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

[John Criswell via llvm-dev]

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.

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.

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 <mailto: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
>
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>
>
>
>
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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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