Questions to the whole community, but especially to coders
 

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?

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.... :)

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.

I do this already...
I have never actually shown impatience here ...
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?

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. :)

Seconded.

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

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. :)

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 :)

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.