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I thank authors and maintainers and I expect others do too. I just don't do it publicly. I've thanked authors of small projects which are unique and useful to

by tomxor 9y ago

I thank authors and maintainers and I expect others do too. I just don't do it publicly. I've thanked authors of small projects which are unique and useful to me just by dropping a short email (not en masse) - Not out of some obligation, but because it's an encouraging thing to receive. I want them to know someone is finding utility in what they have done and appreciates it enough to tell them. I don't think the larger projects are in need of this though, it would just become noise. This is probably just the cynical misanthrope in me speaking but I can't help but think it looks more like a popularity contest when it's public like this... not that i'm suggesting it could be done any other way for large projects, but then, who is going to read all of them if it's a large project?

hartator 9y ago
I maintain a fairly popular repository, and it does brighten my day when I receive an email like this! Unfortunately, you are getting more random malformated issues (ie. “DOESN’T WORK. WHEN FIX”) than thanks!
- dictum 9y ago
  Sometimes even a well-formatted, respectful issue feels like a thank you.
  - anarazel 9y ago
    > Sometimes even a well-formatted, respectful issue feels like a thank you. Very much so. I like if people find actual issues in software I helped write and report them. At least if there's some information to go on, or friendly asks for pointers what information to provide. It's the "BROKEN! NEED FIX URGENTLY" without further information that's insulting. I'm even OK with somebody expressing urgency, as long as it's clear they're willing to invest enough time themselves.
- tomxor 9y ago
  Please don't feel disheartened by those types of issues. They seem to pop up on all kinds of projects after some threshold of popularity. I haven't originated any popular repos myself, but of the few I have contributed to, these types of issues can be quite common. One of the projects is a math library and a swear 1/2 issues are people discovering for the first time how floating point math behaves and complaining profusely that it's the authors fault. If you can gain some contributors to help you do the weeding in your issues list it can help with your sanity greatly. This is one feature that I wish hosting platforms like github/gitlab etc had to help authors and maintainers: ability to grant issue management permissions (separately from full repo access).
  - sytse 9y ago
    > This is one feature that I wish hosting platforms like github/gitlab etc had to help authors and maintainers: ability to grant issue management permissions (separately from full repo access). You'll be happy to learn that in GitLab a reporter can manage issue but not the repository already. https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/permissions.html https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/permissions.html

by tomxor 9y ago

hartator 9y ago

I maintain a fairly popular repository, and it does brighten my day when I receive an email like this! Unfortunately, you are getting more random malformated issues (ie. “DOESN’T WORK. WHEN FIX”) than thanks!

dictum 9y ago
Sometimes even a well-formatted, respectful issue feels like a thank you.
- anarazel 9y ago
  > Sometimes even a well-formatted, respectful issue feels like a thank you. Very much so. I like if people find actual issues in software I helped write and report them. At least if there's some information to go on, or friendly asks for pointers what information to provide. It's the "BROKEN! NEED FIX URGENTLY" without further information that's insulting. I'm even OK with somebody expressing urgency, as long as it's clear they're willing to invest enough time themselves.
tomxor 9y ago
Please don't feel disheartened by those types of issues. They seem to pop up on all kinds of projects after some threshold of popularity. I haven't originated any popular repos myself, but of the few I have contributed to, these types of issues can be quite common. One of the projects is a math library and a swear 1/2 issues are people discovering for the first time how floating point math behaves and complaining profusely that it's the authors fault. If you can gain some contributors to help you do the weeding in your issues list it can help with your sanity greatly. This is one feature that I wish hosting platforms like github/gitlab etc had to help authors and maintainers: ability to grant issue management permissions (separately from full repo access).
- sytse 9y ago
  > This is one feature that I wish hosting platforms like github/gitlab etc had to help authors and maintainers: ability to grant issue management permissions (separately from full repo access). You'll be happy to learn that in GitLab a reporter can manage issue but not the repository already. https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/permissions.html https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/permissions.html