Not a banner. Not a pop-up. A single sponsored line in the VS Code status bar — seen at the exact moment a developer is waiting on a build. Peak attention. Zero noise.
↑ This is what developers see during every long-running task
Developers ignore banners. They use ad-blockers. They skip pre-rolls. But they can't skip their own build — and that's exactly when your message shows up.
When a build runs, the developer isn't doing anything else. No tab-switching. No phone-picking-up. They're watching that status bar. Your ad is the only thing moving.
~23s avg. exposureEvery user activated via invite code + registered email. No bots, no proxy traffic, no click farms. Impression = a real developer's VS Code, mid-task.
0 bot impressionsBid specifically on Build Slots (webpack/cargo devs), Test Slots (backend engineers), or Install Slots (all devs). Reach exactly the persona that buys your product.
3 slot typesNo dollar conversion. No Stripe. No blocked accounts. Pay via UPI, bank transfer, or NEFT in rupees. Tailored for Indian startups and SaaS companies.
₹500 minimumThe impression counting logic is open source. You can verify every impression is real. No black-box reporting. No mystery CTR numbers. Full public ledger.
100% transparentSubmit your inquiry today, get approved tomorrow, go live the same day. No 2-week onboarding. No account manager gatekeeping. Just a form and a UPI transfer.
24h time to live| Feature | DevCut | Google Ads | LinkedIn Ads | Newsletter Ads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach working developers | ✓ Invite-only | ✗ | ~ Job title only | ~ Self-reported |
| Zero-scroll attention | ✓ Mid-build | ✗ | ✗ | ~ If they open it |
| Task-type targeting | ✓ Build/Test/Install | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| INR billing / UPI | ✓ Native, UPI | ~ Card, varies by account | ~ Card, varies by account | ~ Varies |
| Minimum spend | ₹500 | ~ Budget-based | ~ Daily minimum applies | ~ Varies |
| Ad-blocker immune | ✓ Native API | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bot / fraud protection | ✓ Invite-gated + viewability checks | ~ Platform-managed | ~ Platform-managed | ~ Varies |
| Open source reporting | ✓ Full audit trail | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Time to first impression | Target: 24 hours | ~ After ad review | ~ After ad review | Next issue |
Competitor columns summarise our reading of each platform's publicly documented terms as of September 2026 and are not verified with those platforms — check their current terms before relying on them.
Each slot targets a different type of developer at a different moment of their day.
| Slot | Triggers on | Developer profile | CPM range | Est. daily impr. | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🔨 Build | npm build · cargo · webpack |
Frontend & fullstack | ₹2 – ₹8 | ~1,000 | Prime |
| 🧪 Test | jest · pytest · go test |
Backend & platform | ₹1.5 – ₹6 | ~800 | Active |
| 📦 Install | npm i · pip · docker pull |
All developers | ₹1 – ₹4 | ~600 | Active |
| 🤖 AI Tools | claude · aider · Cursor sessions |
AI-forward devs | ₹3 – ₹10 | ~400 | New |
| 🎯 Custom | Any task pattern (regex) | Your exact persona | Negotiated | — | Enterprise |
No contracts. No account managers. Pause or top-up any time.
Perfect for indie products, side projects, and first experiments with developer ads.
For SaaS products and devtools that want sustained reach across the developer community.
For larger companies, hiring platforms, and brands that need custom targeting, dedicated reporting, and SLA guarantees.
Adjust your budget and slot type. Numbers update live.
CPM = cost per 1,000 impressions. Illustrative estimates assuming 500 active developers at 8 impressions/dev/day — the beta pool is smaller than that today. CTR assumptions are ours, not measured. Final pricing is confirmed in your inquiry reply.
Text-only. No images, no videos, no pop-ups. The simplest ad format ever — and the most viewed.
Tip: The best-performing ads speak developer-to-developer. Mention the actual problem you solve, not just your product name. "Acme API — debug your endpoint in 10 seconds" reads better than "Try Acme today". (Illustrative example, not a measured result.)
Fill this in — we'll review and get back within 24 hours with your setup link and payment details.
Takes 2 minutes · We respond same day (Mon–Sat)
We'll review your ad copy and budget and reply to within 24 hours with next steps and a payment link.
While you wait — see how impressions work →
An impression is recorded server-side the moment DevCut displays your ad line in the VS Code status bar. It requires an authenticated developer session and passes server-side integrity checks — single-use tokens, per-account rate limits and a viewability threshold — before it is billed. You can audit the exact counting logic in our open-source server repo.
Yes. Reply to your confirmation email (or message us at techsupport@devcut.co.in) and we'll update your ad within a few hours. Your remaining budget carries forward — nothing is wasted.
We accept UPI, NEFT, and bank transfer in INR. After we approve your inquiry, you'll receive a payment link with the amount and UPI ID, plus a plain invoice for your records. We're not GST-registered yet, so we can't issue GST-compliant invoices — see our Refund & Cancellation Policy for unspent-budget handling.
₹500 for the Starter tier. At ₹3.75 average CPM, that's ~13,300 developer impressions. Most advertisers start at ₹1,000–₹2,000 to collect meaningful CTR data before scaling.
We reject ads that are misleading, spam-like, violate developer platform policies, or are unrelated to developers' professional interests. Crypto/NFT speculative ads, gambling, and adult content are not accepted. Dev tools, SaaS, hiring, infrastructure, and courses are all welcome.
DevCut is in private beta with a capped, invite-only signup pool (500 invite codes total). Each active developer generates roughly 8–15 impressions per day during their builds and tests. Ask us for current activation numbers before committing a larger budget — we're happy to share real figures on request.
Large enterprise deals, custom targeting patterns, retargeting, or bulk prepaid packages? Let's talk directly.