Ask the wisdom

Author: Leland (ovo) Title: [transcription] [Links] question the wisdom of time: Mon Jun 17 01:40:23 2002

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[Repost] Wisdom for your questions

Copyright (c) 2001 by Eric S. raymond Chinese version COPYLEFT 2001 by DHGRAND (Nobody / Ginux) English: http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html Thanks to ERIC Patience Guide And agree, this article can be completed and released, this guide English copyright is Eric Steven raymond, the Chinese version is copyrighted by DHGRAND [NoBody / Ginux].

In the hacker world, what kind of answer can you get when it is proposed a technical issue? This depends on the difficulty of digging out the answer, also depends on the method you ask. This guide is intended to help you improve your skills to get your most wanted answer.

First of all, you must understand that hackers only prefer arduous tasks, or can inspire their thinking. If so, do we come back? If you have a good question worthy of we repeatedly chew, we will be grateful to you. A good problem is that incentives, it is a thick gift, which can improve our understanding, and usually expose what we have never realized or thinking. For hackers, "Ask!" Is a strong praise from the heart.

Although the hacker has a despise simple problem and unsoliche, sometimes it seems that we have hostile to the newbie, with the poor of knowledge, but it is not that.

We don't want to cover some people's contempt - they don't want to think, or don't complete what they should do before you ask. This kind of person will only murder - they are only willing to request, never pay, do not consume our time, and we can use time to use the more interesting questions or more worth answering. We call such a person "loser" (due to historical reasons, we sometimes spell "lusers").

We have a large extent belong to volunteers, with the time from the busy life to solve the answer, and often submerged. So we have ruthlessly filter out some topics, especially those who look like a loser, so that more efficient use of time to answer the victory.

If you think that we are too arrogant, let you not be cool, let you wrote, you can think about it. We didn't ask you to succumb to us - in fact, most people in our favorite fair trading, as long as you pay small efforts to meet the minimum requirements, we will welcome you to join our culture. Come, but let us help those who are unwilling to help themselves.

If you can't accept this "discrimination", we recommend that you spend money to find a business company to sign a support agreement, don't give a hacker if you decide to help us, of course, I don't want to be considered a loser, and I don't want to be considered a loser. Be a member of the loser. The best way to get a valid answer is to ask questions like winners - smart, self-confidence, and solve problems, just occasionally need to get a little help on specific issues.

(Welcomes improvements to this guide. Any suggestions please e-mail to esr@thyrsus.com, however, please note that this article is not a general guide to the rigor and courtesy, I usually refuse to help to get useful answers in the technical forum. (Of course, if you write Chinese, it is best to send DHGRAND@hotmail.com; -) = before question =

In front of the technical issues by email, news groups or chat rooms, check you if you have: 1. Read the manual, try to find answers yourself. 2. Look in the answer in FAQ (a well-maintained FAQ can include :). 3. Search online (personal recommendation google ~~~). 4. I am in listening to your friends.

When you ask questions, you must first explain what you have before this; this will help to establish your image: You are not a beggar who is inused, do not want to waste others. If the questioner can learn something from the answer, we are more happy to answer his questions.

Thoughtful thinking, ready for your problem, the question of the grass rate can only get an answer to the grass rate, or you can't get any answers. The more you show your efforts to solve the problem before seeking help, the you can get a substantive help.

Be careful, don't ask questions. If your problem is based on the wrong assumption, the ordinary hacker (J. Random Hacker usually uses meaningless literal explanation to reply you, thinking "stupid problems ...", I hope you will answer from the question (and Did you you want to get a lesson.

Never think of being qualified to get answers, you don't have this eligibility. After all, you didn't pay any remuneration for this service. You have to go back to "earn" back to an answer, relying on a question of connotation, interesting, thinking incentive effect - a problem with potential contribution to the community, not just passive from others Knowledge - to earn this answer.

On the other hand, you are willing to do something in the process of finding the answer, it is a very good start. "Who can give some prompts?" Because you seem to have a correct direction, you have your ability and determination.

= How to ask questions =

- Carefully select the forum to carefully choose the question. If you are likely to be described below, you are likely to be ignored or as a loser: Easily also 3. At too many different news groups

- Use the vocabulary, the grammat is correct, spelling. We found that careful writers are often the thinkilers of horses (I dare to pack). The question that answers careless people is not worth it, we would rather consume time elsewhere.

Correct spelling, punctuation and case is important. More general, if your question is written like a half illiteracy, you are likely to be ignored.

If you ask questions in using non-nominal forums, you can make a little fault to spell and grammar - but I can't think about the horse or tiger (right, we can figure out the differences.)

- Using meaningfulness, describing accurate titles In mailing lists or newsgroups, the topic title within about 50 words is the golden timing of grasping senior experts. Don't use chatter "help" (not to say "to save !!!!!" This opportunity to resent) to waste this opportunity. Don't want to use your pain to touch us, don't use space instead of the description of the problem, even if it is an extremely short description.

Stupid question: Help! My lap is not displayed normally! Smart problems: XFree86 4.1 Lower scarns deformation, FooWare MV1005 display wafer. If you ask questions in your reply, remember to modify the content headline, indicating that there is a problem. A problem that looks like "Re: Test" or "Re: new bug" is difficult to attract enough attention. In addition, reference and delete the content of the previous article, leave a clue to the new readers.

- Accurate description, the amount of information is large 1. Carefully describe the symptoms. 2. Provide a problem that occurs (machine configuration, job system, application, and other other). 3. Explain how you study and understand this problem before you ask questions. 4. Note What steps you have taken before you ask questions. 5. Russen has recently been done with hardware, software changes.

Try to see how a hacker will ask you, give him an answer when you ask questions.

Simon Tatham wrote an excellent essay called "How to Effective Report Bug". Strongly recommend you to read it.

- The words don't need to provide precise and effective information. This is not asking you to simply put into a ton of error code or information completely dump in your question. If you have a large and complicated test condition, try to cut it as much as possible. There is at least three points everywhere. First, you have made your efforts to simplify the problem, which allows you to answer the opportunity to answer; second, simplify the problem to get a useful answer, the third, in refining your BUG report

- Only say symptoms, don't say guess, tell hackers, what do you think is how it is caused by it. (If your inferior is so effective, do you want to help others?), So be sure that you originally tell the symptoms of their questions, don't add your own understanding and presentation. Let hackers diagnose it.

Stupid question: I encountered a SIG11 error in the kernel compilation, I suspect that a flying line is on the front line of the motherboard, how should this be the best? Clever problem: I have a set of K6 / 233 systems, the motherboard is FIC-PA2007 (VIA Apollo VP2 wafer group), 256MB CORSAIR PC133 SDRAM, frequently generating SIG11 errors in the kernel compilation, this situation after 20 minutes of boot I never happen within 20 minutes before booting. It is useless to restart, but it will work 20 minutes in one night. All memory has changed, no effect. Typical compilation records in the relevant part ....

- List the symptoms of symptoms in chronological order to identify the most helpful clues to find problems, often a series of operations before the problem, so your description should include steps, as well as the response of the computer until the problem is generated.

If your description is long (more than four paragraphs), the problem will help, followed by the time order. This hacker knows what to find in your instructions.

- I understand what you want to ask if there is no margin question, there is almost no time black hole. People who can give you useful answers are also the most busy people (they are busy because they must do most of them.). Such people don't have a cold, so they can also say that they have a bad cold about the margin.

If you explicitly express what you need to answer (provide suggestions, send a code, check your patch or other), it is most likely to get useful answers. This will set a time and energy limit, which makes it easy for you to help you. To understand the world of experts, we must imagine professional skills as abundant resources, while the time reply is a poor resource. Solve your problem, the less time you need, the more you can take an answer from a busy expert port.

Therefore, the structure of the optimization problem is minimized, and the experts will have a lot of help - this usual and simplified issues are different. So, ask "I want to better understand X, can you give some prompts?" I usually compare "Can you explain X? Better. If your code can't work, ask what place is wrong, more request Others have modified for you to be much smart. - Don't ask what you should solve, hackers are always good at distinguishing which issues should be solved by yourself; because most of us have solved such problems. Similarly, these issues have From you to get it, you will learn from the middle. You can ask for a prompt, but don't ask for a complete solution.

- Remove meaningless questions Don't end your question, for example, "Can anyone help me?" Or "Is there an answer?". First of all: If you are not very suitable for the description of the problem, this is more painted. Second: Because this is a painted snake, the hacker will be tired of you - and usually use logically correct answers to show their contempt, for example: "Yes, someone can help you" or "no, no answer".

- Humility is not harmful, and often helps the borders, and use "please" and "first thank you." Let everyone know that you spend time obligations to help heart gratitude. However, if you have a lot of problems, you can't solve it, and the courtesy will increase your opportunity to get useful answers.

(We note that since this guide is released, the only serious defective feedback from the Senior Hacker is the first to thank this. Some hackers feel that "thank you", I will not thank anyone. Our suggestions are: all thank you.)

- After the problem is resolved, after adding a short description, let's send a description to all people who have helped you, let them know how the problem is solved, and once again thank them again. If the problem has attracted extensive attention in the newsgroup or mailing list, there should be a supplementary instructions there. Supplementation does not have to be long or deep; simple sentence "Hello, it turned out to be a problem! Thank you - Bill" More than anything is stronger. In fact, unless the conclusion is really technical, short and lovely summary is better than a long academic papers. Explain how the problem is solved, but it is not necessary to repeat the process of solving the problem. In addition to expressing politeness and feedback information, this supplement helps others search for your full solution to you in the mailing list / newsgroup / forum, which may be useful to them. Finally (at least?), This supplement helps all people who have provided help have been satisfied. If you are not a older or hacker, I believe us, this feeling is very important for those tutors or experts you have to help them. The problem will be discouraged; the hackers are eager to see the problem is resolved. Good people have good news, meet their desire, you will taste the sweetness when you post new questions.

- I still don't understand if you are not very understanding, don't immediately ask the other party to explain. When you try to solve your problem before you have solved your problem (using the manual, FAQ, the master), understand it. If you really need the other party to explain, remember to show what you have learned F point. For example, if I answer you: "It seems that ZENTRY is blocked; you should clear it first.", Then: a very bad follow-up question: "What is ZENTRY?" The smart question should be like this: " Oh ~~~ I have seen helping but only -z and -p two parameters mention ZENTRY and there is no clear explanation:

= Thoughts and then ask = The following is a few classic questions, as well as the hacker thinks in the heart of refusing to answer:

Question: Where can I find an X program? Question: My program / configuration / SQL has no problem: my windows has problems, can you help me? Question: I have problems when I installed Linux (or X), can you help me? Question: How can I crack the root account / steal OP privilege / read the email?

Question: Where can I find the X program? Answer: Just find it, the idiots - the one of the search engine. day?! Does anyone won't use Google?

Question: My program (configuration, SQL declaration) did not answer: This is not a problem, I am not interested in finding your real problem - if I want me to ask you 20 questions to find out - I Have more interesting things to do.

When I see this problem, my reaction is usually the following three.

1. Do you have anything to add? 2. It's really bad, I hope you can get it. 3. Do you have any birds with me?

Question: My windows has problems, can you help me? Answer: Can you, throw away the soft rubbish, change Linux.

Question: I have problems when I installed Linux (or X), can you help me? Answer: You can't, I only personally get a problem in your computer. Still go to your local Linux user group to seek your handle guidance (you can find a list of users here).

Question: How can I crack the root account / steal OP privilege / read someone else's mail? Answer: I want to do this, indicating that you are a man; if you want to find a hacker to help you, you are an idiot!

= A good problem, bad problem =

Finally, I will give some examples to explain how smart questions; the two questions in the same question are put together, one is stupid, the other is wise.

Stupid question: Where can I find information about FOONLY FLURBAMATIC? // This kind of questioning is not to answer the answer "STFW".

Smart question: I have searched "Fooly FluBamatic 2600" with Google, but I didn't find useful results. Who knows where to find information on this kind of equipment? // This problem has been STFW, it seems that he really encounters trouble.

Stupid question: I can't compile the source code I found from the Foo project. How is it so bad? // He feels that it is the fault of others, this arrogant guy

Clever problem: foo project code cannot be compiled in Nulix 6.2. I have read FAQ, but I didn't mention the questions related to Nulix. This is the record of my compilation process. Is there anything wrong with me? // he talked about the environment and also read FAQ, but also indicated the mistake, and he did not push the responsibility of the problem to the head, this guy is worth paying attention.

Stupid question: I have a problem with my motherboard. Who will help me? // Ordinary hacker's answer to this type of question is usually: "Okay, have you to take back and change diaper?", Then press the delete key.

Smart question: I tried X, Y and Z on the S2464 motherboard, but I didn't work, I tried A, B and C again. Please note that when I try C's strange phenomenon. It is obvious that contraction occurs in the sideband transmission, but the result is unexpected. What is the usual reason that causes a sideband leak on a multiprocessor motherboard? Who has a good idea next to what tests I have to find out? // This guy, from another perspective, worth answering him. He showed the ability to solve the problem, not to sit and wait for the answer. In the last question, pay attention to "tell me the answer" and "give me the revelation, point out what I should do what diagnose work" is subtle between subtle and important differences. In fact, the latter problem is derived from a real question on the list of Linux kernels in August 2001. I (ERIC) is the person who made a question. I observed this uninterrupted lock phenomenon on the TYAN S2464 motherboard, and the list members provided important information to solve that problem.

Through my question method, I gave you something worthy of playing; I make people easily participate in and attracted. I show yourself with their equivalent ability, inviting them to discuss with me. I told them the detour I have gone to avoid them, this is a respect for the value of others. Later, when I expressed their gratitude to everyone, I appreciated this settles (I mean the discussion in the mail list - the translator's note) is very good, a Linux kernel part column (LKML) member said that the problem is resolved Not because I am "celebrity" in this list, but because I use the right way to ask questions. Our hackers have a guy with rich knowledge but lack of people; I believe he is right, if I ask questions like a beggar, no matter who I am, I will be annoying some people or Ignore them. He suggests that I will write down this matter and give some guidance to the people who write this guide.

= What should I do if I can't find an answer =

If you still don't get an answer, please don't think we can't help you. Sometimes I just see your question, I don't know the answer. No response does not mean that you are ignored, although it is difficult to distinguish this difference.

In general, a simple repeating post problem is a very bad idea. This will be regarded as meaningless noisy.

You can get help through other channels, which are usually more suitable for beginners. There are many online and local user groups, from fanatical software enthusiasts (even if they have never written any software). Usually people build such groups to help each other and help newers.

In addition, you can seek help from many commercial companies, regardless of the company's big or small (Red Hat and Linuxcare are two most common examples). Don't be frustrated for payable to get help! After all, false your car engine cylinder seal is burst - it is probably - you have to send it to the repair shop and pay for maintenance. Even if the software doesn't spend a penny, you can't force the technical support to always be free.

For popular software, as linux, each developer will have at least 10,000 users. It is impossible to handle help from tens of thousands of users at all. To know, even if you want to pay for help, you have to pay more than you have to buy similar software (usually the technical support cost of the enclosed source code software is much higher than that of the open source software, and the content is not So rich.

RTFM and STFW: Don't bother me.

There is an old and sacred tradition: if you receive the reply of "RTFM (Read The Fucking Manual), the answer you should read the TMD manual. Of course, basically he is right, you should read it.

RTFM has a young relative. If the answer is "STFW (SEARCH THE FUCKING Web)", the answer you think you should go to TMD online search. Basically, he is also right, you will go. Usually, answering you one of these two sentences will give you a manual or an URL that contains you need content, and they are reading when they play these words. These replies mean that the answer is considered (1). The information you need is very easy to get; (2). You can search for these information than filling you to make you learn more.

Don't be refreshed for this; in accordance with the criteria of hackers, he did not see the requirements for you, and it is already able to represent your attention to you. You should express our gratitude to his grandmother.