[llvm-dev] We really need more community involvement with GSoC

[James Molloy via llvm-dev]

I think the idea of dedicated "newbie hour - no question is too basic" drop
in sessions is fantastic. +1 for that.

On Sat, 19 Mar 2016 at 11:26 Bruce Hoult via llvm-dev <
llvm-dev at lists.llvm.org> wrote:

> I work for one of those "top companies", but LLVM is only one of the
> back-ends I'm working with so I have only pretty narrow knowledge of it
> (but ok knowledge of compilers in general, I hope).
>
> I'm trying to post easy to understand answers to those beginner questions
> when I have time (there was one yesterday, about constant evaluating things
> like sqrt() in the front end).
>
> One concern I have is that although these basic questions often have no
> answers on the mailing list, any number of people might well have replied
> to them privately, in an effort to both be helpful to the questioner, and
> also to "maintain the signal to noise ratio" of the mailing list.
>
> Of course I don't know if this is really happening or not, but if it is
> then the wasted duplication of effort is probably worse than a few extra
> messages on the list. Which is why I copy the list as well.
>
> The "office hours" idea would definitely help with all this, if beginners
> can in fact be encouraged to use it.
>
> I'd probably use it myself, as I'm a novice to many aspects of LLVM.
>
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 18, 2016 at 3:47 PM, vivek pandya via llvm-dev <
> llvm-dev at lists.llvm.org> wrote:
>
>> Note : I do not mean to compare or criticize any organization. This is
>> based on my experience.
>>
>> Dear Community,
>>
>> I have subscribed llvm-dev list for last 6 months and I follow most of
>> the thread when it makes sense to me. I have observed that some times some
>> mails do not get any kind of response. Mostly novice students and some one
>> trying to use LLVM in the research have many questions.
>> I respect all community members and I understand that working for top
>> companies or colleges keep them very busy. So when I go on IRC same things
>> happens ( I keep my self up late night to sync with timezone so I get many
>> people to ask on IRC).
>>  Personally if I stretch my self and read some older mail chains, I am
>> able to get answers to my questions 80% of time, but some time I just get
>> stuck and some times to understand output and "why it has happen so" a
>> novice may require help from you people.
>>
>> I have just one suggestion that is not particular to GSoC but it applies
>> in general. Actually Drupal.org uses this idea. See this
>> https://www.drupal.org/core-office-hours
>> Every Monday and Wednesday they keep a session on IRC  (just textual
>> chat) dedicated to novice student may be an hour long or so. To keep main
>> channel undisturbed we may have a separate channel. (or slack.com )  The
>> time chosen for both days are very different so that they can cover may
>> time zones. 2 or 3 experienced community members attends this session and
>> answers to the each kind of questions from participant. This will help
>> students and researchers very much. Specially if they are not able to
>> progress by their own.
>> I have been benefited from this on Drupal. LLVM is more complex code base
>> than Drupal. And I believe that your 60 minutes may save their days.
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Vivek
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> llvm-dev at lists.llvm.org
>> http://lists.llvm.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/llvm-dev
>>
>>
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