Questions to the whole community, but especially to coders

[Tim Skellett]

Hi,
I am what you would ungrammatically call a "leecher"; i.e. I am a fairly new member, I am only a customer, I have like only 8 posts or so, and I have never yet uploaded a hack of my own.

I am not good at coding; I damn well wish I was, but all I can do is struggle painfully along, asking a whole lot of questions here as I stmble my merry way. Sure, that makes me dumb or whatever; the thing is, I am very grateful for all help I get, and I say so. I am also very grateful that so many coders here make their hacks available free to people like me; I simply cannot afford to pay coders -- trust me, if I had the money, I would be commissioning coders for projects right. left and centre; but very very simply, I do not have the cash, so I am very grateful for vb.org and other sites like it.

Now, can I give anything back? I really wish I could; but all I have got so far to contribute is one template change minor hack all of my very own which I will upload much later, and that's it; no big hack contributions, no cash. I really wish I could give back more, but I can't --- which makes me what some would call a leecher.

However, surely you can understand my position; you might find someone like me frustrating, but trust me, I find it far more frustrating than you do;while I struggle to learn vB coding, it takes a very looooooooooong time, and all I can do in the meantime is ask questions, tons of questions. Sure, I would love to contribute something meaningful back, something more than just saying "Thanks!" -- but for the meantime, I can't.

My question is, what is it exactly you coders want from people like me? We mostly do our best, no doubt; the actual number of rude users here is extremely low, in my observations; it's not like coders are being abused everywhere. The whole vb.org site seems to me to be a very good one indeed, extremely helpful, and with a very good signal-to-noise ratio. Yet I have seen coders here complain about the attitudes of users; and I don't quite get it. If someone only wants to associate with fellow coders, that must necessitate a completely different kind of site, with very strict entry conditions; an open site like vb org is much different.

So, how can I and others like me make this site better? What exactly is wanted or expected of us?

[Roms]

My question is, what is it exactly you coders want from people like me?

Just to click install, say thanks for creating the modification, and be patient if you need help with adding it to your site. Members could also leave the credits in the modification but that's another topic.... :)

[Dan]

As Infantrymen said, the only thing I've noticed most coders want as some form of recognizition is you clicking the install button and leaving whatever copyright notices on the templates if they add them.

[Tim Skellett]

Just to click install, say thanks for creating the modification,
I do this already...
and be patient if you need help with adding it to your site.
I have never actually shown impatience here ...
Members could also leave the credits in the modification but that's another topic.... :)
I do, and I am going to be making a sticky thread soon on my board also giving credits for hacks, smilies and so on.

Yet I get the feeling this is not enough for some coders? Judging by some of the remarks I have seen in the feedback forums?

[Guest190829]

Hi,
I am not good at coding; I damn well wish I was, but all I can do is struggle painfully along, asking a whole lot of questions here as I stmble my merry way.

Just keep asking questions and continue learning. I'm sure many of the coders here, myself included, have been on the same road you are on right now. If you continue the path you will certainly find your talent in coding and that is what will help the community the most.

As what the others have said, continue to show your appreciation of the coders by clicking install and saying thank you. It really means alot to coders. :)

[Revan]

Just to click install, say thanks for creating the modification, and be patient if you need help with adding it to your site. Members could also leave the credits in the modification but that's another topic.... :)Seconded.

[peterska2]

An install click and a kind word are enough to keep me happy. :)

[Freesteyelz]

Yet I get the feeling this is not enough for some coders? Judging by some of the remarks I have seen in the feedback forums?

It was a frustrating time for some and issues expressed, while many were valid, were simply blown out of proportion. The fact that the drama happened at all tells quite a bit on the importance of all users in this community. Not just coders.

I think there are (a lot) more people in the community who feels the same way as you, Tim. Saying "Thank you", clicking the "Intall" and/or giving credit to the mod authors does go a long way, at least for the authors sake. What about you?

Give yourself a bit of credit and ask the questions, learn from them and then expand on them. A simple template edit can gradually turn into a complex one if you have the will. Whenever you're given the tools find out how many ways in which you can use them effectively. Then when you grow in skill share your experiences with others. There will always be someone who can benefit from them. In turn that person may do the same with another. All it takes is a few steps to better a community and yourself. :)

[Hellcat]

An install click and a kind word are enough to keep me happy. :)
Yup, I go with that as well. :) Well, and leaving the credits is also something that is most welcome ;) but like said above - that's a whole different story....

Ah, and voting for my stuff as "Mod Of The Month" wouldn't hurt me either :D

I usually code for fun or when I find an idea interesting or challenging.
If other can then gain something out my stuff and actually use (and maybe even like it *lol*) that's a pretty nice thing for me :)

[Mark.B]

Anyone removing a copyright/credit notice from a hack without permission is just plain rude. I always leave them in, in fact I am happy to have them there.

[kall]

An install click and a kind word are enough to keep me happy. :)
Ditto to that!

[Paul M]

Ditto to that!Tritto.

[Zachariah]

My question is, what is it exactly you coders want from people like me?

So, how can I and others like me make this site better? What exactly is wanted or expected of us?
Do not feel bad.

Everyone wants something different I guess.

I enjoy what people can do with things I make. There are many valuable ideas that spawn from feedback of people that put the code into operation. I do not see a value myself on making a product for someone to turn around and insult them for their lack of talent.

Every person has skills in their own fields I do not see a problem. This site is for owners of vBulletin to customize their site.

I was on this site for 2 years before I did much of anything.

[JD45]

I personally like to give feedback where credit is due and always click the install button. Its the little things that go a long way.

[Mosh]

Clicking on Install and a thank you is all I would like, it gives me a feeling of a job well done.

That and if there are support questions for my modifications, the person gives as much detail to the problem as possible, more info = quicker and more accurate support.

[Paul M]

Clicking on Install and a thank you is all I would like, it gives me a feeling of a job well done.

That and if there are support questions for my modifications, the person gives as much detail to the problem as possible, more info = quicker and more accurate support.Ditto to that. The number of times you see a post that just says "It doesn't work", no other clue ......

[Eikinskjaldi]

Ditto to that. The number of times you see a post that just says "It doesn't work", no other clue ......Aye, that much dreaded "Help me" with no idea on how to help them or whats wrong. Though like many of the others a click on the install and a smile go a long way, I have yet to use a copyright on any published work here, but that would be nice if it was kept.

[orban]

Ditto to that. The number of times you see a post that just says "It doesn't work", no other clue ......

I don't see a problem with this. Just make a copy and paste ready asking for more information. If they want help they'll come back if not they won't.

So, how can I and others like me make this site better? What exactly is wanted or expected of us?

I don't care if you click install or not or if you credit me or say thanks to me :)

I only contributed one extension so far which proofed to be very useful for me so I thought "why not share it". I'm trying to support it.

I am generally a bit offended by the addons/ext/hacks here who start their post with a two site long essay on how to click install, vote for HotM, credit, thank, donate, whatever. This should be a free place where the content is the focus not the people who contribute. I got a lot of ideas for hacks here and generally modifiy things before they actually go on my installation and I'm glad if it's just a product.xml or a code bit which I can use how I want.

I think the most important things you can do is:
1. Install it on your installation and report if it works (especially useful if you use a lot of other addons/ext/hacks).
2. If it fails report back with a full list of installed addons/ext/hacks, vB version, OS, and so on, so I can try to find out what's wrong.
3. Give suggestions what to improve and/or ask what it is about and what exactly it does. It's often when you write something for your own it might be a mystery for you what it actually does. I'm also a bit suprises by the lack of documentation here, I'd expect at last a basic explanation how your addon/ext/hack works! I can check the source code but I guess you can not, so you're basically at the coder's mercy, he can do with you want he wants. So don't hesitate to ask questions if you're not sure about something!

Went a bit off-topic here but it's what I wanted to say for a long time ;)

[amykhar]

The one thing I like to see non-coders do is to answer help questions that they can. If somebody asks how to do something basic with a mod, and you know the answer, jump in and help out :) EVERYBODY can contribute something. It doesn't have to be in code writing.

Answer questions in General Vbulletin Questions too. People need help with basic, built-in vbulletin functionality from time to time.

[CyberRanger]

The one thing I like to see non-coders do is to answer help questions that they can. If somebody asks how to do something basic with a mod, and you know the answer, jump in and help out :) EVERYBODY can contribute something. It doesn't have to be in code writing.
Ditto to that! I've found it very helpful when folks familiar with my mods help provide basic support. That frees me to help with the tougher issues. As far as what I want, the install button does it for me too. I code mainly for myself and I'm happy to see when it helps others.

[Freesteyelz]

That's a reasonable request. Everyone contributing to the community. Nice post, amykhar.

*I have seen members helping out one another in the various forums. :)