How To Ask Smart Questions

Although this article is particularly about asking hackers there are some universally relevant pearls here that are ring particularly true today:

http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

It's easiest to go for the quick fix when it comes to information gathering. It's apparent in the alarming number of people who's primary news source is social media, and it's highlighted nicely in this article about how Google Maps is making us dumber:

https://www.vocativ.com/418342/google-maps-gps-navigation/index.html

In particular, it's about exercising the gray cells to uncover the desired knowledge. This list of steps from the first article above is by no means exhaustive:

--- excerpt

Before You Ask

Before asking a technical question by e-mail, or in a newsgroup, or on a website chat board, do the following:

1. Try to find an answer by searching the archives of the forum or mailing list you plan to post to.
2. Try to find an answer by searching the Web.
3. Try to find an answer by reading the manual.
4. Try to find an answer by reading a FAQ.
5. Try to find an answer by inspection or experimentation.
6. Try to find an answer by asking a skilled friend.
7. If you're a programmer, try to find an answer by reading the source code.

---

Of course, sometimes speed is critical. But a little forethought and investigation will help make your question easier and faster to answer.

And since I see the world through TDI-colored specs, I going to add that

• You include 'java' to any searches involving TDI research and troubleshooting (step 2)
• The AL Debugger is a great tool for step 5
• The TDI user forum is where many of your skilled friends can be found* :)

*Link here: www.tdi-users.org