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Too bad; I've enjoyed running my free CS/programming Helpout [1]. Besides the decline in user growth that Google mentions, here are the major problems I saw wh

Too bad; I've enjoyed running my free CS/programming Helpout [1]. Besides the decline in user growth that Google mentions, here are the major problems I saw while using it: * hosting a free Helpout meant dealing with constant no-shows [2]. I started charging $1/hour and then refunding it to folks who showed up. * attendees of free Helpouts were rarely prepared * the scheduling system was very limited (especially compared to Google Calendar) That said, when everything worked, it was an amazing experience. [1] https://helpouts.google.com/103350848301234480355/ls/a344f06e06d4d5db https://helpouts.google.com/103350848301234480355/ls/a344f06... [2] https://simon.codes/2013/11/07/google-helpouts-first-impressions.html https://simon.codes/2013/11/07/google-helpouts-first-impress...

igorgue 12y ago
How are you gonna do it now? I have a friend who I help but I really don't have time. Also, why did you do it for free? I've found when I help somebody for 10 mins or so it usually gets me in the mood of programming my own stuff.
- simon_weber 12y ago
  > How are you gonna do it now? I'm not sure. Ideally I'd have a site where I can put my email and encourage folks to write me. This has worked better than video chat for me, since: 1) folks rubber duck [1] themselves while writing, so they ask better questions. 2) it's asynchronous, so we don't have to find a matching slot in our schedules (and don't commit to an amount of time beforehand) I've redirected all my Helpouts schedule requests to email recently and it's worked well. > Also, why did you do it for free? I just never considered charging. I don't think I could do so and feel good about it with the amount of free help I've received (irc, SO, hacker school, college...). [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_duck_debugging http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_duck_debugging
spiritplumber 12y ago
* hosting a free Helpout meant dealing with constant no-shows [2]. I started charging $1/hour and then refunding it to folks who showed up. You've solved the MOOC attendance problem, with this.
- Omniusaspirer 12y ago
  It's a pretty classic strategy, relatives of mine have utilized it with tenants that had problems paying rent on time. "Your rent is now $800 instead of $600, but if you pay it by the 3rd then we'll refund you $200."
  - developer1 12y ago
    One word: illegal. Sounds like a smart way to incentivize, but those relatives of yours are seriously risking the worst type of landlord-tenant conflict. If the tenant can provide some form of proof of this extortion... it will not have been worth the attempt.
hu_me 12y ago
you could try codementor.io they offer a similar service but more suited to cs. Even offer introductory free minutes

igorgue 12y ago

How are you gonna do it now? I have a friend who I help but I really don't have time. Also, why did you do it for free? I've found when I help somebody for 10 mins or so it usually gets me in the mood of programming my own stuff.

simon_weber 12y ago
> How are you gonna do it now? I'm not sure. Ideally I'd have a site where I can put my email and encourage folks to write me. This has worked better than video chat for me, since: 1) folks rubber duck [1] themselves while writing, so they ask better questions. 2) it's asynchronous, so we don't have to find a matching slot in our schedules (and don't commit to an amount of time beforehand) I've redirected all my Helpouts schedule requests to email recently and it's worked well. > Also, why did you do it for free? I just never considered charging. I don't think I could do so and feel good about it with the amount of free help I've received (irc, SO, hacker school, college...). [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_duck_debugging http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_duck_debugging

spiritplumber 12y ago

* hosting a free Helpout meant dealing with constant no-shows [2]. I started charging $1/hour and then refunding it to folks who showed up. You've solved the MOOC attendance problem, with this.

Omniusaspirer 12y ago
It's a pretty classic strategy, relatives of mine have utilized it with tenants that had problems paying rent on time. "Your rent is now $800 instead of $600, but if you pay it by the 3rd then we'll refund you $200."
- developer1 12y ago
  One word: illegal. Sounds like a smart way to incentivize, but those relatives of yours are seriously risking the worst type of landlord-tenant conflict. If the tenant can provide some form of proof of this extortion... it will not have been worth the attempt.

hu_me 12y ago

you could try codementor.io they offer a similar service but more suited to cs. Even offer introductory free minutes