You can try, perfect for this https://officehours.com/
Open source projects should run office hours
71–80 of 279 posts
Re: Open source projects should run office hours
#72Never heard of "office hours" used this way. Must be a US thing.
Its a good idea. Schedule a session with an expert or someone who is working on the thing you're interested in / supporting.
I'd definitely link it to money so that the expert doesn't get overwhelmed / (ab)used by time wasters.
Re: Open source projects should run office hours
#73FreeBSD runs office hours pretty regularly now.
Re: Open source projects should run office hours
#74Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's kind of neat observing the same economics that drive Instagram influencers also drive sharing logical thinking. I wonder if both sides of the human brain behave the same way? (organic v. ogic). Actually it's far more likely that social effects are the cause, and social effects benefit both organic runaway trains as well as logical runaway trains.
On the other hand, $250 was probably way too little money. I question the wisdom of helping people who are professional be-at-the-right-place-at-the-right-timers. That includes people working for giant companies messaging open source maintainers, or any number of total inequities.
What if you want a referral into one of those giant companies someday? Can't hurt to know a guy...
Re: Open source projects should run office hours
#75Re: Open source projects should run office hours
#76Expecting maintainers to establish regular hours is basically asking them to work a job with no pay
Re: Open source projects should run office hours
#77I think a lot of the comments are concluding from the title that open source maintainers should be working on the projects during office hours. That is not what the article is suggesting. From the article - >> anyone can book a 25 minute conversation with me on a Friday to talk about the project. I’m interested in talking to people who are using Datasette, or who are considering using it, or who just want to have a c…
I thought "office hours" is a common term in universities?
I went to University in Australia and I don’t recall this term being in use. (Could be my faulty memory, though. It was a long time ago!)
I’m still a little puzzled by exactly what is meant when people and orgs offer an “office hours” concept.
I’d love a clear but concise definition that’s not simply “like office hours in university”.
Re: Open source projects should run office hours
#78I hate articles like this. Or maybe it's just the headlines but it follows a set formula:
1)Person X finds a way of doing something that works for them.
2)Person X writes an article either saying outright, or implying, that this is how it should be done for everyone
About the only universal statement I've every found useful is the one that says "Universal statements should always be treated with skepticism".
Re: Open source projects should run office hours
#79OSS devs rely on donations, but office hours would be a great paid service. The demand for OSS is so high, depending on the centrality of your library, you could easily charge $10-$100 an hour for this. People always expect free Github replies and responses to PRs and issues. But it is almost taboo to expect free consultation and office hours. Great way to make some money if you have developed a popular library!
Does anyone have an experience to share how to organize such paid support session online and get paid?
Re: Open source projects should run office hours
#80Earlier quoted context omitted.
I thought "office hours" is a common term in universities?
I went to University in Australia and I don’t recall this term being in use. (Could be my faulty memory, though. It was a long time ago!) I’m still a little puzzled by exactly what is meant when people and orgs offer an “office hours” concept. I’d love a clear but concise definition that’s not simply “like office hours in university”.
I’ve come across it in various largely-Americentric writing and figured out the concept, but yeah, it’s not something I’ve seen practised in Australia.
It means “I will always be available in my office during such-and-such hours every week, for anyone to come and talk to.” I think it’s normally a walk-in affair rather than involving making appointments. First come, first serve, but now you don’t have to go through the bother of making appointments and such and comparing your timetables. Makes life easier for both parties. This article is talking of making appointments, but most of the benefits still remain of having a known block of availability.