Show HN: Ask a Dev

#1

Post by tshedor » Tue, Feb 06, 2018, 3:48 PM UTC

Re: Show HN: Ask a Dev

#2

Post by ForrestN » Tue, Feb 06, 2018, 4:10 PM UTC

Nice work. Just a note to say I’d go twice a month if there were events in Los Angeles! I run a small tech-centric nonprofit and could definitely use this kind of help exactly.

Re: Show HN: Ask a Dev

#3

Post by tapanjk » Tue, Feb 06, 2018, 4:20 PM UTC

ForrestN wrote: post #2

Nice work. Just a note to say I’d go twice a month if there were events in Los Angeles! I run a small tech-centric nonprofit and could definitely use this kind of help exactly.

I would go if there were something similar in Bangalore.

Re: Show HN: Ask a Dev

#4

Post by jermaustin1 » Tue, Feb 06, 2018, 4:21 PM UTC

I think this would also be great in NYC as well. And if it's registered as a true 501c3 charity, there are plenty of resources in the city to get grants and community center space for the lectures and such.

This concept has amazing "franchising" opportunity.

Re: Show HN: Ask a Dev

#5

Post by tekkk » Tue, Feb 06, 2018, 4:24 PM UTC

A nice idea, would have loved to have a mentor while I was coding my first Javascript mudball. Only problem I can see is clearly the human factor eg. there can be only one mentor mentoring one person at the time. (unless you're doing lectures of course)

I think the biggest thing mentors can influence on is the culture of doing things and I myself have always been fascinated by the level of proficiency some older programmers have. It seems so natural to them which makes me want to try to emulate it by doing things better and learning more. Best role models I have had have been funny, cheerful and smart people who loved what they do and taken pride in doing things right.

Re: Show HN: Ask a Dev

#6

Post by badrequest » Tue, Feb 06, 2018, 4:35 PM UTC

Would absolutely love to do this in Austin. :)

Re: Show HN: Ask a Dev

#7

Post by harmmonica » Tue, Feb 06, 2018, 4:38 PM UTC

ForrestN wrote: post #2

Nice work. Just a note to say I’d go twice a month if there were events in Los Angeles! I run a small tech-centric nonprofit and could definitely use this kind of help exactly.

Forrest, side question, does your non-profit have a website? Can you share if so? If no site, good way to get in touch with you? Been looking for volunteer opportunities in LA.

Re: Show HN: Ask a Dev

#8

Post by snow_mac » Tue, Feb 06, 2018, 4:48 PM UTC

I'll run one of these in Downtown Denver Colorado!

Re: Show HN: Ask a Dev

#9

Post by cpt1138 » Tue, Feb 06, 2018, 4:50 PM UTC

I think IRC does half or more of this. Usually there are channels for specific things with a lot of varied experience and expertise. For instance in the #xml channel on Freenode, some very heavy hitters in the XML world frequent the channel. It also allows you to contribute back for the more basic questions that might get asked.

I like the personal contact in the abstract but it suffers from huge latency (have to wait a long time for an event and my questions probably don't last that long), and doesn't scale across domains e.g. In the #drools channel, I can talk to the guy that implemented the Defeasible logic decision plugin.

Re: Show HN: Ask a Dev

#10

Post by amandamcg » Tue, Feb 06, 2018, 4:57 PM UTC

ForrestN wrote: post #2

Nice work. Just a note to say I’d go twice a month if there were events in Los Angeles! I run a small tech-centric nonprofit and could definitely use this kind of help exactly.

Learn teach code hosts a lot of intro / study session type classes around LA, not exactly the same format but they are helpful. https://learnteachcode.org