+1 to StackOverflow first, though I'm not important for Beam Python users. Udi has a good point about discussions. If an SO question has a lot of back and forth, or no response, then it is good to point to other channels the user might try next.
Kenn On Fri, Sep 6, 2019 at 2:20 PM Robert Bradshaw <rober...@google.com> wrote: > I would also suggest SO as the best alternative, especially due to its > indexability and searchability. If discussion is needed, the users > list (my preference) or slack can be good options, and ideally the > resolution is brought back to SO. > > On Fri, Sep 6, 2019 at 1:10 PM Udi Meiri <eh...@google.com> wrote: > > > > I don't go on Slack, but I will be notified of mentions. It has the > advantage of being an informal space. > > SO can feel just as intimidating as the mailing list IMO. Unlike the > others, it doesn't lend itself very well to discussions (you can only post > comments or answers). > > > > > > > > On Fri, Sep 6, 2019 at 10:55 AM Pablo Estrada <pabl...@google.com> > wrote: > >> > >> Hello all, > >> > >> THE SITUATION: > >> It was brought to my attention recently that Python users in Slack are > not getting much support, because most of the Beam Python-knowledgeable > people are not on Slack. Unfortunately, in the Beam site, we do refer > people to Slack for assistance[1]. > >> > >> Java users do receive reasonable support, because there are enough Beam > Java-knowledgeable people online, and willing to answer. > >> > >> On the other hand, at Google we do have a number of people who are > responsible to answer questions on StackOverflow[2], and we do our best to > answer promptly. I think we do a reasonable job overall. > >> > >> SO LET'S DISCUSS: > >> How should we advise the community to ask questions about Beam? > >> - Perhaps we should encourage people to try the mailing list first > >> - Perhaps we should encourage people to try StackOverflow first > >> - Perhaps we should write a bot that encourages Python users to go to > StackOverflow > >> - something else? > >> > >> My personal opinion is that a mailing list is not great: It's > intimidating, it does not provide great indexing or searchability. > >> > >> WHAT I PROPOSE: > >> > >> I think explicitly encouraging everyone to go to StackOverflow first > will be the best alternative: It's indexed, searchable, less intimidating > than the mailing list. We can add that they can try Slack as well - without > any guarantees. > >> > >> What do others think? > >> -P. > >> > >> [1] https://beam.apache.org/community/contact-us/ > >> [2] https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/apache-beam?tab=Newest >
