Seeking recommendations for federated Q&A forums on Linux and software issues

[codersupreme@programming.dev]

I'm looking for federated Q&A forums specifically focused on Linux and software-related issues. I'm not referring to platforms like NodeBB, Discourse, Lemmy, Kbin, PieFed, etc. I'm asking for specific instances that focus on Q&A about Linux and other software related issues. I know of some popular non-federated platforms like Stack Exchange, AskUbuntu, Arch Linux Forum, etc. But I'm particularly interested in federated sites.

If you have any recommendations for such forums, please share them! Thank you!

[kierunkowy74@piefed.social]

• Forum.linux.it from Italy, especially Assistenza Linux category,
• https://linux-nerds.org in German, but it is not active that much,
• Forum Internet, Czas Działać! from Poland, not specifically Linux, but rather software privacy and consumer rights (made by a privacy rights advocate organisation)

[rimu@piefed.social]

I've been thinking about adding Q&A features to PieFed for a while... Initially just the ability to set a comment as the solution to a post and then give that comment more emphasis in the UI. What else do we need? Maybe display the number of solution comments on peoples profile.

[davy_jones@lemmy.dbzer0.com]

Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend adding the feature to mark comments as solutions. Websites like StackOverflow often have many answers that aren’t the best marked as solutions, and I believe platforms like Codidact have learned from those mistakes.

Reputation is a key factor that motivates people to contribute answers. However, StackOverflow suffers from over-moderation due to the reputation gained from moderating. I’m curious about how Codidact has addressed this issue.

Instead, consider allowing users to mark questions as solved rather than comments. Implementing a voting system similar to Slashdot, where users can categorize responses as helpful, funny, or other descriptors, might be more effective. This way, contributors are incentivized to help, as they can gain reputation points. Then a leaderboard showcasing the most helpful contributors on a weekly or monthly basis could further encourage participation.

Feature	Description	Benefits
User Profiles with Reputation Points	Allow users to earn points for asking questions, providing answers, and receiving upvotes.	Encourages participation and rewards knowledgeable contributors.
Question Marking System	Enable users to mark questions as solved, rather than comments.	Simplifies the process of identifying resolved queries.
Voting System	Implement a voting mechanism for answers (e.g., helpful, insightful, etc.).	Helps surface the best answers and encourages quality contributions.
Leaderboards	Create weekly or monthly leaderboards showcasing top contributors.	Fosters competition and motivates users to engage more actively.
Categorization and Tagging	Allow users to categorize questions and tag them for easier navigation.	Improves searchability and organization of content.
Search Functionality	Develop a robust search feature that allows users to find questions and answers quickly.	Enhances user experience by making information easily accessible.

[sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone]

Matrix has "threads" but that is cursed. >:(

[julian@activitypub.space]

Hey, yeah, please tell the Linux Nerds people to turn on federation!

Tell them Julian from NodeBB will help them get started 🤓