Disclaimer: When I say we in this post, I generally mean BYOND as a community.
So there are several types of people who use the Developer How-To and Developer Code Problems section of the Dev Forums. However, you can generally boil them down to this.
1. People who genuinely want to learn how to code
2. People who just want code to plug-n-chug into their game
3. People who help others.
3b. People that like to use the Dev Forums as an ego boost by quoting what the DM guide says. As if the person didn't check before. (Well, #2 probably didn't)
This post is directed at the people described in 1 and 2.
When you post in the Dev Forums, you're asking for a favor. Now, I'm not your Mother, but you should learn to use some manners in your post. This means being as courteous as you can to people trying to help. This includes:
1. Proper Grammar and Spelling
I cannot stress this point enough.
We understand that you may or may not be from England and that you might have problems posting in English (Which is not your Native Language). It's okay! We understand! However, not being English is no excuse to write some unintelligible post on the Dev Forums. People will do their best to help you. Just try to be as clear as you possibly can.
People who have spoken English since they were born have NO EXCUSE. You should know how to spell the words that you're using. If you don't, Google it. I know that you know how to do that. Most browsers have a spell checker that tells you if you're spelling something wrong. USE IT!
The reason that you have to use proper grammar and spelling is so that YOU ARE UNDERSTOOD. Do not be the guy that's asking your average North American the way to the bathroom in Chinese. You're not going to be understood. If you are not understood, you cannot be helped.
2. Explain the Issue
I don't care what that strange witch on the corner said. She can't read your mind, and neither can we. We don't know exactly what you were thinking when you posted. All we have to go on is what you post. So please, for the love of the Goddess, BE CLEAR IN WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
What you should assume when you post:
1. We don't know what you're trying to do.
2. We don't know what you're thinking.
3. We don't know the mechanics behind what you're trying to do.
Explain whatever you are trying to explain as precisely as you can think of. Here's an example.
Me: How do I make a teleport verb?
What everyone else is going to ask: What are you trying to teleport to? Coords? Mob? That highly attractive girlfriend that you keep 3 hrs away to make sure that no one steals her?
Now I have to explain what I meant, which means that it's going to take even longer to get the answer I want. Being precise is not a burden on you, it makes your life easier in the end.
3. Packets must be Delivered
No one is sitting on the forums waiting for you to post your questions. We have lives of our own. So if you think that your question is going to be answered in 10,20,30 minutes, odds are that you're wrong. Be patient. If you're working on a bugged feature that you need help on, work on something else. Go watch your favourite anime (which of course, is Mermaid Melody). Your answers will come in due time.
4. Some Assembly Required
Okay. Here's the deal. We are not going to make your game. We have our own lives and own projects to work on. We're taking time away from our life to help you work on your project. Which means that responses to your post are going to be brief, and they're probably not going to be a total working edit of your code. In fact, if at all possible, it's probably not going to have code at all in it.
I suppose that what I'm trying to say is, we will tell you what's wrong, we will explain it in a way that (hopefully) you'll understand, but we will not do the work for you.
Me: My teleport verb doesn't work! It just makes the teleporter disappear!
obj
Teleporter // Teleporter
Click() // When it is clicked
src.Move(locate(7,7,7)) // Teleport to Lucky map!
BYOND Dev Forums: Well the code is doing exactly what you're telling to do. It teleports the src (Teleporter) to 7,7,7. Try usr.
There are 2 ways you could go with this.
WRONG WAY
Me: What? Where do I put it?! TELL ME!!!!! *throws a big fit about how code is the only answer to my problems*
RIGHT WAY
Me: Ohhhhh. I see. So because the teleporter is the src (the thing being clicked) it teleports the teleporter instead of me! Now I imagine that I want the user (usr) to move. So if I swap src out and put usr in it's place... Voila! It works! Thanks for your help!
The main point of all that was:
CODE IS NOT THE ANSWER
If you are looking for someone to code for you, place a Classified Ad and pray (because people generally expect project lead to do something productive) If you are not willing to learn, you have no place asking on the forums. Does that hurt your feelings? I'm not sorry. That's just the way it is.
"Did you forget to bring an umbrella? Cuz it's raining COLD HARD FACTS in here!" (Albro said I had to use it!)
The Dev Forums are a place to LEARN to code, not a place to RECEIVE code. People will explain what you did wrong. Sometimes they'll add code to explain what they're saying a bit more clearly, and if you're really lucky, they'll know of a reference to point you (possibly an article or demo) that explains what you're trying to do so much better! And if you're really really lucky, there's a library out that handles it, so you wind up not having to code it anyway! (Disclaimer: May require some code to actually use in your game)
For Code Problems Users
Please, please, PLEASE use the DM tags! I'm begging you! They make your code so much easier to read!
DM tags are <dm> and </dm>
PUT YOUR CODE BETWEEN THOSE. IT MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS.
Some Friendly Reminders
1. Anyone who posts in your thread probably wants to help you. Do not insult them just because you don't understand them or because they didn't offer code. You should just ask them to clarify. The second you alienate the people trying to help is the second your game production time goes up drastically.
2. DM Tags - Use em
3. (This is for the people helping) - Please do not post if you don't know squat about the topic. You know who you are.
4. (This is for everyone) If you're just going to troll, GTFO. The Dev Forums are a place to help other people, not a place to boost your ego while harming someone elses.
5. (Probably the most important. Ties into #1) Bear in mind that you're not dealing with a computer. People have personalities. These personalities develop into their style of posting. So despite the fact that some people are going to post and you're going to be all, "He's being a jerk, he can't possibly be helping me." IGNORE THAT FEELING. Odds are, the people with the snarkiest personalities are going to be the people helping you the most. That guy yelling at you for using a rip? He cares. He wants you to learn the proper way and make good games. Don't confuse the attitude with the message.
This post was made with 5% Love, 25% humour, and 70% COLD HARD TRUTH.
