Changes between Version 3 and Version 4 of UsingTheMailingList

Timestamp:

Jun 27, 2011, 6:48:00 AM (13 years ago)

Author:

Cal Leeming

Comment:

Added some filler and some prelim ideas for this topic.

UsingTheMailingList

@@ -3 +3 @@
 
 == Classify your question ==
-== Do a search first - where and how to search ==
+
+== Do your homework!! ==
+* Most of the time, Google holds the answer to your question.
+* Don't expect a 'one-shot / copy-and-paste' answer, there may be some work involved.
+* Don't give up on the first page, it's not unusual to go as far as 400-600 results (depending on how relevant each hit is)
+* Make full use of exception tracebacks, and don't be afraid to dive deep into the Django core code (this is a great way to learn + find hints about what caused your problem)
+* Look through the django-users mailing list archive ( https://groups.google.com/group/django-users/topics?hl=en )
+
+== Be imaginative with your Google keywords ==
+If you are looking for information relating to say "Sphinx", just typing that in alone usually won't help. 
+
+Here are some common search alternatives you could try;
+
+* Looking for a method/class called 'ReportBug'
+{{{
+ReportBug python
+"def ReportBug"
+"class ReportBug"
+}}}
+
+* Looking for items relating to Django models
+{{{
+"Django (model|models)"
+"from django" "import models"
+"howto" django models
+"problem with" django models
+}}}
+
+* Look for other peoples mailing list entries about MySQLdb
+{{{
+"django-users" "(problem|exception)" "MySQLdb"
+}}}
+
+* Be smart when it comes to looking for information about exceptions:
+{{{
+For example:
+
+OperationalError: (2002, "Can't connect to local MySQL server through 
+socket '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (2)")
+}}}
+{{{
+Would become:
+
+django "OperationalError" "2002"
+"connect to local MySQL server through"
+"OperationalError" "connect to local MySQL server through"
+django "problem" "2002" "database"
+
+}}}
+
 == Prepare the question ==
+Do's:
+* Include tracebacks (where applicable)
+* Include an example of the code you are using
+* Indicate what your end goal is
+* Indicate what attempts you have made to resolve the problem yourself
+* Ask yourself, what extra information might you need to resolve similar problems?
+
+Don't's:
+* Expect an instant or one-shot answer.
+
 == Formatting your mail and your replies ==
+* Try to use in-line replies where possible.
+
 == Follow up ==
+* Always make an effort to say thank you.
+* If you feel someone did not understand your request (or gives an unrelated answer), then it's important you express this to them, and clarify further.
+
 == Report resolution ==
+* Always make an effort to make your findings public. This may be in the form of a Django core ticket, djangosnippets.com, blog post, youtube video etc. (Although sometimes, if the mailing list subject is descriptive enough, it may suffice to just have it in archive - which happens automatically)
+
 == Start answering questions ==
+* Give something back to the community by answering questions you feel confident in.