Developer Experience (DevEx) — On-boarding done right (Case Study)

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression” — Will Rogers

First impressions are critical, specially when dealing with complicated software tools and technologies targetted towards developers. A great first impression can win or lose developer audience and today I want to share about how Docker On-boarding experience won me over :)

If you’re a modern developer, you probably have heardheard about ‘Containers’ or ‘Kubernetes’ or even ‘Docker’. Docker is a platform as as service (PaaS) that allows developers to deploy software packages in self contained units called “docker containers”. This is a foundational tool when building modern, scalable applications and first step generally is to install the tool on your development environment called “Docker Desktop”

Docker Inc. has done a wonderful job getting developers on board and I will share some best practices that we can all learn from :

1. Handy Installation Package (native OS app for Mac, Windows and Linux) : This allows for a quick and easy installation. For something so complicated and large in size it’s easy when the installation is a no-brainer. There is no need to manage tarballs/zips or download and build entire source code as you can download and install via browser to your desktop from https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop
2. Docker GUI & CLI Wizard : Once the installation is complete and I started the Docker Dekstop App, it greeted me with a friendly wizard that showed code (CLI) right away. This is critical as at this stage I’m trying to learn this new tool to get my job done. The wizard offers step by step instructions to build a simple app that made me understand what was happening by reading the helpful text on the wizard and seeing the output of the commands on the right size. The command line window is also interactive where I can choose to either type the commands myself or just click on the button on the left and it execute the commands for me. Nicely done Team Docker :)

Finally I see the container running in the Docker Desktop GUI App

3. Useful ToolTip : After following the simple tutorial it showed me meaninful help — how to actually run a web framework in docker container.

What Docker can do more to make it even more awesome ? Tell me what the tutorial app does, don’t leave me hanging. What kind of app is it ? Node.JS, Java, Python etc ? What does it do ? I was lost here.

Final Take aways for a better on-boarding developer experience (DevEx):

1. Docker website is well designed — free of clutter, helpful with clear CTA. Make sure your website is free of makering and sales fluff, it should be clear cut, mostly fact based.
2. Desktop Tool had a helpful wizard that I actually liked (unlike most which I just skip). If you have a tool/utility, don’t just leave users alone after insalling it. Hand hold them so they can get to thier first win!
3. Desktop Tool worked without having me sign in (big points here!) : Avoid forcing users (developers) to sign up/in before they have even used your service. If developers find value, they would be happy to sign up.
4. Desktop Tool offers helpful hints. Offer meaninful hints and have an option to disable them too.