From 5cd2f2d39dba7d1a1a526d542a94290f32b09169 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: danbaruka <46156791+danbaruka@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2026 19:08:08 +0400 Subject: [PATCH 1/4] docs: enhance advanced README with new session on Cardano developer environment --- ...-cohort-2-impact-report-q4-2025-q2-2026.md | 218 ++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 218 insertions(+) create mode 100644 DA Milestones/Dan/developer-advocates-cohort-2-impact-report-q4-2025-q2-2026.md diff --git a/DA Milestones/Dan/developer-advocates-cohort-2-impact-report-q4-2025-q2-2026.md b/DA Milestones/Dan/developer-advocates-cohort-2-impact-report-q4-2025-q2-2026.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2b23846 --- /dev/null +++ b/DA Milestones/Dan/developer-advocates-cohort-2-impact-report-q4-2025-q2-2026.md @@ -0,0 +1,218 @@ +| Field | Value | +| ----- | ----- | +| **Reporting period** | Q4 2025 to Q2 2026 | +| **Program** | Developer Advocates Cohort 2 | +| **Prepared by** | [Dan Baruka](https://x.com/danamphred) | +| **Submitted to** | Cardano Community | +| **Program office** | Intersect Open Source Office (OSO) | +| **Document type** | Quarterly collective impact report | +| **Publication** | Ecosystem blog / official program report | + + +## Executive Summary + +From **Q4 2025 through Q2 2026**, the **Developer Advocates Cohort 2** operated as Intersect's frontline program for developer enablement on Cardano. Cohort 2 translated Open Source Strategy priorities into practical action: onboarding, education, community engagement, documentation, and feedback loops that help the ecosystem improve continuously. + +**The sentiment across the period has been strongly positive.** Participants showed growing confidence, rising participation in working groups, and genuine enthusiasm for building on Cardano. The program's role has been to channel that optimism into structured support so more builders can move from interest to contribution to sustained impact. + +Key outcomes include the launch of [devex.intersectmbo.org](https://devex.intersectmbo.org), a dedicated [Developer Advocate blog page](https://devcommunity.io/pages/developeradvocate) on DevCommunity.io, **30+ DevEx Working Group sessions**, multilingual contributor workshops, strategic partnerships across East Africa, and a **70-response developer experience survey** that now guides improvement priorities. Challenges remain around onboarding clarity and documentation consistency, but Cohort 2 has built momentum, trust, and a repeatable model for developer advocacy that the ecosystem can scale. + +## Relationship with the Intersect Open Source Office + +The Developer Advocates Cohort 2 is a **program of the Intersect Open Source Office (OSO)**, operating in close alignment with the **Open Source Committee (OSC)**. This relationship defines how advocacy connects to governance, funding, and long-term open-source strategy. + +| Function | OSO / OSC role | Developer Advocates Cohort 2 role | +| -------- | -------------- | --------------------------------- | +| **Strategy** | Sets Open Source Strategy and committee direction | Translates strategy into developer-facing programs and feedback | +| **Governance** | OSC reviews progress and milestone delivery | Submits shared DevEx reports and survey insights to OSC | +| **Funding & programs** | Evolves maintainer, contributor, and ecosystem programs | Surfaces developer needs to inform OSO program design | +| **Community bridge** | OSO contact point for open-source participation | Onboards developers into Intersect, OSC, and working groups | +| **Documentation & DevEx** | Supports ecosystem-wide open-source health | Owns DevEx WG sessions, hub content, and improvement proposals | +| **Project support** | OSO Project Support for complex technical consultations | Connects builders to OSO services and ecosystem resources | + +Cohort 2 does not operate in isolation. It is the **human layer** of Intersect's open-source mission: listening to developers, reducing friction, and returning structured insight so OSO and OSC decisions reflect real builder experience. Milestone reporting, survey analysis, pain-point documentation, and working group session plans all feed this loop. + +**Contact:** [oso@intersectmbo.org](mailto:oso@intersectmbo.org) | DevEx WG: [GitHub](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience) | [Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1136727663583698984/1250047836339306526) + + +## Program Overview by Quarter + +| Quarter | Theme | WG sessions (approx.) | Primary focus | +| ------- | ----- | ------------------- | ------------- | +| **Q4 2025** | Laying the Foundations | 10+ | Ecosystem orientation, environment setup, contributor workshops, DevEx hub launch, project spotlights, developer survey | +| **Q1 2026** | Deepening Engagement | 10+ | Open clinics, wallet integration, open-source docs, developer pathway, smart contract languages, regional events | +| **Q2 2026** | Building Applications | 10+ | SDK/off-chain architecture, dApp design, UI-smart contract integration, default dev environment, advanced tooling guides | +| **Total** | Q4 2025 to Q2 2026 | **30+** | Weekly cadence across all three quarters | + +**Cadence:** Weekly DevEx Working Group sessions with alternating morning/evening UTC slots for global access. The **30+ sessions** include structured curriculum milestones (Sessions 1 through 17) plus additional weekly working group meetings, open clinics, and community-driven sessions. All sessions recorded where possible, with notes and resources published on the DevEx hub. + + +## Program Metrics at a Glance + +| Metric | Result | +| ------ | ------ | +| DevEx Working Group sessions delivered | 30+ | +| Contributor workshop registrations (EN session) | 102 | +| Contributor workshop live attendance (EN session) | 44 | +| Language editions of contributor workshops | English, French | +| Developer Experience Survey responses | 70 (5 language editions) | +| Average motivation to contribute (survey) | ~4.3 / 5 | +| Average overall developer experience (survey) | ~3.3 / 5 | +| Developers wanting localized materials | 44% | +| Open-source contributors or planned contributors (survey) | 56% | +| Cardano Community Meetup Nairobi attendance | 100+ | +| Major regional / global events engaged | 8+ | + + +## Intersect Developer Experience Survey 2025-26: Summary + +Cohort 2 collected **70 responses** across English, French, and other language editions of the **Intersect Developer Experience Survey 2025-26**. Developers reported overall experience around **3.3/5**, but **motivation to keep contributing at ~4.3/5**; top challenges were getting started, tooling and documentation, and learning core concepts, while **community** remained the most cited ecosystem strength and **44%** asked for materials in other languages. These findings are shaping Cohort 2 priorities on onboarding, mentorship, localization, and clearer paid contribution pathways. **The full survey report will be attached to this post when available.** + + +## Collaborations, Partnerships, and Strategic Outreach + +Cohort 2 expanded Cardano's reach through deliberate collaboration across institutions, hubs, and ecosystem projects. + +### Institutional and regional partnerships + +| Partner | Region | Collaboration focus | Status | +| ------- | ------ | ------------------- | ------ | +| **Blockchain Centre NBO** | Nairobi, Kenya | Meetups, CATS hackathon study sessions, governance education, developer pipeline | Active | +| **USIU-Africa** | Nairobi, Kenya | Climate finance, financial inclusion, research, student engagement | Mapped / in development | +| **JKUAT** | Kenya | Engineering talent pipeline, student bootcamps, Aiken/Haskell study groups | Mapped / in development | +| **WADA / CATS** | Africa | Hackathon mentorship, Cardano Africa Tech Summit engagement | Active | + +### Ecosystem and cross-chain collaborations + +| Partner / initiative | Type | Collaboration focus | +| -------------------- | ---- | ------------------- | +| **Empowa** | Cardano RealFi project | Project spotlight, RealFi and open-source marketplace education | +| **Sidan Labs** | Cardano developer tooling | Project spotlight, TypeScript/SDK infrastructure awareness | +| **Chaincrib** | Cardano ecosystem (Catalyst) | Strategic alignment, ecosystem collaboration exploration | +| **Paj** | Cross-ecosystem (Solana) | Cardano onboarding, governance introduction, expansion evaluation | +| **Mission Zambia Cardano Hub** | Regional hub | Virtual DevEx presentation, student and entrepreneur outreach | + +### Events and community platforms + +| Event | Location / format | Cohort 2 contribution | +| ----- | ----------------- | --------------------- | +| Launching Contributors Workshop (EN) | Virtual | Open-source onboarding, Git workflows, live troubleshooting | +| Launching Contributors Workshop (FR) | Virtual | French-language contribution pathway | +| Cardano Community Meetup | Nairobi | Governance education, Intersect orientation (100+ attendees) | +| Cardano Africa Tech Summit (CATS) | Nairobi | Developer onboarding, D&I fireside chat, mentorship | +| Africa Tech Summit Nairobi | Nairobi | Cross-Web3 outreach, Cardano introduction | +| Latitude59 Kenya | Nairobi | Startup and creator community engagement | +| Africa Bitcoin Conference Dev Day | Mauritius | Cross-ecosystem developer insights | +| Mission Zambia Cardano Hub meetup | Hybrid (Zambia) | DevEx and learning path presentation | +| Open Source Summit | Minneapolis, USA | Cardano and Intersect open-source advocacy, in-person community engagement, and virtual participation for global attendees | +| Virtual community participation | Global (online) | Weekly DevEx WG sessions, Discord, GitHub discussions, recorded sessions, and async engagement across time zones | +| Developer Advocate blog (DevCommunity.io) | Online | Dedicated program page for advocacy updates, event recaps, and builder-facing content at [devcommunity.io/pages/developeradvocate](https://devcommunity.io/pages/developeradvocate) | +| Weekly CATS study sessions | Virtual / Nairobi hub | Sustained hackathon mentorship | + + +## Continuous Improvement: What We Built and What We Keep Improving + +Improvement is embedded in the program design. Each quarter added capability while surfacing clearer priorities for the next cycle. + +### Delivered improvements (Q4 2025 to Q2 2026) + +| Area | Improvement delivered | +| ---- | --------------------- | +| **DevEx hub** | Public site at devex.intersectmbo.org with search, session library, FAQs, and calendar integration | +| **Developer Advocate blog** | Dedicated page at [devcommunity.io/pages/developeradvocate](https://devcommunity.io/pages/developeradvocate) for Cohort 2 stories, updates, and community-facing advocacy content | +| **Onboarding** | Six-session foundational curriculum, contributor workshops (EN/FR), Cardano Developer Pathway | +| **Support** | Open Clinic sessions, mentor office hours, troubleshooting guides from live Q&A | +| **Documentation** | Wallet integration guides, smart contract language comparisons, Yaci DevKit setup guide, dApp architecture notes | +| **Feedback loops** | Multi-language Developer Experience Survey (70 responses), pain-points report, OSC status assessments | +| **Inclusion** | French workshops, Portuguese D&I survey translation, regional D&I programming | +| **Open source** | Community PRs merged (e.g. session calendar integration), repo contribution guides | +| **Ecosystem visibility** | Empowa and Sidan Labs spotlight sessions, opportunities documentation | + +### Active improvement priorities (ongoing) + +| Priority | Objective | Target outcome | +| -------- | --------- | -------------- | +| Unified onboarding roadmap | One canonical "start here" path with profile-based tracks | Reduced "getting started" friction (top survey challenge) | +| Tooling decision guide | Opinionated defaults for contract languages and SDKs | Less choice paralysis for newcomers | +| Documentation standards | Templates, last-reviewed dates, cross-linking | Higher trust and discoverability | +| Default dev environment | Working-group consensus on recommended local/testnet setup | Faster time to first transaction | +| Localization | Glossary, translated guides, localized sessions (French pilot) | Better access for 44% requesting non-English materials | +| Economic pathways | Clearer links to Catalyst, bounties, maintainer programs, paid OSS | Stronger bridge from learning to livelihood | +| Survey tracking | Quarter-over-quarter measurement | Evidence-based program adjustments | + + +## Community Sentiment and Impact + +Survey and field feedback confirm a **positive, forward-looking community mood** despite known technical friction. + +| Indicator | Finding | Interpretation | +| --------- | ------- | -------------- | +| Motivation to contribute | ~4.3 / 5 | Strong willingness to stay engaged | +| Overall developer experience | ~3.3 / 5 | Room to improve, but not a disengagement signal | +| Greatest ecosystem strength | Community (most cited) | Cultural asset Cohort 2 amplifies through mentorship | +| OSS participation | 56% contributed or plan to | Healthy pipeline of future contributors | +| Support preferences | Mentorship, networking, learning resources | Validates clinics, workshops, and advocate access | +| Regional engagement | High interest in Africa events | In-person + virtual hybrid model is working | +| Cross-ecosystem curiosity | Interest from non-Cardano builders | Strategic outreach is opening new doors | +| Intersect awareness | 60%+ members or planning to join | Advocacy is strengthening governance participation | + +**Collective impact:** Developers who engage with Cohort 2 report feeling **more oriented, more supported, and more confident** about their next step. The program has reduced isolation for newcomers, created reusable learning assets, and established Intersect as an approachable entry point into Cardano's open-source ecosystem. + + +## Key Achievements + +| # | Achievement | +| --- | ----------- | +| 1 | Established the Developer Advocates Cohort 2 as OSO's operational developer enablement program | +| 2 | Launched and maintained the DevEx hub as a central Cardano developer reference | +| 3 | Created a dedicated Developer Advocate blog page on DevCommunity.io for program visibility and community storytelling | +| 4 | Delivered 30+ DevEx Working Group sessions across three quarterly curricula | +| 5 | Hosted multilingual contributor workshops with 100+ registrations | +| 6 | Collected and analyzed 70 multi-language survey responses to guide OSO/OSC priorities | +| 7 | Built sustained mentorship pipelines (study sessions, hackathon prep, open clinics) | +| 8 | Engaged 100+ participants at regional meetups and major African tech summits | +| 9 | Produced project spotlights and ecosystem storytelling (Empowa, Sidan Labs) | +| 10 | Mapped strategic partnerships with universities and innovation hubs in Kenya | +| 11 | Published actionable DevEx improvement proposals aligned with Open Source Strategy | + + +## Lessons Learned and Areas for Growth + +| Theme | Lesson | Direction | +| ----- | ------ | --------- | +| Onboarding | Content remains fragmented across repos and platforms | Canonical roadmap and profile-based entry points | +| Documentation | Quality and freshness vary widely | Standards, ownership, and review cadence | +| Developer support | Highest demand, lowest rated availability | Scale clinics, async guides, and peer mentorship | +| Localization | 44% want materials in other languages | Glossary, translations, localized sessions | +| Economics | Paid OSS opportunities are hard to find | Connect onboarding to funding and employment paths | +| Hybrid delivery | Virtual scales; in-person converts strongly | Invest in regional hubs alongside global sessions | + +These are not setbacks. They are **shared learning** that keeps the program honest, responsive, and aligned with what developers actually need. + + +## Looking Ahead + +The Developer Advocates Cohort 2 enters the next phase with proven formats, strong community sentiment, and clear improvement targets. + +**Near term (Q3 2026):** Publish the unified onboarding roadmap, tooling decision guide, and default developer environment recommendation; pilot localized sessions; track survey metrics quarter over quarter. + +**Medium term:** Deepen university and hub partnerships, expand project spotlights, strengthen collaboration with OSO Project Support and technical working groups, and grow the DevEx hub as the ecosystem's trusted developer front door. + +The Cardano ecosystem's greatest strength remains its **community**: generous, curious builders who help each other persist. Cohort 2 exists to make that strength **structured, repeatable, and welcoming** through collective practice under the Intersect Open Source Office. + +From Q4's foundational launch through Q1's deepening engagement to Q2's application focus, the trajectory is clear. **Momentum is real. Sentiment is positive. Improvement is continuous.** The capacity to solve developer experience challenges together is stronger today than it was nine months ago. + + +## References and Resources + +| Resource | Link | +| -------- | ---- | +| DevEx hub | [devex.intersectmbo.org](https://devex.intersectmbo.org) | +| Developer Advocate blog (Cohort 2) | [devcommunity.io/pages/developeradvocate](https://devcommunity.io/pages/developeradvocate) | +| Developer Experience repository | [github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience) | +| Intersect membership | [members.intersectmbo.org/registration](https://members.intersectmbo.org/registration) | +| Open Source Office | [oso@intersectmbo.org](mailto:oso@intersectmbo.org) | +| Developer Experience Survey 2025-26 (full report) | To be attached to this post when available | + + +*This report reflects the collective work of the Developer Advocates Cohort 2 under the Intersect Open Source Office, Q4 2025 to Q2 2026.* \ No newline at end of file From 698c53f868ccc94aea35731b3f90ba365f9ee129 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: danbaruka <46156791+danbaruka@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2026 19:14:17 +0400 Subject: [PATCH 2/4] chore: update CHANGELOG for version 2.3.0, detailing new sessions, documentation enhancements, and security fixes --- CHANGELOG.md | 41 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 41 insertions(+) diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md index d83e511..feec647 100644 --- a/CHANGELOG.md +++ b/CHANGELOG.md @@ -5,6 +5,47 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file. The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/), and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html). +## [2.3.0] - 2026-06-04 + +Q2 2026 (Apr–Jun): application development focus — SDK/off-chain architecture, dApp design, wallet integration, default dev environment, and Cardano MCP server. + +### Added + +* Q2 2026 Working Group session plan and index (Sessions 14–18) ([8c88b3d](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/8c88b3d)) +* Session 14: Offchain and SDK repository walkthrough (notes, recording, resources) ([fe1d93c](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/fe1d93c)) +* Session 15: dApp Architecture from Wallet to Backend (notes, recording, resources, YouTube embed) ([a7f061d](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/a7f061d), [4cbda6c](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/4cbda6c)) +* Session 16: UI ↔ Smart Contracts — wallets, tx building, and submission (notes, recording, resources) ([bd7b0dd](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/bd7b0dd), [c5d9fd6](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/c5d9fd6)) +* Session 17: Default Developer Environment for Cardano (notes, recording, resources) ([7c2bf13](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/7c2bf13)) +* Session 18: Building a Production-Grade MCP Server for Cardano (notes, resources, blog post) ([bceaaa0](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/bceaaa0)) +* Advanced guide: Setup a Local Cardano Devnet with Yaci DevKit ([9c269d6](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/9c269d6)) +* Guide: Blaze SDK + Yaci Store integration ([e1db998](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/e1db998)) +* Tutorial: Cardano node emulator ([3b85b2d](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/3b85b2d)) +* Developer Advocates Cohort 2 impact report (Q4 2025 to Q2 2026) ([DA Milestones/Dan/developer-advocates-cohort-2-impact-report-q4-2025-q2-2026.md](DA%20Milestones/Dan/developer-advocates-cohort-2-impact-report-q4-2025-q2-2026.md)) +* Q2 2026 milestone docs: developer experience pain points and solutions; language-inclusive onboarding guide + +### Changed + +* Update Q2 2026 evening DevEx session time and meet link ([cfbc989](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/cfbc989)) +* Enhance advanced README with Yaci DevKit and default developer environment session links ([5cd2f2d](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/5cd2f2d), [7c2bf13](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/7c2bf13)) +* Add Yaci Store to indexing solutions in dApp architecture session notes ([2f0d79f](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/2f0d79f)) + +### Fixed + +* Resolve Dependabot security alerts (serialize-javascript, undici, svgo, minimatch, dompurify) ([8cf8312](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/8cf8312)) +* Move DevEx Sessions floating button further left on desktop to avoid jump-to-top overlap ([9ed58c1](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/9ed58c1)) + +### Documentation + +* Session 12 Cardano Developer Pathway: interactive Mermaid diagram with fullscreen and zoom controls ([5e9414c](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/5e9414c), [b6bac04](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/b6bac04)) +* Open Clinic #2 session materials ([01e8270](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/01e8270)) +* Session 7 Contributing to Intersect recording and content updates ([59214e8](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/59214e8), [36edb4a](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/36edb4a)) + +### Chore + +* Upgrade Docusaurus packages to 3.10.0 ([8c88b3d](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/8c88b3d)) +* Bump GitHub Actions: configure-pages 6, deploy-pages 5 ([452f577](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/452f577), [b2f0b6e](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/b2f0b6e)) +* Update website dependencies (TypeScript 6, mermaid 11.14, @types/node, dotenv) ([c74587e](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/c74587e)) + ## [2.2.2] - 2026-03-05 ### Added From 9a89d6cc974d3aae5c531b3ddcf7966535632791 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: danbaruka <46156791+danbaruka@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2026 19:24:08 +0400 Subject: [PATCH 3/4] chore: drop impact report from Q2 2026 changelog entry The Cohort 2 impact report is tracked separately; keep the changelog PR scoped to DevEx WG deliverables only. --- CHANGELOG.md | 1 - 1 file changed, 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md index feec647..2b344dd 100644 --- a/CHANGELOG.md +++ b/CHANGELOG.md @@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ Q2 2026 (Apr–Jun): application development focus — SDK/off-chain architectur * Advanced guide: Setup a Local Cardano Devnet with Yaci DevKit ([9c269d6](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/9c269d6)) * Guide: Blaze SDK + Yaci Store integration ([e1db998](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/e1db998)) * Tutorial: Cardano node emulator ([3b85b2d](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience/commit/3b85b2d)) -* Developer Advocates Cohort 2 impact report (Q4 2025 to Q2 2026) ([DA Milestones/Dan/developer-advocates-cohort-2-impact-report-q4-2025-q2-2026.md](DA%20Milestones/Dan/developer-advocates-cohort-2-impact-report-q4-2025-q2-2026.md)) * Q2 2026 milestone docs: developer experience pain points and solutions; language-inclusive onboarding guide ### Changed From 1ba0a6a9177b32b74867a314431b28d12b3c9a40 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: danbaruka <46156791+danbaruka@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2026 19:20:06 +0400 Subject: [PATCH 4/4] chore: remove Developer Advocates Cohort 2 impact report for Q4 2025 to Q2 2026 The impact report has been tracked separately, ensuring the changelog remains focused on relevant deliverables. --- ...-cohort-2-impact-report-q4-2025-q2-2026.md | 218 ------------------ 1 file changed, 218 deletions(-) delete mode 100644 DA Milestones/Dan/developer-advocates-cohort-2-impact-report-q4-2025-q2-2026.md diff --git a/DA Milestones/Dan/developer-advocates-cohort-2-impact-report-q4-2025-q2-2026.md b/DA Milestones/Dan/developer-advocates-cohort-2-impact-report-q4-2025-q2-2026.md deleted file mode 100644 index 2b23846..0000000 --- a/DA Milestones/Dan/developer-advocates-cohort-2-impact-report-q4-2025-q2-2026.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,218 +0,0 @@ -| Field | Value | -| ----- | ----- | -| **Reporting period** | Q4 2025 to Q2 2026 | -| **Program** | Developer Advocates Cohort 2 | -| **Prepared by** | [Dan Baruka](https://x.com/danamphred) | -| **Submitted to** | Cardano Community | -| **Program office** | Intersect Open Source Office (OSO) | -| **Document type** | Quarterly collective impact report | -| **Publication** | Ecosystem blog / official program report | - - -## Executive Summary - -From **Q4 2025 through Q2 2026**, the **Developer Advocates Cohort 2** operated as Intersect's frontline program for developer enablement on Cardano. Cohort 2 translated Open Source Strategy priorities into practical action: onboarding, education, community engagement, documentation, and feedback loops that help the ecosystem improve continuously. - -**The sentiment across the period has been strongly positive.** Participants showed growing confidence, rising participation in working groups, and genuine enthusiasm for building on Cardano. The program's role has been to channel that optimism into structured support so more builders can move from interest to contribution to sustained impact. - -Key outcomes include the launch of [devex.intersectmbo.org](https://devex.intersectmbo.org), a dedicated [Developer Advocate blog page](https://devcommunity.io/pages/developeradvocate) on DevCommunity.io, **30+ DevEx Working Group sessions**, multilingual contributor workshops, strategic partnerships across East Africa, and a **70-response developer experience survey** that now guides improvement priorities. Challenges remain around onboarding clarity and documentation consistency, but Cohort 2 has built momentum, trust, and a repeatable model for developer advocacy that the ecosystem can scale. - -## Relationship with the Intersect Open Source Office - -The Developer Advocates Cohort 2 is a **program of the Intersect Open Source Office (OSO)**, operating in close alignment with the **Open Source Committee (OSC)**. This relationship defines how advocacy connects to governance, funding, and long-term open-source strategy. - -| Function | OSO / OSC role | Developer Advocates Cohort 2 role | -| -------- | -------------- | --------------------------------- | -| **Strategy** | Sets Open Source Strategy and committee direction | Translates strategy into developer-facing programs and feedback | -| **Governance** | OSC reviews progress and milestone delivery | Submits shared DevEx reports and survey insights to OSC | -| **Funding & programs** | Evolves maintainer, contributor, and ecosystem programs | Surfaces developer needs to inform OSO program design | -| **Community bridge** | OSO contact point for open-source participation | Onboards developers into Intersect, OSC, and working groups | -| **Documentation & DevEx** | Supports ecosystem-wide open-source health | Owns DevEx WG sessions, hub content, and improvement proposals | -| **Project support** | OSO Project Support for complex technical consultations | Connects builders to OSO services and ecosystem resources | - -Cohort 2 does not operate in isolation. It is the **human layer** of Intersect's open-source mission: listening to developers, reducing friction, and returning structured insight so OSO and OSC decisions reflect real builder experience. Milestone reporting, survey analysis, pain-point documentation, and working group session plans all feed this loop. - -**Contact:** [oso@intersectmbo.org](mailto:oso@intersectmbo.org) | DevEx WG: [GitHub](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience) | [Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1136727663583698984/1250047836339306526) - - -## Program Overview by Quarter - -| Quarter | Theme | WG sessions (approx.) | Primary focus | -| ------- | ----- | ------------------- | ------------- | -| **Q4 2025** | Laying the Foundations | 10+ | Ecosystem orientation, environment setup, contributor workshops, DevEx hub launch, project spotlights, developer survey | -| **Q1 2026** | Deepening Engagement | 10+ | Open clinics, wallet integration, open-source docs, developer pathway, smart contract languages, regional events | -| **Q2 2026** | Building Applications | 10+ | SDK/off-chain architecture, dApp design, UI-smart contract integration, default dev environment, advanced tooling guides | -| **Total** | Q4 2025 to Q2 2026 | **30+** | Weekly cadence across all three quarters | - -**Cadence:** Weekly DevEx Working Group sessions with alternating morning/evening UTC slots for global access. The **30+ sessions** include structured curriculum milestones (Sessions 1 through 17) plus additional weekly working group meetings, open clinics, and community-driven sessions. All sessions recorded where possible, with notes and resources published on the DevEx hub. - - -## Program Metrics at a Glance - -| Metric | Result | -| ------ | ------ | -| DevEx Working Group sessions delivered | 30+ | -| Contributor workshop registrations (EN session) | 102 | -| Contributor workshop live attendance (EN session) | 44 | -| Language editions of contributor workshops | English, French | -| Developer Experience Survey responses | 70 (5 language editions) | -| Average motivation to contribute (survey) | ~4.3 / 5 | -| Average overall developer experience (survey) | ~3.3 / 5 | -| Developers wanting localized materials | 44% | -| Open-source contributors or planned contributors (survey) | 56% | -| Cardano Community Meetup Nairobi attendance | 100+ | -| Major regional / global events engaged | 8+ | - - -## Intersect Developer Experience Survey 2025-26: Summary - -Cohort 2 collected **70 responses** across English, French, and other language editions of the **Intersect Developer Experience Survey 2025-26**. Developers reported overall experience around **3.3/5**, but **motivation to keep contributing at ~4.3/5**; top challenges were getting started, tooling and documentation, and learning core concepts, while **community** remained the most cited ecosystem strength and **44%** asked for materials in other languages. These findings are shaping Cohort 2 priorities on onboarding, mentorship, localization, and clearer paid contribution pathways. **The full survey report will be attached to this post when available.** - - -## Collaborations, Partnerships, and Strategic Outreach - -Cohort 2 expanded Cardano's reach through deliberate collaboration across institutions, hubs, and ecosystem projects. - -### Institutional and regional partnerships - -| Partner | Region | Collaboration focus | Status | -| ------- | ------ | ------------------- | ------ | -| **Blockchain Centre NBO** | Nairobi, Kenya | Meetups, CATS hackathon study sessions, governance education, developer pipeline | Active | -| **USIU-Africa** | Nairobi, Kenya | Climate finance, financial inclusion, research, student engagement | Mapped / in development | -| **JKUAT** | Kenya | Engineering talent pipeline, student bootcamps, Aiken/Haskell study groups | Mapped / in development | -| **WADA / CATS** | Africa | Hackathon mentorship, Cardano Africa Tech Summit engagement | Active | - -### Ecosystem and cross-chain collaborations - -| Partner / initiative | Type | Collaboration focus | -| -------------------- | ---- | ------------------- | -| **Empowa** | Cardano RealFi project | Project spotlight, RealFi and open-source marketplace education | -| **Sidan Labs** | Cardano developer tooling | Project spotlight, TypeScript/SDK infrastructure awareness | -| **Chaincrib** | Cardano ecosystem (Catalyst) | Strategic alignment, ecosystem collaboration exploration | -| **Paj** | Cross-ecosystem (Solana) | Cardano onboarding, governance introduction, expansion evaluation | -| **Mission Zambia Cardano Hub** | Regional hub | Virtual DevEx presentation, student and entrepreneur outreach | - -### Events and community platforms - -| Event | Location / format | Cohort 2 contribution | -| ----- | ----------------- | --------------------- | -| Launching Contributors Workshop (EN) | Virtual | Open-source onboarding, Git workflows, live troubleshooting | -| Launching Contributors Workshop (FR) | Virtual | French-language contribution pathway | -| Cardano Community Meetup | Nairobi | Governance education, Intersect orientation (100+ attendees) | -| Cardano Africa Tech Summit (CATS) | Nairobi | Developer onboarding, D&I fireside chat, mentorship | -| Africa Tech Summit Nairobi | Nairobi | Cross-Web3 outreach, Cardano introduction | -| Latitude59 Kenya | Nairobi | Startup and creator community engagement | -| Africa Bitcoin Conference Dev Day | Mauritius | Cross-ecosystem developer insights | -| Mission Zambia Cardano Hub meetup | Hybrid (Zambia) | DevEx and learning path presentation | -| Open Source Summit | Minneapolis, USA | Cardano and Intersect open-source advocacy, in-person community engagement, and virtual participation for global attendees | -| Virtual community participation | Global (online) | Weekly DevEx WG sessions, Discord, GitHub discussions, recorded sessions, and async engagement across time zones | -| Developer Advocate blog (DevCommunity.io) | Online | Dedicated program page for advocacy updates, event recaps, and builder-facing content at [devcommunity.io/pages/developeradvocate](https://devcommunity.io/pages/developeradvocate) | -| Weekly CATS study sessions | Virtual / Nairobi hub | Sustained hackathon mentorship | - - -## Continuous Improvement: What We Built and What We Keep Improving - -Improvement is embedded in the program design. Each quarter added capability while surfacing clearer priorities for the next cycle. - -### Delivered improvements (Q4 2025 to Q2 2026) - -| Area | Improvement delivered | -| ---- | --------------------- | -| **DevEx hub** | Public site at devex.intersectmbo.org with search, session library, FAQs, and calendar integration | -| **Developer Advocate blog** | Dedicated page at [devcommunity.io/pages/developeradvocate](https://devcommunity.io/pages/developeradvocate) for Cohort 2 stories, updates, and community-facing advocacy content | -| **Onboarding** | Six-session foundational curriculum, contributor workshops (EN/FR), Cardano Developer Pathway | -| **Support** | Open Clinic sessions, mentor office hours, troubleshooting guides from live Q&A | -| **Documentation** | Wallet integration guides, smart contract language comparisons, Yaci DevKit setup guide, dApp architecture notes | -| **Feedback loops** | Multi-language Developer Experience Survey (70 responses), pain-points report, OSC status assessments | -| **Inclusion** | French workshops, Portuguese D&I survey translation, regional D&I programming | -| **Open source** | Community PRs merged (e.g. session calendar integration), repo contribution guides | -| **Ecosystem visibility** | Empowa and Sidan Labs spotlight sessions, opportunities documentation | - -### Active improvement priorities (ongoing) - -| Priority | Objective | Target outcome | -| -------- | --------- | -------------- | -| Unified onboarding roadmap | One canonical "start here" path with profile-based tracks | Reduced "getting started" friction (top survey challenge) | -| Tooling decision guide | Opinionated defaults for contract languages and SDKs | Less choice paralysis for newcomers | -| Documentation standards | Templates, last-reviewed dates, cross-linking | Higher trust and discoverability | -| Default dev environment | Working-group consensus on recommended local/testnet setup | Faster time to first transaction | -| Localization | Glossary, translated guides, localized sessions (French pilot) | Better access for 44% requesting non-English materials | -| Economic pathways | Clearer links to Catalyst, bounties, maintainer programs, paid OSS | Stronger bridge from learning to livelihood | -| Survey tracking | Quarter-over-quarter measurement | Evidence-based program adjustments | - - -## Community Sentiment and Impact - -Survey and field feedback confirm a **positive, forward-looking community mood** despite known technical friction. - -| Indicator | Finding | Interpretation | -| --------- | ------- | -------------- | -| Motivation to contribute | ~4.3 / 5 | Strong willingness to stay engaged | -| Overall developer experience | ~3.3 / 5 | Room to improve, but not a disengagement signal | -| Greatest ecosystem strength | Community (most cited) | Cultural asset Cohort 2 amplifies through mentorship | -| OSS participation | 56% contributed or plan to | Healthy pipeline of future contributors | -| Support preferences | Mentorship, networking, learning resources | Validates clinics, workshops, and advocate access | -| Regional engagement | High interest in Africa events | In-person + virtual hybrid model is working | -| Cross-ecosystem curiosity | Interest from non-Cardano builders | Strategic outreach is opening new doors | -| Intersect awareness | 60%+ members or planning to join | Advocacy is strengthening governance participation | - -**Collective impact:** Developers who engage with Cohort 2 report feeling **more oriented, more supported, and more confident** about their next step. The program has reduced isolation for newcomers, created reusable learning assets, and established Intersect as an approachable entry point into Cardano's open-source ecosystem. - - -## Key Achievements - -| # | Achievement | -| --- | ----------- | -| 1 | Established the Developer Advocates Cohort 2 as OSO's operational developer enablement program | -| 2 | Launched and maintained the DevEx hub as a central Cardano developer reference | -| 3 | Created a dedicated Developer Advocate blog page on DevCommunity.io for program visibility and community storytelling | -| 4 | Delivered 30+ DevEx Working Group sessions across three quarterly curricula | -| 5 | Hosted multilingual contributor workshops with 100+ registrations | -| 6 | Collected and analyzed 70 multi-language survey responses to guide OSO/OSC priorities | -| 7 | Built sustained mentorship pipelines (study sessions, hackathon prep, open clinics) | -| 8 | Engaged 100+ participants at regional meetups and major African tech summits | -| 9 | Produced project spotlights and ecosystem storytelling (Empowa, Sidan Labs) | -| 10 | Mapped strategic partnerships with universities and innovation hubs in Kenya | -| 11 | Published actionable DevEx improvement proposals aligned with Open Source Strategy | - - -## Lessons Learned and Areas for Growth - -| Theme | Lesson | Direction | -| ----- | ------ | --------- | -| Onboarding | Content remains fragmented across repos and platforms | Canonical roadmap and profile-based entry points | -| Documentation | Quality and freshness vary widely | Standards, ownership, and review cadence | -| Developer support | Highest demand, lowest rated availability | Scale clinics, async guides, and peer mentorship | -| Localization | 44% want materials in other languages | Glossary, translations, localized sessions | -| Economics | Paid OSS opportunities are hard to find | Connect onboarding to funding and employment paths | -| Hybrid delivery | Virtual scales; in-person converts strongly | Invest in regional hubs alongside global sessions | - -These are not setbacks. They are **shared learning** that keeps the program honest, responsive, and aligned with what developers actually need. - - -## Looking Ahead - -The Developer Advocates Cohort 2 enters the next phase with proven formats, strong community sentiment, and clear improvement targets. - -**Near term (Q3 2026):** Publish the unified onboarding roadmap, tooling decision guide, and default developer environment recommendation; pilot localized sessions; track survey metrics quarter over quarter. - -**Medium term:** Deepen university and hub partnerships, expand project spotlights, strengthen collaboration with OSO Project Support and technical working groups, and grow the DevEx hub as the ecosystem's trusted developer front door. - -The Cardano ecosystem's greatest strength remains its **community**: generous, curious builders who help each other persist. Cohort 2 exists to make that strength **structured, repeatable, and welcoming** through collective practice under the Intersect Open Source Office. - -From Q4's foundational launch through Q1's deepening engagement to Q2's application focus, the trajectory is clear. **Momentum is real. Sentiment is positive. Improvement is continuous.** The capacity to solve developer experience challenges together is stronger today than it was nine months ago. - - -## References and Resources - -| Resource | Link | -| -------- | ---- | -| DevEx hub | [devex.intersectmbo.org](https://devex.intersectmbo.org) | -| Developer Advocate blog (Cohort 2) | [devcommunity.io/pages/developeradvocate](https://devcommunity.io/pages/developeradvocate) | -| Developer Experience repository | [github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience](https://github.com/IntersectMBO/developer-experience) | -| Intersect membership | [members.intersectmbo.org/registration](https://members.intersectmbo.org/registration) | -| Open Source Office | [oso@intersectmbo.org](mailto:oso@intersectmbo.org) | -| Developer Experience Survey 2025-26 (full report) | To be attached to this post when available | - - -*This report reflects the collective work of the Developer Advocates Cohort 2 under the Intersect Open Source Office, Q4 2025 to Q2 2026.* \ No newline at end of file