Re: Discussing issues

["Mike A. Harris" <mharris@www.linux.org.uk>]

On Wed, 16 Apr 2003, Sven Luther wrote:

>> Another case is one where a developer would like to get involved
>> and contribute to a certain area, but is just starting out in
>> that area, or just starting out with X development period, but
>> they've got a lot of questions and either aren't sure where to
>> ask, or they fear being treated as incompetant or inferior by
>> asking those who do know a lot more about things.
>> 
>> One of the worst things that can happen to a new developer trying
>> to learn how something works, is to be run down into the ground
>> for not understanding something the first time, or for not 
>> having magically gotten to some higher skill level in the 
>> particular portion of code they'd like to work on.  Some people 
>> have mentioned in IRC or in mailing lists that they feel 
>> discouraged from even working on something from not knowing where 
>> to get help, or from getting stepped on when they do.
>
>That is why i suggested a developper newbie mailing list,
>something akin to debian -mentor list. But apparently the
>xfree-devel list is the right place for that, so questions
>should be asked there.

Yeah, that is probably the best place currently.  IMHO, the
problem stems back from before the devel list was public though,
and while public now, it hasn't been public long enough to really
make a huge impact on the potential developer community that is
or might be out there, however it definitely is a step in the
right direction indeed.

On a positive note, I've been refering people to devel@ since the
list went public, who have had development related questions, and
haven't heard any complaints come back, nor have I seen any real
problems arise on the list.  I guess that can be taken as a good 
sign of progress.  ;o)


-- 
Mike A. Harris


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