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

[Philip Reames via llvm-dev]

On 03/20/2016 12:20 PM, John Criswell via llvm-dev wrote:
> On 3/19/16 6:26 AM, Bruce Hoult via llvm-dev 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.
>
> When I reply to a question, I reply to the list.  That ensures that a) 
> everyone knows if a question has been answered and b) it allows others 
> with a similar question to see the answer.
Same.
>
> On a side note, I think our FAQ may need some updating; we've gotten 
> similar questions over the years which I should have added to a FAQ 
> but (to date) have not.
Wait, we have a FAQ?  (Mostly joking, I know if it, just never seen 
anyone reference it.)

Should we try to encourage folks to update the FAQ and reply with a link 
rather than directly answering questions on llvm-dev?
>
> Regards,
>
> John Criswell
>
>>
>> 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 <http://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
>>
>>     _______________________________________________
>>     LLVM Developers mailing list
>>     llvm-dev at lists.llvm.org <mailto:llvm-dev at lists.llvm.org>
>>     http://lists.llvm.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/llvm-dev
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
> -- 
> John Criswell
> Assistant Professor
> Department of Computer Science, University of Rochester
> http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/criswell
>
>
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