My favorite software subreddits

If you are an experienced software developer whose only exposure to reddit is dank memes, proggit or even language-specific subreddits like /r/python, you're missing out.

What follows are my favorite subreddits in tech. My criteria is that:

• The subreddit topic is relevant to advancing as a programmer
• Posts generally go into good depth
• The comments stay on topic
• And the shit-posting is minimal

This list isn't hard to guess at if you consider advanced topics in software. But I wanted to share because I think it's worth explicitly supporting high-quality subreddits.

• /r/EmuDev
  • My favorite sub of all. Also has a phenomenal Discord group.
• /r/ProgrammingLanguages
  • Focuses a little more on PLT topics (parsing techniques, syntax, type systems) than on compiling and interpreting techniques, but still good.
• /r/DatabaseDevelopment
  • Full disclosure: I started this subreddit last week, it's at 400+ members at time of publishing.
• /r/ReverseEngineering
  • The largest subreddit on this list but still has pretty good posts.
• /r/EsoLangs
  • One of the best/most fun intros to programming languages/compilers/interpreters is through languages like Brainfuck. This sub does a good job of keeping the fun going.
• /r/UniKernel
  • The smallest on this list but given its size they've done a pretty good job of sharing good posts.
• /r/GraphicsProgramming

Special mention

These subreddits are on great topics but haven't been maintained well. They either need new moderators to revitalize them or there needs to be a good alternative I can point you to.

• /r/RetroProgramming
• /r/DistributedSystems

Networking?

I'm still looking for a high-quality subreddit on networking internals, software-defined networking, etc. Most of the existing networking subreddits are oriented toward system/network administrators.

If there is a good one already, send me it! If there's not, consider starting it!

What am I missing?

Am I missing other amazing subreddits? Just don't say language-specific ones!

I wrote a new blog post on my favorite subreddits; ones I think any experienced programmer would benefit from following. It starts with my favorite of all: /r/EmuDev.

Am I missing any? Just don't say language-specific ones!https://t.co/OtM2tk8HOn pic.twitter.com/QZWSEofP7A

— Phil Eaton (@phil_eaton) December 5, 2021