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+---- Thread: [Java] How to ask for help in the java forum (/showthread.php?tid=840089)
How to ask for help in the java forum - Ben121 - Nov 22, 2010
The quality of threads in this section has been declining for some time, so I have brought this thread back to life with quite a few changes.
This is a guide of how to ask for help, this will enable you to get the help you need as quickly as possible. However it is a two-way street, people aren't going to help you if you aren't willing to learn, if you follow the steps in this guide your problem will be solved.
Firstly some answers to some VERY common questions:
"Can someone suggest a good book"
-Here is a link to a thread with a lot of e-books: https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=486603
-Oracle have a very good set of tutorials here
"Can someone suggest some good video tutorials"
-A lot of people rate the Stanford Videos, a playlist can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=84A56BC7F4A1F852
-Although TheNewBoston seems to be rather popular, he does have some rather bad habits, which can take a while to rid once you have got used to them, so we recommend you stay away from his videos.
"Can you do my homework for me its due in an hour"
-No
"Does class [insert class here] have a method [insert method here]
-If you have need information about a class, the best place for information is the official java docs, which can be found on the oracle website here.
"Cannot find javac..."
-Here is a link to a tutorial on correctly setting up your path to allow you to use the java tools from the command line: https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=212591. Remember to download the latest version of the JDK, a download list can be found here.
Other Informative Threads:
-I will update this as I find good threads, feel free to suggest some. This is a current sticky in this forum: https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=293412, but it hasn't been updated since November 2010.
Example format: Spoiler (Click to View)
A little guide to how not to make people mad and flame you when asking for help. It is advisable to search for similar requests on the first few pages, if nothing is similar to your problem or yours is a bit more complex then make a new thread.
1. Make sure you are not looking for help with JavaScript, Java and JavaScript are NOT the same. Help for javascript can be found here: Web Development
2. Clearly describe the problem, write using proper english with good spelling and punctuation, this will help people take you seriously. It might be easier for you to break down the problem into steps and label which parts you can do, which parts you need a little hint or clue, and which parts you cannot do.
3. Try and show some attempt at trying to solve your problem, whether it be some code (pseudo/java) or how you think you could solve the problem even if you are not sure how to do it programmatically, this lets people know that you have tried yourself, more often than not you will only need little tweaks to your attempt to get them working. If you genuinely have no idea at least try to attempt part of the problem. Remember to use code tags. Comment your code out so we know what the hell is going on, and try to use well named variables.
4. When posting code try to stick as closely to the Java Coding Conventions as possible, this improves the readability of your code.
5. Don't ask people to PM/IM/Email you for the problem, that's annoying.
6. Be polite, say please and thanks, it makes people know that you want their help. If you are nice to them 9 times out of 10 they will be nice in return.
7. If you are posting for help with an exception, if you are unable to find the solution on google, or by examining the stack trace, post the exception, and the full code, and then the line on which the exception has been thrown.
8. Re-read your post before you submit it, make sure you have made everything clear.
If you follow those guidelines you should get some help (at least from me anyway :)).
Ben
* - Fizzix - Nov 22, 2010
5. Use Google before you even think about posting.
6. Don't be an idiot. Make sure you think out your post, and the re-read it several times before you post it.
* - Ben121 - Nov 22, 2010
Added them to the list :)
* - Fizzix - Nov 22, 2010
(Nov 22, 2010 09:51 AM)Ben121 Wrote: Added them to the list :)
Now if only we could get this stickied...
* - MrZander - Nov 22, 2010
7. Make sure you are not looking for help with JavaScript, Java and JavaScript are NOT the same.
Now it's perfect.
* - Ben121 - Nov 22, 2010
(Nov 22, 2010 10:40 AM)MrZander Wrote: 7. Make sure you are not looking for help with JavaScript, Java and JavaScript are NOT the same.
Now it's perfect.
Can't believe I forgot that one! Thanks
* - Fizzix - Nov 22, 2010
(Nov 22, 2010 10:40 AM)MrZander Wrote: 7. Make sure you are not looking for help with JavaScript, Java and JavaScript are NOT the same.
Now it's perfect.
That completely slipped my mind as I was so excited someone made a thread like this.
* - BeezyB - Nov 22, 2010
Search HF for similar topics before you post a new thread as your answer might be within a searched thread.
* - Ben121 - Nov 25, 2010
Added the above suggestion, thanks.
Just keeping this on the front page until it (hopefully) gets stickied :)
* - Ī”aragon - Nov 25, 2010
Use code tags (
Code
Enter code here* - Ben121 - Nov 25, 2010
Ah yes thanks, I meant to put that in there somewhere but it slipped my mind, adding it now.
* - BeezyB - Nov 26, 2010
(Nov 25, 2010 12:46 PM)Ben121 Wrote: Ah yes thanks, I meant to put that in there somewhere but it slipped my mind, adding it now.
No problem. I hope this thread gets stickied, it has a lot of valuable content.
* - HackRain - Nov 27, 2010
i agree, i am very new in this department, and this guide was helpful to me. i haven't posted any java questions at all here because i realize anything i need to know is with experience, i have to read up and learn.
id like to see this post stickied also .
* - MindOfLogic - Nov 27, 2010
I like the list except the google part. This place is for discussing and helping others in Java. If we told people to google everything they ask, then why not just put a link redirecting to google?
Like I said, all the others are good ideas. I think that showing an attempt should be mandatory though.
* - Ben121 - Nov 28, 2010
(Nov 27, 2010 10:00 PM)BuhRock Wrote: I like the list except the google part. This place is for discussing and helping others in Java. If we told people to google everything they ask, then why not just put a link redirecting to google?
Like I said, all the others are good ideas. I think that showing an attempt should be mandatory though.
Thanks for your feedback. What is meant by the google part is that some problems have a very simple answer (such as like how do I split a string using a common deliminator) and are answered numerous times on the web. What we would prefer is for people to post any code they find which they don't understand and we then help them go through it. I guess it only applies to the more basic problems, as more complex problems tend to be more specific and therefore less likely to be solved online somewhere. I'll update it making it a bit more clear.