5 Ways to Get Involved in Web3 as a Developer

By Monique Danao

Making a jump from Web2 to Web3 can be daunting. Dealing with new terminology, learning new tech, or just trying to find your people - it’s a tall order. Still, the endless possibilities of Web3 make the effort worth it. 

At Surge, we want to support developers and engineers moving from Web2 into Web3. In this article, we’ll share tips that can empower you to join the Web3 tech revolution. 

1. Participate in Hackathons 

A hackathon is a social event where engineers join small teams to compete in coding. Hackathons bring tech teams together, which usually include software developers, UI/UX designers, or even project managers. Each team works together to brainstorm solutions revolving around a theme or an innovative new feature.

An example is the Moralis Avalanche Hackathon where developers are encouraged to build Web3 projects, like a decentralized social media or game creation platform. Top entries get cash from their prize pool worth $500,000, with the top entry winning $100,000. 

Here are some tips to consider when joining a hackathon:

Understand the theme

Most hackathons revolve around a specific theme. If your ideas or solutions aren’t aligned with the theme, you may lose out on the opportunity to gain experience in Web3 and team up with tech professionals. 

Network

A hackathon isn’t just about showing off your great idea. Instead, it’s a chance to network with developers or tech professionals in the Web3 industry. 

Read the rules and instructions

Before you attend the hackathon, read all the instructions first. Remember the rules, schedule, instructions for participation—encourage your team to read all the fine print too. 

Prepare for public speaking

Teams are often required to present or pitch their final projects, and delivering a high-impact presentation is a great way to differentiate your skills to potential employers or collaborators. 

2. Immerse Yourself in the Space

Passive learning is real. We love listening to podcasts and there are many Web3 podcasts that you can listen to in your free time or while driving or cooking.

To speed up your search, we’ve compiled a list of the most notable resources for Web3:

Podcasts

• The Metaverse Podcast - has a series of interviews with CEOs, developers, and critics behind industry-leading projects. 

• Into the Ether - a podcast focused on DeFi and Ethereum. It features in-depth discussions with prominent professionals in the industry. 

• Coinbase: Around the Block - a podcast hosted by Coinbase Ventures' Justin Mart and Katherine Wu with conversations about all things crypto. 

• Delphi - a podcast by a leading cryptocurrency research firm—Delphi Digital. Their episodes explore new cryptocurrency ecosystems and top-level insights.

Books

• The Spatial Web: How Web 3.0 Will Connect Humans, Machines, and AI to Transform the World - provides a clear overview of cutting-edge technology, including VR, AR, IoT, blockchain, and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). 

• Building Decentralized Blockchain Applications: Learn How to Use Blockchain as the Foundation for Next-Gen Apps - ideal for full stack developers, web programmers or software engineers who want to build an app using blockchain or pursue a career in the industry.

• Blockchain 2035: The Digital DNA of Internet -  explains how blockchain technology will change the monetary and information systems in the coming decades. 

• The Blockchain Developer - discusses how aspiring blockchain developers can build, publish, test, and secure decentralized blockchain projects. 

People 

Twitter is where most of Web3 action happens. In your research, you’ll come upon projects and protocols you like or want to join. It’s a good idea to follow the founders, contributors, and community members. Most importantly - don’t be too shy to reply or get involved in Twitter discussions. 

3. Join Communities Focused on Learning

Find a community of people who want to get involved in Web3 and have the same interests as you. 

This can be an online organization such as Black Women in Crypto, Women in NFTs, and Surge Women. 

There are also Web3 professional groups such as Blockchain Developers and meetups like Beginner Programmers where you can meet professionals teaching other enthusiasts about the power of code and crypto.  

You can also join a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO). DAOs are organizations that work on a common goal such as building a new product or learning about Web3. 

Groups like Developer DAO aim to speed up the education of the next generation of Web3 builders. There are also DAOs or organizations that are specifically designed to teach blockchain coding fundamentals such as Layers.xyz, rabbithole.gg, among others.

Unlike a traditional online community, DAOs have no central authority. Instead, DAOs use smart contracts, built on the blockchain, which contain the rules of the organization. Members that want voting rights on the organization's decisions usually buy a governance token. 

While different DAOs might have different rules for joining, membership usually involves the following steps:

• Find a DAO - Find a list of DAOs through platforms like DAO Central. A lot of DAOs also launch and organize on Twitter, then encourage interested members to join their private community on Discord. 

• Read the charter - Check out the beginning documentation to learn the objectives, principles, and activities in the organization

• Introduce yourself- Join the community’s Discord or Telegram to introduce yourself and interact with members. 

• Buy a token - Having a token gives you the ability to vote on proposals and decisions within the organization. This usually involves purchasing the cryptocurrency used by the ecosystem, sending it to a Web3 wallet, and swapping your crypto to get the token. 

4. Contribute to a DAO

As a developer, DAOs help you network with tech professionals and learn about opportunities. You also get the support necessary to figure things out, especially if you’re new to the Web3 community. And if you want to start reaping more benefits from joining a DAO—we highly recommend contributing to it, too. 

Example contributions include:  

Join bounty programs

A bounty program is used to incentivize actions before the initial coin offering (ICO). For instance, bug reporting campaigns encourage developers and cybersecurity professionals to find potential bugs in an early-stage startup’s infrastructure or software product in exchange for payment. 

Learn the rules of governance in a DAO

Learning DAOs rules of governance is a good way to onboard yourself to a protocol.  Many developers are unable to submit proposals as soon as they join an organization, because they don't understand the context of what the community is already working on. 

By focusing on governance issues such as past proposals, or previous votes, you’ll be able to understand how more seasoned contributors are thinking about problems, identify very specific use-cases, and learn more about what it takes to write a successful proposal.

Submit a development proposal

Governance procedure varies from project to project.  In most Web3 projects, individuals can contribute to the development process, and one way is to submit a development proposal in the DAO.

Submitting a proposal allows developers to introduce new features or alter existing ones. The details of the proposal will vary based on the rules of the DAO. 

5. Find a Job in Web3

The most effective way to immerse yourself in the industry is to find a job. Web3 is a booming space and it requires all hands on deck. You’re bound to find something that fits your skills.  

Tech investors are pouring millions of dollars into promising crypto startups. For tech talent, this means exciting opportunities and the space and freedom to develop next-gen infrastructure.

Finding job opportunities in Web3 is easy if you know where to look. CryptoJobs and Surge Women are job boards updated with job openings for software engineers and developers. 

Before you send your application, it’s important to note that there are a lot of differences between a job in Web 2.0 and Web3. Here are some points to consider:

Open source work

In Web 2.0, users and developers are not shareholders. They don’t have control over the features and projects a company will implement in the foreseeable future. 

For development teams working in Web3 and taking advantage of open source nature, the scenario is radically different. A team of developers can fork code, build a token, and leverage community incentives to acquire a large market cap. If developers can gain the favor of the community, they are also provided with the resources they need to start a project and release it to the market. 

Flat hierarchical structure

In top-down organizations, the board of directors impact the overall direction of the business. However, in Web 3, organizations utilize a flat hierarchical model that encourages mutual participation. 

There are tons of venture groups, foundations, funds, research organizations, and traditional companies that work together to launch projects and coordinate the set of rules that will be utilized on the blockchain. Some groups also collaborate to manage communities and crowdfund projects. 

Good luck! 

Jumping into the Web3 bandwagon is fast and easy if you know where to look. Thanks to many promising Web3 projects, there are numerous DAOs and events where you can join to learn more about this innovative technology. 

Excited to get involved in the Web3 community? Trying to figure out how you can network with Web3 developers? Check out Surge’s supportive community on Discord and Twitter to meet like-minded Web3 enthusiasts.