Asking Good (Technical) Questions

on Stack Overflow

Presented by Oded Coster
@OdedCoster




Developing as a Developer
Stack Overflow meetup
June 16th 2015

Who am I?

  • Early user of Stack Overflow (August 2008)
  • Developer on the Stack Exchange Q&A team

Overview

  • Why should we ask good questions?
  • How do we ask such questions?
  • Stack Overflow specific advice

Why ask good questions?

Someone might have the answer

Why ask good questions?

It can clarify the problem to yourself

AKA Rubber duck debugging

image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rubber_duck_assisting_with_debugging.jpg

Why ask good questions?

  • You will get an answer faster

    One that actually solves your need

  • Answers will be better and more relevant
  • Make good example to others

So... how do I do it?

Research your problem

  • Official documentation
  • Tests and experiments
  • Google
  • Stack Overflow search

Take your time

  • Read and re-read your question
  • Short, descriptive title
  • Pertinent tags
  • Ensure the whole makes sense
  • Once posted, stay around and respond to comments

Make the question easy to answer

Show your research, explain what you tried

fail image by Pablo X http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fail.svg

Make the question easy to answer

Show your research, explain what you tried

Make the question easy to answer

Include code that shows the problem

fail image by Pablo X http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fail.svg

Make the question easy to answer

Include code that shows the problem

Make the question easy to answer

  • Ask about the problem, not your attempted solution
  • Limited scope - should be answerable in a few paragraphs
  • Should have an objectively correct answer

Keep those who answer in mind

  • Volunteers that are giving their time and expertise
  • Strangers on the Internet
  • From around the world
  • Mostly at their place of work

Details that matter

  • Don't forget to actually ask a question

    - and just one question

  • Check your grammar and spelling
  • Be polite, but no salutations
  • Don't include unnecessary details
  • Formatting - learn Markdown

Downvotes, On Hold & Closing

  • Don't take them personally
  • Directed at the question, not you
  • Hint that the question needs improving
  • Closed questions can be reopened
  • Deleted questions can be undeleted

Recap

  • Asking good questions matters
  • Take your time to ask
  • Make it easy to answer
  • Be mindful who you are asking help from
  • Don't take feedback personally

Resources

Questions?

I'm will around - feel free to ask me anything :)