launchpad-dev team mailing list archive

["Francis J. Lacoste" <francis.lacoste@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On January 18, 2010, Vikram Dhillon wrote:
> Hi all,
>          Being an answer contact I answer a lot of question daily,
> even though we have a lot of *awesome* people answering questions with
> great content I would humbly like to suggest an idea, when a person
> *first reports* a question, he should be send an email, which doesn't
> get processed by the launchpad answer tracker and has something like
> this:
> 
> "We are working hard to answer all the questions that come in. While
> you wait, try looking through these online sources, where your
> question may have already been answered. If you find an answer, or
> think you may have found an answer but still have questions, please
> update this entry with links to the new information and we can provide
> better support. Here are some of the links that may help you to find
> your answer:
> 1. Ubuntu Official Documentation <a link here>
> 2. Ubuntu Community Documentation <a link here>
> 3. Ubuntu Forums <similar posts here>
> 4. Kubuntu Forums <similar posts here>
> 5. KDE Forums <similar posts here>
> 4. Previous Ubuntu Answers that may have been asked <similar questions
>  here>"
> 
> Now I'll be honest here, a *lot* of people don't even know that
> kubuntu forums and kde forums exist, so that would also help in
> kubuntu's marketing. This doesn't mean we won't answer questions any
> more but just means that people will get an instant reply that
> requires them do look around a little until we get them a good answer.
> Some answers already have really good tutorials in the ubuntu forums
> section which can also be helpful here.
> 
> This would also help in a sort-of self-development of the user. The
> user this way learns to look around by himself/herself and builds this
> skill which would be really helpful in all areas of life as well as
> their involvement in Ubuntu. Please give me a feedback on what you
> guys think about this, I have a sort of pseudo-code for this down so
> would like to discuss that as well if people like this idea. I am up
> for implementing this task if others like this idea :)


I think this is a great idea and thanks for volunteering on implementing it!

One thing we don't want is to make that feature Ubuntu-specific. So I guess 
we'd want something like the custom bug filing guidelines implementation. 
Basically, allow the customization of that message at the IQuestionTarget 
level (project, distribution, source package). And if that property is set, 
then email automatically that message on first post. Some other questions to 
think about: Do you want to send these instructions on every question asked? 
Or only to first-time users? Or say, once per month / question?

Once you have your implementation plan together, I suggest you have a "pre-
implementation" discussion with one Launchpad engineers. This will ensure a 
smooth review of the code. Feel free to grab anyone on #launchpad-dev to 
discuss the implementation strategy also if you have any questions.

https://dev.launchpad.net/PatchSubmission as high-level guidelines for the 
contribution process.

Cheers


-- 
Francis J. Lacoste
francis.lacoste@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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