How to Create the Best Content as a Software Engineer

You've heard it a thousand times: "Developers should create content." But nobody tells you how to create content that actually stands out. Content that people remember, share, and come back to.

After years of experimenting, failing, and occasionally succeeding, I've distilled what I've learned into this guide. This isn't about posting more—it's about posting better.

The Foundation: Understanding What "Best" Actually Means

Let's start with a reality check. The "best" content isn't always the most technically accurate or the most comprehensive. The best content is the content that achieves its goal—whether that's helping someone solve a problem, sparking a conversation, or establishing your expertise.

Great developer content typically has three qualities:

It's useful — Someone walks away knowing something they didn't before
It's memorable — It sticks in people's minds because of how it was presented
It's authentic — It sounds like a real person, not a textbook

Let's break down how to achieve each of these.

1. Start With a Specific Problem

The biggest mistake I see developers make: trying to cover too much. "A Complete Guide to React" is overwhelming. "How I Fixed the Infinite Re-render That Drove Me Crazy" is specific and immediately useful.

Specific problems work because:

They're searchable—people Google specific issues
They're relatable—others have hit the same wall
They're completable—you can actually solve them in one post

The framework I use: Think about the last problem that made you say "finally!" when you solved it. That's your next post.

2. Lead With the Payoff

Academic writing builds to a conclusion. Good content writing does the opposite—it starts with the conclusion.

People are impatient. They're scrolling. They need to know immediately whether your content is worth their time. Tell them upfront what they'll learn or what problem you'll solve.

Bad opening:
"In this post, I'm going to discuss some thoughts I've had about database optimization and share some techniques I've learned over the years..."

Good opening:
"I reduced our database queries from 2 seconds to 50ms. Here's exactly how."

The good opening makes a promise. The reader knows what's coming and wants to see how you did it.

3. Use the "Show, Don't Tell" Principle

"Redux is useful for state management" tells me nothing. Show me a messy component before Redux, then show me the clean version after. Let me see the transformation.

Developers especially respond to:

Before/after code comparisons — Visual proof of improvement
Real error messages — "I got this error: [actual error]" is more relatable than describing the problem abstractly
Screenshots and GIFs — Show the behavior, don't just describe it
Metrics — "Performance improved by 40%" beats "it got faster"

Every claim you make should be backed by something concrete. If you can't show it, reconsider whether you should say it.

4. Write Like You Talk (But Edited)

Technical content doesn't have to be dry. The best technical writers sound like they're explaining something to a colleague, not writing a specification document.

Tips for finding your voice:

Read your writing out loud. If you stumble, it's too complex.
Use "you" and "I" instead of passive voice. "The function was called" becomes "I called the function."
Include your reactions. "I expected X but got Y" is more engaging than just stating Y.
It's okay to be informal. Contractions, jokes, and admissions of confusion are all fair game.

The goal is conversational but clear. You're not dumbing things down— you're making them accessible.

5. Structure for Scanning

Nobody reads everything. People scan, find what's relevant, and dive in. Your content needs to accommodate this behavior.

Scannable content includes:

Clear headings — Each section should be findable at a glance
Short paragraphs — 2-4 sentences max. White space is your friend.
Bullet points and numbered lists — For anything with multiple items
Bold key phrases — Highlight the most important takeaways
Code blocks that stand out — Formatted, syntax-highlighted, and explained

Think of your structure as a roadmap. Even someone who only reads the headings should understand the main points.

6. Include the "Why," Not Just the "How"

Documentation tells you how to do something. Great content tells you why you'd want to.

Context matters. Before jumping into a solution, explain:

What problem were you facing?
Why did you choose this approach over alternatives?
What tradeoffs did you make?
When would this solution NOT be appropriate?

This context transforms a simple tutorial into genuine insight. It shows your thought process, which is often more valuable than the solution itself.

7. Be Honest About Limitations

Nothing kills credibility faster than presenting something as perfect when it's not. Every approach has tradeoffs. Every solution has edge cases. Acknowledge them.

Phrases that build trust:

"This works well for X, but might not scale for Y"
"I'm still not 100% sure about this part"
"A simpler alternative would be..."
"If you try this and find issues, let me know"

Honesty differentiates you from generic tutorials. It shows you've actually used what you're teaching and understand its real-world implications.

8. End With a Clear Takeaway

Don't let your content fizzle out. End strong with a clear summary or call-to-action. What should the reader do next? What's the one thing they should remember?

Strong endings include:

A TL;DR section — Bullet points summarizing the key points
A challenge — "Try implementing this in your own project"
A question — "How do you handle this? Let me know."
Resources — Links to learn more or tools to try

9. Leverage Your Unique Perspective

Here's what most content advice misses: the best content comes from your unique vantage point. You've worked on specific projects, in specific industries, with specific constraints. That experience is your edge.

Instead of writing another generic "Intro to GraphQL," write about:

How you migrated from REST to GraphQL at your company
The unexpected challenges you hit in production
The specific patterns that worked for your team's workflow

Your experience is impossible to replicate. Generic knowledge is everywhere. Specific, battle-tested insights are rare and valuable.

10. Use Tools to Amplify, Not Replace

AI and automation can dramatically speed up content creation. But use them as amplifiers, not replacements for thinking.

Where tools help:

Generating initial drafts to overcome blank page syndrome
Suggesting topics based on your actual work (like your commits)
Polishing grammar and clarity
Optimizing for different platforms

Where tools can't help:

Providing genuine insight from experience
Adding your personal voice and perspective
Making judgment calls about what's actually important

This is exactly why we built StoryTell—to handle the tedious parts of content creation while leaving space for your authentic voice. It suggests content based on your GitHub activity, giving you a starting point that's already personalized to your work.

TL;DR — The Best Content Checklist

Start specific — One problem, solved completely
Lead with the payoff — Tell them what they'll learn upfront
Show, don't tell — Use code, screenshots, and metrics
Write conversationally — Like explaining to a colleague
Structure for scanning — Headings, bullets, short paragraphs
Explain the "why" — Context makes tutorials into insights
Be honest about limitations — Tradeoffs build trust
End with a takeaway — Clear summary or call-to-action
Use your unique perspective — Your experience is your edge
Use tools wisely — Amplify your voice, don't replace it

Creating great content is a skill, and like any skill, it improves with practice. The best time to start is now. Pick one thing from this list, apply it to your next post, and iterate from there.

Ready to turn your coding work into compelling content? Try StoryTell and let your GitHub activity inspire your next post.