know-if-its-working

# Know if it's working > The only early metric that matters is **net developer retention**. Without it, you're not running a funnel; you're running a colander. **Use this when:** you're tracking GitHub stars and pageviews and still can't answer "is GTM working?", or you're pouring effort into acquisition while new users quietly churn. ## The core idea Acquisition is worthless if users don't come back. Prove **retention** first; only then does spending on **acquisition** make sense. Most early founders optimize the top of the funnel while the bottom leaks. Fix that order. ## Framework: net developer retention (Frankl) > Of all the developers who first used the product in **Month 1**, how many used it in **Month 2? Month 3?** - Hold it **above 100%** (meaning existing cohorts *grow* through internal referral/expansion). - Below solid retention, **do not focus on acquisition**: you're filling a leaky bucket. - This single cohort question tells you more than every vanity chart combined. ## Framework: the DREAM metrics (Frankl) Measure one honest number per stage, not pageviews, not stars. | Stage | The metric that counts | |---|---| | **Discovery** | unique human visitors / month | | **Research** | newsletter subs + community joins + follows | | **Evaluation** | free-tier signups / downloads / active free users | | **Activation** | monthly active users · frequency · session depth | | **Membership** | community members *actively* posting & answering | **The gate before ...