/faq-yourself

Frequently Asked Questions you should ask yourself before asking them again

FAQ Yourself

Frequently Asked Questions you should ask yourself before asking them again.

Instructions

While you're studying computer science / information technology

  1. Buy a computer (we suggest you to install a SSD);
  2. Learn English (intermediate level);
  3. Use Google efficiently;
  4. Learn how to debug in your enviroment

Before you ask for a meeting

  1. Debug your code.

  2. Google your problem, in English. Keep it simple and gradually add search terms;

  • If you have a compile error/warning message, google it directly (possibly with quotes)
  1. Updates the software that gives you troubles to the latest version (unless otherwise noted);

  2. Post your problem on StackOverflow and interact with its unkind users;

  3. Post your problem on various dedicated forums;

  • To find a forum use Google (e.g. "android forum")
  1. Ask on various dedicated IRC channels;
  • How to use IRC? Google it
  • How to find an IRC channel? Google it (e.g. "android irc channel")

When everything above fails

  1. Gather all failed attempts in a text file (txt, rtf, md, etc. not .docx). For each attempt, you should describe:
  • What you searched for
  • What you found and tried
  • What was the error message when it failed
  1. Write an email, but don't just ask "can I have a meeting?", state your problem via mail. A proper email should contain:
  • Context (e.g. "I'm dealing with Section X of Project Y...", if needed add description of your environment)
  • Problem (e.g. "While trying technique/tool/etc., X went wrong") with error description
  • The "failed attempts file report" above
  1. If the problem can't be solved via email, you will be asked for a live or online meeting.

Just before a meeting

  1. Make sure your environment works and you can reproduce the problem.
  2. Switch on the computer
  3. Start your app in a debugging session

References

LiveOverflow - How (not) to ask a technical question