Components
I would like to suggest a new addition to the Utopian-io ecosystem. While searching projects, you can view the specific contributions associated with those projects which is a great feature. I think with the emphasis on open-source collaboration as well as contribution value, the addition of a way to request contributions and/or discuss project issues would significantly help in both regards. This idea popped into my head early on while using this website, but I wrote it off because it seemed redundant considering the various options already available to talk about projects in some form or another. I have since changed my mind after using the site for a while and checked if this was being discussed anywhere. If it has or if I've missed something fundamental, I apologize. Otherwise, I think a way for users to interact more easily and focus contributions to increase their value can breath some fresh air into this platform.
Proposal
My proposal is to include some extra buttons to the project search page that enables any user to request specific contributions and view what others want to know. As an extra, the issues and pull request discussions from Github could also be added as tabs in the new section. This may infringe on Github a bit too much considering the information would be obtained directly from there and only a tab away, but still, that information does pertain to Utopian-io and could make a difference in user experience.
Some problems which this proposal could try to alleviate are the strains of moderation since contributions submitted as answers would have a more objective review process. In the cases where the contribution is deemed short of compensation, it could simply be posted as a reply or as a link using the Utopian-io posting rights while still being easily seen and reviewed by the requester. If it is deemed proper to compensate, then a link would be created and posted under the request while the contribution is kept as a full post.
Mockups / Examples
One way to envision this suggestion is a pair of buttons added to the Projects search page:
After clicking the "View Community Request" button, here is a simple mock-up of the tabs:
The only other notable changes would be an "Answer" button next to the reply button of the request comment, and a request category that for now could simply handle basic questions, tutorials, and video tutorials.
Some more details that are a part of my proposal:
- If issues from github do not need to be loaded here, then a cross-check while writing a request which checks both Utopian-io and github issues for similarities could be nice, like the one already implemented for contributions.
- Community requests should not be eligible for Utopian-io upvote compensation, this section should be meant to transition Utopian-io away from abuse and more toward legitimately needed and valued collaboration.
- Contributions that are submitted as responses should be held up to tighter rules to prevent self-made request abuse.
- Requests that inevitably ask simpler questions could simply use the comment system with the accepted answer being whoever was upvoted last by the asker. These would not need to be endorsed, but would still be incentivized as per data from other question answering sites which do not compensate.
- After clicking on a request, there should be a button next to the reply button titled: "Answer". Upon clicking this button, the contributor would create a tutorial as usual, but a link would automatically get posted under the request and maybe a specific metadata attribute could also be added.
Benefits
The benefits include adding more value into Utopian-io contributions as requests would mean that the articles are specifically desired. It should also increase the amount of communication between users, other users, and developers as Utopian could then act as a functional hub for both parties. With a community/request section, the Steem blockchain could facilitate basic questions, discourse without expectations of compensation, and focused contribution to transition Utopian-io into a more user-friendly website easily accessible by a wider audience. This section could also couple well with task requests given by developers to better understand exactly what users want from their projects, with emphasis on more elaborate project use.
I hope this suggestion is sound and illustrates my ideas proficiently, and is received well because it could tie some important aspects of Utopian-io together. If the proposal is unfeasible or has already be discussed, pls let me know. Thanks for reading as always, hope it was a good one.
Posted on Utopian.io - Rewarding Open Source Contributors