Question

Computer science section rules framed by Admins

Original post by @farmdawgnation
http://openstudy.com/updates/501c93dee4b0be43870db1ea

Answer 1

\(\bf \color{green}{\huge Do~ask:}\)
- Questions about data structures or algorithms.
- Questions about why code you wrote isn't working.

\(\bf \color{red}{\huge Don't~ask:}\)
- For help with Microsoft Word
- For help with installing windows/linux or any other utility application.
- For help getting rid of a virus
- For help jailbreaking your phone.
- For us to write all of your code for you. (That's not what we're here for.)

\(\bf \text{The general rule of thumb is this: if you would call a customer}\\ \text{ support hotline or read a manual to get help with your question,} \\ \text{then this isn't really the best place to ask it.}\)

Answer 2

There have been small expansions to scope since the original posting. For example, intro to office systems questions have been allowed. This covers a lot of the Word and Excel questions being allowed, but in all reality you can get the answers to mot of those from a Google search.

One other thing I would note is this: Try to be clear in your questions. "I get an error" is not really helpful. "I get 'index out of range' when I try to run this!" is much better. Also, be ready to use the quote system ``` above and below code blocks or use a code paste system like pastebin or dpaste or github or so on.

http://dpaste.com/
http://pastebin.com/

See, there allow this sort of thing:

```
public class HelloWorld {

public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello, World");
}

}
```
I put ``` (the one on the ~ key) above and below the code block to get that. Makes it a ton easier to read and makes it able to be copied properly. Without doing that, copy and paste can fail so testing code to see the error can fail.

Answer 3

Well, two years ago, farm was still an admin; but now, he is not.

Answer 4

Yep, which is why he and other admin were doing rule posts 2 years ago....

Answer 5

Neat thing to note:
```json
\```java
You can specify what language you want hljs to highlight for, by adding it after the three `.
\```
```

Though most of the time it can accurately auto detect the language correctly.

Answer 6

Just wondering, would be nice to make this a sticky.

Answer 7

There is no such thing here. I has been suggested that either a sticky or special intro/info item be added to deal with this issue.

Answer 8

Aww! Development priorities again!