toptal members and blog readers are software developers. So, what are they reading? Where do experienced developers stay updated on the latest trends and insights from their peers? Today, we’re exploring a curated collection of popular developer blogs frequented by Toptal developers.
Listing every worthwhile developer blog would be a monumental task, resulting in an incredibly lengthy post. Therefore, we’ll concentrate on a few dozen popular ones. While we could suggest more, we believe in decentralization and collaboration. We encourage you, our readers, to expand this list in the comments.
Toptal doesn’t specialize in a particular niche, so I’ll categorize the list for easier navigation. Let’s begin with Microsoft.
Top Microsoft Blogs
Scott Guthrie’s blog is undoubtedly at the top of our list. Scott Guthrie isn’t your typical developer; he’s the VP of Microsoft’s Cloud and Enterprise Group. His team is responsible for the development of .NET, Visual Studio, Active Directory, Windows Server, Azure, and SQL Server.
Guthrie has been with Microsoft for over 15 years, and his blog houses a decade’s worth of content valuable to Microsoft developers. The only drawback is that the blog isn’t updated as frequently as it was a couple of years ago.
Ode to Code is another blog brimming with helpful Microsoft material, though it doesn’t exclusively focus on Redmond technologies. It’s penned by K. Scott Allen, a consultant and developer at OdeToCode LLC.
Conversely, if you’re looking to stay informed about .NET developments, weblogs.asp.net is worth exploring. It’s a sizable community of blogs with numerous contributing authors. Fresh content is published daily, covering a wide array of niche topics.
Top SQL Blogs And Database Blogs
SQL is frequently overlooked despite being the backbone of many projects. We prefer not to list numerous blogs maintained by individual developers – many are infrequently updated, and we have more areas to cover.
A good starting point is an aggregator, so we recommend Top SQL Blogs. Here you’ll discover numerous useful links, blogs, and even industry news.
The Percona MySQL Performance Blog is also worth a look – it hosts hundreds of valuable MySQL blogs and covers other subjects as well.
Top iOS Developer Blogs
The popularity of Apple’s iOS products has fueled a thriving industry. For years, iOS was the platform for mobile development. Today, Apple’s closed ecosystem might hold less mass-market appeal than Android, but it offers greater revenue potential. This isn’t changing anytime soon; Google might have a larger market share, but Apple generates more revenue from iOS, attracting many developers to its ecosystem.
If you’re new to iOS, Ray Wenderlich’s blog is an excellent starting point. The blog is regularly updated by several contributors, focusing on education. You’ll find numerous tutorials and helpful content covering various aspects of iOS development. Even if you’re a seasoned developer, it’s worth visiting to validate your skills or learn new ones.
Mike Ash also maintains an iOS blog suitable for beginners. You’ll find abundant useful Swift content, primarily authored by Ash himself, along with contributions from others.
Cocoacontrols was once a highly popular blog focusing on (you guessed it) Cocoa controls. While it hasn’t been updated in months, it still contains a wealth of valuable information.
Now, let’s delve into more captivating and frequently updated blogs. NSHipster boasts a considerable following, providing extensive content on Objective-C, Swift, and Cocoa. NSHipster’s Matt Thompson also has publications exploring “obscure topics” in Cocoa and Objective-C.
Another noteworthy resource is objc.io, a periodical highlighting best practices and advanced techniques for iOS and OS X development, covering a broad range of subjects beyond iOS.
Top Android Developer Blogs
If Apple’s closed ecosystem isn’t your cup of tea, you’re likely an Android enthusiast. Countless blogs and forums are dedicated to Android, with numerous open-source projects to participate in.
Shortlisting just a few blogs is challenging, so let’s start with the obvious – Google Developers Blog. This blog is (naturally) relevant for Android developers and should be checked periodically.
However, if you’re new to Android, starting with Android Hive is recommended. It offers abundant content geared towards beginners while also covering some advanced techniques. Furthermore, it provides numerous valuable tutorials beneficial regardless of skill level.
Vogella is one of the oldest sources of information for Android developers and remains quite popular. Vogella strives to encompass as much of the Android development process as possible, offering everything from basic tutorials to advanced techniques employed by few.
To refine your skills and stay abreast of the latest Android advancements, check out Android Weekly. It’s not a blog but a weekly newsletter featuring curated content from various sources.
If you’re seeking user interface and user experience tips, Androiduiux is worth exploring, though it’s not updated frequently.
Top Coding Blogs
This category is tricky, and the shortlist is bound to spark debate – so be it. Toptal freelancers work with various frameworks, scripting, and programming languages, making it impossible to create a universally comprehensive list. I’m confident our readers have more suggestions, so please share them with your peers.
Many JavaScript users are likely familiar with jQuery4u. It has been around for years and remains strong, offering a plethora of code demos, video tutorials, and other valuable resources. Best of all, jQuery4u is updated regularly, ensuring there’s always something new to discover. Numerous JavaScript blogs also cover HTML, PHP, and CSS.
Speaking of CSS, the CSSkarma blog is worth a look, though it’s not as frequently updated as it once was. For more current information and tutorials on CSS and design, Codrops blog is a must-visit. It’s regularly updated and features a wide range of tutorials from various authors.
As for Java, the situation is similar – there’s a lot to choose from. This is why many turn to syndicated content like Javalobby feed. Another popular aggregator is Top Java Blogs.
While such sites can be great for catching up on the latest developments, they also contain “noise.” The sheer volume of content and diverse niches might not appeal to every developer. Still, that’s what comes with a thriving community eager to contribute and share expertise.
Ruby developers also have many blogs to choose from, and by highlighting just two, I’m risking angry emails. Justin Weiss is a popular choice among Ruby developers, and several Toptalers recommend it as a great starting point. Weiss offers practical advice without wasting time, providing useful code and concise explanations. Just the way we like it. Virtuous Code is another suggestion from my Ruby-loving colleagues. This blog is the brainchild of Avdi Grimm, a young but prominent Ruby developer who has authored several books and provides screencasts on Ruby and Ruby on Rails development.
For those interested in Azure, Scott Hanselmann’s blog comes highly recommended. Hanselmann is a former professor and Microsoft veteran who regularly updates his blog, ensuring there’s always something new to discover. If you’re wondering why I didn’t mention Hanselmann in the Microsoft section, check out his open-source work.
What about Zend or Amazon Web Services? We have a couple of recommendations for Zend users – Michaël Gallego’s blog covers both Zend and AWS, while Marco Pivetta tackles Zend, PHP, and more on Ocramius blog.
Top Startup Blogs, SEO And More
Of course, our industry encompasses more than just technology. True entrepreneurs don’t solely focus on one aspect of the business. It takes significant time and effort to bring everything together and create something from nothing. A brilliant idea, top-notch code, and flawless execution aren’t enough to launch a successful startup.
The 500 blog provides valuable tips and testimonials for those preparing to launch a new product or service. Zach Holman also discusses various challenges encountered by software developers and entrepreneurs. What about the investor’s perspective? Veteran venture capitalist Mark Suster offers unique insights into the startup world through the eyes of VCs on his aptly named blog, Both Sides of The Table blog.
Naturally, every startup must address brand recognition, marketing, social media strategies, and SEO. Google’s Matt Cutts covers sound SEO practices, social media, and more on his blog. David Naylor, manager of UK-based Bronco digital services agency, publishes a comprehensive blog focused on search marketing and digital trends. With its fresh content and multiple contributors covering diverse topics, it’s worth checking out.
Hey, But You Forgot About…
I know.
As mentioned earlier, there’s too much ground to cover, and the internet is saturated with SEO-driven “Top 10” and “Top 100” articles on everything, including software development. That’s not my intention here – this is a community blog, though you might spot some SEO tweaks. If you can’t beat them, join them.
Let’s conclude with a few more blogs and alternative information sources, some focusing on general topics relevant to all developers.
Jeff Atwood’s Coding Horror blog has a devoted following and isn’t solely about code. Atwood’s writing style is engaging and informative, covering various topics, often focusing on the bigger picture, and offering valuable advice. It also stands out due to the numerous recommendations from Toptal network members. I trust their judgment when it comes to good blogs.
For those interested in best practices, CodeBetter is a good starting point. It covers a wide array of topics, with numerous contributors tackling their respective fields.
Now that we’ve reached the end of our brief roundup of top developer blogs, I’ll leave you with something entirely different – Devops Reactions.
Now It’s Your Turn
You’ve probably noticed that I omitted some communities and blogs. But who hasn’t heard of GitHub? Or knows an Android developer unfamiliar with XDA? Exactly.
This post aims to spark discussion and perhaps some controversy. Every Toptal post is a team effort, and now we want to hear from you. We’ve done our part; now it’s your turn to join the conversation and help fellow developers.
Share some blogs you frequent, even if they’re not widely known. Include a brief description explaining why they’ve earned a spot in your bookmarks.
Alternatively, feel free to share examples of terrible dev blogs, either as a warning or for entertainment value. Better yet, if you believe you can outperform some popular bloggers, we challenge you to pick a topic and get in touch. We’re always happy to publish high-quality content from skilled writers. Toptal’s mission is to attract the top 3% of freelance developers globally, so you’ll be in good company if you make the cut.