Stack Exchange Operating System development Q&A site

[stdcall]

Hey all,
I assume everybody here knows StackOverflow.com and it's Q&A concept.
We're trying to setup a dedicated operating system developers Q&A for StackExchange network.

Please come and show your support at
http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposa ... gw8dmbfjQ2
If you don't have a stackexchange user, create one and follow the project, vote on question, etc.

Thanks !
Ramon.

[dozniak]

I believe this is not a first time, and before it didn't work out well.

[stdcall]

pessimism will never get you far...

[Combuster]

And so does derailing your own thread...

And I'm optimistic about the future that this will be the primary OS help website and we're not getting a community split even though someone's making a serious attempt at doing so.

[Mikemk]

And I'm optimistic about the future that this will be the primary OS help website and we're not getting a community split even though someone's making a serious attempt at doing so.

lol.

The number of people interested in this field is so small that we don't even fill this site up. I doubt we need another.

[Love4Boobies]

Most questions there cannot even be answered because they are too stupid (I don't mean to offend when I say that) or too vague.

[cb88]

Well if you think they are so stupid by all means ask some of your own as examples.

The biggest problem with this site I can see is the fact that it is a forum... that leads to all the things forums generate including flamewars etc. A stackexchange is a better format since there aren't all these things you want to jump in and talk about like I am now ... rather you just answer useful questions though admittedly there are areas where that can happen it is more segregated.

[iansjack]

I think you have put your finger on why StackExchange is a less suitable site when it comes to OS development. Much of the time it is not just answers to simple questions that are required (the Wiki covers that), but more a matter of discussions and bouncing ideas off other people. The forum approach (although it can lead to the odd flamewar) is far more suitable for that than the question-and-answer approach. Often, in this particular field, there are no simple answers.

[Antti]

The forum approach (although it can lead to the odd flamewar) is far more suitable for that than the question-and-answer approach.

I would also like to point out that forum-like discussions are more appealing to members answering the questions. Just giving a plain answer to a plain question sounds like a paid job. Of course this can also happen in forum-like discussions but at least it is more likely have real active discussions. If that occasionally leads to flamewars, it is just a good thing. Like it or not, they are the most memorable parts we are writing in history books.