How to Ask Good Questions

on Stack Overflow

Presented by Oded Coster
@OdedCoster

London .NET User Group
February 24th 2016

Who am I?

• Early user of Stack Overflow (August 2008)
• Thousands of answers, 300k reputation
• 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 is Stack Overflow like that?

Why ask good questions?

Someone might have the answer

Why ask good questions?

It can clarify the problem to yourself

AKA Rubber duck debugging

Why ask good questions?

You will get an answer faster

One that actually solves your need

So... how do I do it?

Research your problem

Take your time

Make the question easy to answer

Show your research, explain what you tried

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

Make the question easy to answer

Include code that shows the problem

Make the question easy to answer

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

Keep those who answer in mind

• Volunteers that are giving their time
• 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 matters - 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

But why these strange rules?

• Goal is to be a repository of good Q&A
• Focus is on Q&A - not individuals
• Help many people not just one
• Time showed us that some types of questions don't work for us

Resources

• Oded Coster - My blog
• Jon Skeet - Writing the perfect question
• Andrew Thompson - sscce.org
• Eric S. Raymond
  • How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
• SO Help Centre
  • How do I ask a good question?

Questions?