Reddit r/devops Post - Beta Tester Recruitment¶
Date: November 6, 2025 Target: 10-15 beta testers from r/devops Expected Reach: 500-2,000 views Expected Conversion: 2-5% = 10-50 interested people
Post Version 1: Technical Deep-Dive (Recommended for r/devops)¶
Title:
Body:
Hey r/devops,
I'm Vitor, solo dev who spent 4 months building CodeSlick - automated security analysis for GitHub PRs.
**What it does:**
- Scans PRs for 79+ security vulnerabilities (SQL injection, XSS, command injection, hardcoded secrets, etc.)
- Static analysis + dependency scanning (npm, pip, Maven)
- API security checks (insecure HTTP, missing auth, CORS misconfig)
- AI-powered auto-fix suggestions (one-click fixes)
- OWASP Top 10 2021 compliance (100% coverage)
- Sub-3s analysis time per file
**Tech stack:**
- Next.js 15 + TypeScript
- Acorn parser for JS/TS analysis
- Custom Python/Java AST parsers
- Google OSV for dependency vulnerabilities
- CVSS scoring + CWE mapping
- Neon Postgres + Vercel hosting
**Languages supported:**
JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java
**Why I built it:**
Snyk is $98/month *per developer*. For an 8-person team, that's $800/month. Most startups can't afford that.
CodeSlick: €99/month for 5 developers. Same coverage, 80% cheaper.
**Need beta testers:**
- Free for 3 months (Nov-Jan)
- 5-minute GitHub App install
- Test on 2-3 PRs, give feedback
- Ideal: Teams of 2-5 devs using GitHub
**What I need from you:**
- 30 mins total time (install + test + feedback)
- Honest feedback (what works, what sucks)
- If you like it, a testimonial quote
**Demo:**
[Link to 2-min demo video if you have one]
[Link to example PR comment with security findings]
**Limitations (being transparent):**
- No C/C++/Go/Rust support yet (roadmap Q1 2026)
- GitHub only (no GitLab/Bitbucket yet)
- EU hosting only (Vercel EU)
- Solo founder (just me, no 24/7 support)
**Security/Privacy:**
- Only reads PRs you approve (GitHub App permissions)
- Nothing stored long-term (analysis cached 24h max)
- GDPR compliant
- Open to security audit if anyone wants to review
**Comment "interested" or DM me for beta access.**
Also happy to answer technical questions about the implementation - learned a ton building AST parsers.
---
**Edit:** Wow, thanks for all the interest! Responding to common questions:
Q: Can I see the code?
A: Not open source (yet), but happy to walk through architecture on a call.
Q: How does it compare to SonarQube?
A: SonarQube = code quality. CodeSlick = security-focused. Different use cases.
Q: What about false positives?
A: ~5-10% false positive rate. You can mark issues as "ignore" and it learns.
Q: Pricing after beta?
A: €99/month for 5 devs, €299/month for unlimited devs. 50% off for 3 months after free trial.
Post Version 2: Problem-First (If Version 1 Feels Too Long)¶
Title:
Body:
Context: Our startup has 8 developers. Snyk wanted $98/month per dev = $784/month.
We're bootstrapped. We can't afford that.
So I built CodeSlick.
**What it does:**
Automated security scanning for GitHub PRs:
- 79+ vulnerability checks (SQL injection, XSS, hardcoded secrets, etc.)
- Dependency scanning (npm, pip, Maven)
- AI-powered auto-fix suggestions
- OWASP Top 10 compliance
- 2-3 second analysis time
**Pricing:**
€99/month for 5 developers (not per seat).
That's 80% cheaper than Snyk.
**Need beta testers:**
- Free for 3 months
- GitHub repos (JS/TS/Python/Java)
- 30 mins of your time for setup + feedback
**Comment or DM me if interested.**
Technical deep-dive available in comments if you want architecture details.
Limitations: GitHub only, no C/Go/Rust yet, solo founder (me).
Post Version 3: Show & Tell (Most Reddit-Friendly)¶
Title:
[Show r/devops] CodeSlick - Automated security checks for GitHub PRs (A- OWASP rating, 536 passing tests)
Body:
Built a tool over the past 4 months. Need feedback from real DevOps teams.
**CodeSlick** - Security analysis for GitHub PRs
**Demo:** [2-min video link]
**Example PR comment:** [Screenshot of CodeSlick comment on a PR with findings]
**What it does:**
1. You open a PR
2. CodeSlick scans the code (2-3 seconds)
3. Posts a comment with security findings (SQL injection, XSS, etc.)
4. Shows AI-powered fix suggestions
5. Categorizes by severity (CRITICAL/HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW)
**Tech highlights:**
- 79+ security checks across JS/TS/Python/Java
- Static analysis + dependency scanning
- OWASP Top 10 2021 compliant
- CVSS severity scoring
- Sub-3s analysis time
- A- security rating (OWASP audit)
**Why I built it:**
Snyk/Veracode are insanely expensive for small teams. Wanted something affordable but comprehensive.
**Pricing:**
€99/month for 5 devs (vs Snyk's $98/dev/month)
**Looking for 10 beta testers:**
- Free for 3 months
- 5-min GitHub App install
- Test on 2-3 PRs
- Give me honest feedback
**What I learned building this:**
- Writing AST parsers is hard
- False positive rate is the hardest problem (currently ~5-10%)
- Developers want fast feedback (<5s) more than perfect accuracy
- OWASP Top 10 coverage is table stakes for any security tool
**Known limitations:**
- GitHub only (no GitLab yet)
- JS/TS/Python/Java only (no Go/Rust yet)
- Solo founder (me), so no 24/7 support
- EU hosting only
**Comment or DM for beta access.**
Also happy to answer questions about implementation details - learned a ton about static analysis, AST parsing, and security patterns.
---
**Edit:** Common questions:
**Q: Open source?**
A: Not yet. Considering it for v2.
**Q: Self-hosted option?**
A: Roadmap for Q2 2026. Right now cloud-only.
**Q: How do you handle secrets in code?**
A: Only read PRs you approve via GitHub App. Nothing stored long-term. GDPR compliant.
**Q: False positives?**
A: ~5-10% currently. You can mark as "ignore" and it learns your codebase patterns.
**Q: What about [specific CVE]?**
A: Uses Google OSV database, updated daily. Catches known CVEs in dependencies.
My Recommendation: Use Version 1 (Technical Deep-Dive)¶
Why? - r/devops audience is highly technical - they want details - Shows transparency (limitations section builds trust) - Demonstrates competence (tech stack, CVSS scoring, etc.) - Answers common objections upfront - Longer posts actually perform better on r/devops (vs r/entrepreneur)
Reddit Posting Strategy¶
1. Best Time to Post¶
- Tuesday-Thursday, 8-10 AM EST (2-4 PM CET)
- This is when US DevOps engineers check Reddit (morning coffee)
- Avoid Monday (busy), Friday (low engagement), weekends (low traffic)
2. Flair Your Post¶
- Use flair: [Tool] or [Show & Tell] (if available)
- Check r/devops rules for required flairs
3. Engage Immediately¶
- First 30 minutes = critical
- Answer every comment within 5 minutes
- More engagement = Reddit algorithm pushes post higher
- Even negative comments - answer politely
4. Add Screenshots/Videos¶
If possible, include: - Screenshot of CodeSlick analyzing a PR - Screenshot of the PR comment with security findings - 2-min demo video (Loom is free)
How to add: - Upload screenshots to Imgur (free) - Link in the post body - Or create a text post + comment with links
5. Pin a Comment with Links¶
After posting, immediately comment:
OP here.
Quick links:
- Demo video: [link]
- Example PR comment: [screenshot]
- Setup guide: [link]
- DM me for beta access
Answering questions live for the next 2 hours!
Comment Response Templates¶
You'll get comments. Here's how to respond:
"This looks like spam"¶
Fair concern! I'm a solo dev, not a marketing team.
Built this over 4 months. Just need real users to test it before launch.
Happy to answer any technical questions about implementation.
"How is this different from Snyk?"¶
Good question.
Snyk: Primarily dependency scanning, charges per developer ($98/month/dev)
CodeSlick: Static analysis + dependency scanning, flat rate for team (€99 for 5 devs)
Snyk is more mature (10+ years). CodeSlick is newer but 80% cheaper.
Not trying to replace Snyk for enterprises. Targeting startups that can't afford Snyk.
"Can I see the source code?"¶
Not open source currently, but happy to:
- Walk through the architecture on a call
- Share technical docs
- Let you audit the GitHub App permissions
Considering open-sourcing parts of it (e.g., the static analysis rules) in Q1 2026.
"What about false positives?"¶
Currently ~5-10% false positive rate.
You can mark findings as "ignore" and CodeSlick learns your codebase patterns.
This is the hardest problem in static analysis. Working on ML-based filtering for v2.
Curious - what's your tolerance for false positives vs missed vulnerabilities?
"Do you support [language/framework]?"¶
Not yet! Currently: JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java
Roadmap:
- Q1 2026: Go, Rust
- Q2 2026: C/C++, PHP
- Q3 2026: Ruby, C#
Which language would be most valuable for you?
"How much does it cost?"¶
Pricing:
- Beta: Free for 3 months (Nov-Jan)
- Then: 50% off for 3 months (€49/month)
- Full price: €99/month for 5 devs, €299/month for unlimited
Trying to keep it affordable for bootstrapped startups.
"This is exactly what we need!"¶
Awesome! DM me or comment your email and I'll send setup instructions.
Takes 5 minutes to install (GitHub App). Then just open a PR and CodeSlick will comment with findings.
Let me know if you hit any issues - I'll prioritize fixing them.
"Why should I trust you with my code?"¶
Great question. Security is critical.
What CodeSlick accesses:
- Only PRs (not your entire repo)
- Only when you open a PR (not continuous scanning)
- Via GitHub App (you can revoke anytime)
What we DON'T do:
- Store code long-term (cached 24h max for analysis)
- Train AI models on your code
- Share data with third parties
GDPR compliant, EU-hosted (Vercel EU).
Happy to do a security walkthrough if you want more details.
Negative/Critical Comments¶
Appreciate the feedback! What would make this more useful for you?
Trying to learn what DevOps teams actually need (vs what I think they need).
Expected Results¶
Optimistic Scenario (Post Gets Popular):¶
- 100+ upvotes
- 50+ comments
- 1,000-2,000 views
- 20-50 "interested" comments
- 10-20 actual beta signups
Realistic Scenario:¶
- 20-50 upvotes
- 15-30 comments
- 500-1,000 views
- 10-20 "interested" comments
- 5-10 actual beta signups
Worst Case:¶
- 5-10 upvotes
- 5-10 comments
- 100-200 views
- 2-5 "interested" comments
- 1-3 actual beta signups
Even worst case = You get 1-3 beta testers from 30 mins of work. Worth it!
Handling the Influx¶
If You Get 20+ Interested Comments:¶
1. Copy-Paste Response Template:
Thanks! DMing you the setup link.
Takes 5 mins to install:
1. Install GitHub App: [link]
2. Connect your repo
3. Open a PR - CodeSlick will comment with findings
Let me know if you hit issues!
2. Create a Typeform: Quick way to collect info without manual DMs: - Name - Email - GitHub username - Company (optional) - Team size
3. Batch Onboarding: Schedule group onboarding call: "Anyone who signs up this week, I'll do a group demo on Friday at 10 AM CET."
Post-Posting Actions¶
After You Post:¶
Hour 1-2: Engage Aggressively - Answer every comment within 5 minutes - Upvote all comments (even critical ones) - Ask follow-up questions - Thank people for feedback
Hour 3-6: Monitor - Check every hour - Respond to new comments - DM people who said "interested"
Day 2-3: Follow Up - Reddit will notify you of new comments - Continue responding - Post updates (e.g., "10 signups so far, 5 spots left!")
Day 4-7: Track Results - How many signups? - What questions came up most? - What objections did people have? - Use this to improve pitch
Pro Tips for Reddit Success¶
1. Be Human, Not Corporate¶
- Use "I" not "we" (you're solo)
- Admit limitations ("I know it's not perfect")
- Share learning ("this is what I learned building it")
- Reddit hates corporate speak
2. Provide Value Beyond Your Product¶
- Answer questions about static analysis
- Share what you learned about AST parsing
- Help other commenters with their security questions
- Reddit rewards helpful people
3. Don't Delete Negative Comments¶
- Address criticism head-on
- "You're right, that's a limitation. Here's why..."
- Shows confidence and transparency
4. Cross-Post (After 24 Hours)¶
Once your r/devops post is successful, cross-post to: - r/webdev (if JS/TS focused) - r/Python (if Python focused) - r/SideProject (founder angle) - r/csharp, r/golang, etc. (if you add language support)
Note: Wait 24 hours between cross-posts to avoid spam flags.
5. Add to Your Post After Success¶
Edit after 2-3 hours:
Edit: Wow, 15 signups so far! Thanks r/devops.
Common questions answered below. Still responding to comments/DMs!
This creates FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out).
Backup Plan: If Post Gets Removed¶
Some subreddits auto-remove promotional posts.
If Removed:¶
- Read rules carefully - Did you break one?
- Message mods: "Hi, my post was removed. I'm a solo founder looking for beta testers, not selling. Can you approve it?"
- Reframe: Post as "Show & Tell" not "beta testers needed"
- Try different subreddit: r/webdev, r/ExperiencedDevs
Sample Successful Reddit Posts (Study These)¶
Search Reddit for: - "built a tool for devops" - "[Show & Tell] security tool" - "need beta testers"
Study posts with 50+ upvotes: - What title format did they use? - How long was the post? - How did they handle criticism? - What made people upvote?
Your Action Plan¶
Today (Wednesday):¶
- Read this document
- Choose Version 1 (Technical Deep-Dive)
- Create Reddit account if you don't have one
- Join r/devops subreddit
Tomorrow (Thursday) 8-10 AM EST (2-4 PM CET):¶
- Post to r/devops using Version 1
- Immediately comment with links (demo, screenshots)
- Set 2-hour timer - stay online to answer questions
Thursday Evening:¶
- Check post performance (upvotes, comments)
- Count "interested" responses
- DM everyone who said "interested"
Friday:¶
- Continue monitoring/responding
- Send setup links to all signups
- Update post with "Edit: X signups, Y spots left"
Saturday-Sunday:¶
- Track who actually installed CodeSlick
- Schedule onboarding calls for next week
Success Metrics¶
Post Performance:¶
- 📊 Target: 50+ upvotes (means post resonated)
- 📊 Target: 20+ comments (means engagement)
- 📊 Target: 10+ "interested" comments
Beta Signups:¶
- 🎯 Target: 10 beta testers from Reddit alone
- 🎯 Minimum: 5 beta testers (still worth it)
- 🎯 Bonus: 15+ testers (you can be selective)
What to Do After Reddit Success¶
If You Get 10+ Beta Testers:¶
- Testimonials: After they test, ask for quotes
- Case study: Write "How [Company] found 15 vulnerabilities with CodeSlick"
- More Reddit posts: "Show & Tell: Beta results from CodeSlick"
- Hacker News: Post "Show HN" (I can draft this next)
Next Steps¶
Post Version 1 tomorrow (Thursday) at 8-10 AM EST.
I'll be here to help you: - Respond to comments (if you want to draft responses together) - Handle objections - Optimize follow-up messages
After you post, ping me and I'll monitor with you for the first hour!
Want me to also draft: 1. ✅ The Hacker News "Show HN" post (do after Reddit success) 2. ✅ The r/SideProject post (more founder-focused) 3. ✅ Comment response templates for specific objections
Let me know!