Be Smart. Ask Smart. Get More Smart.

Be Smart With Tech

In software engineering, the ability to ask smart questions is as important as technical proficiency. A smart question demonstrates that the asker has attempted to understand a problem, did his own research, gives only the necessary/relative details, and can effectively communicate his issue. This speeds up the problem solving process, increases effective collaboration, and creates a culture of efficiency and respect within the tech community. Poorly framed questions often waste time, create needless complications, are often too vague, invite unproductive responses, and may damage a developer’s credibility.

What is Smart vs What Isn’t

Stack Overflow is a Q&A site for programmers and is a great resource for anyone who may have issues with code or who may simply be looking to learn more about other people’s problems and problem solving processes. Here I was able to find an example of what a smart question is:

Q: How do I delete a Git branch locally and remotely?

Failed Attempts to Delete a Remote Branch:

$ git branch -d remotes/origin/bugfix
error: branch 'remotes/origin/bugfix' not found.

$ git branch -d origin/bugfix
error: branch 'origin/bugfix' not found.

$ git branch -rd origin/bugfix
Deleted remote branch origin/bugfix (was 2a14ef7).

$ git push
Everything up-to-date

$ git pull
From github.com:gituser/gitproject

* [new branch] bugfix -> origin/bugfix
Already up-to-date.

How do I properly delete the remotes/origin/bugfix branch both locally and remotely?

This question is smart because it includes precise details of the problem, documents failed attempts, provides the relevant environment (Git commands and error messages), and explicitly asks for clarification on the correct approach. It shows prior effort and invites helpful, detailed responses. There are also some very not-so-smart questions as well, take the following for example:

Q: Help! My code doesn’t work!!!

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
printf("Hello World!")
return 0;
}

It says there’s an error but I don’t know what to do. Please fix it for me!!!

This question lacks context, fails to document what the asker has tried, provides no error messages, makes unreasonable demands, uninformative title, and doesn’t explain the goal of the program. Of course this is a bit of an extreme example that seems unrealistic, but it works as an outline and the perfect example of what not to do.

Good Questions Mean Good Answers

One way you can tell the quality of the question is the quality of the answers. Smart questions tend to receive focused, explanatory answers that clarify the issue and educate the asker. Take the following reply from our previous smart question:

A:The short answers
If you want more detailed explanations of the following commands, then see the long answers in the next section.

Deleting a remote branch
git push origin --delete <branch>  # Git version 1.7.0 or newer
git push origin -d <branch>        # Shorter version (Git 1.7.0 or newer)
git push origin :<branch>          # Git versions older than 1.7.0
Deleting a local branch
git branch --delete <branch>
git branch -d <branch> # Shorter version
git branch -D <branch> # Force-delete un-merged branches
Deleting a local remote-tracking branch
git branch --delete --remotes <remote>/<branch>
git branch -dr <remote>/<branch> # Shorter

git fetch <remote> --prune # Delete multiple obsolete remote-tracking branches
git fetch <remote> -p      # Shorter

The long answer: there are three different branches to delete!

[The answer reply goes on to give a long and detailed explanation of the concepts surrounding the topic as well as why the solutions work with visual aids/images]

The question received a highly effective answer that first provides a concise set of commands to delete a branch locally and remotely, then explains the reasoning behind each step. It highlights the distinction between local branches, remote branches, and local remote-tracking branches, and gives additional strategies like pruning obsolete remote-tracking branches, not to mention going above and beyond by adding various visuals and pictures to help with abstract ideas. This approach not only solves the immediate problem but teaches the asker how to manage branches effectively in the future.

Conversely, not-so-smart questions often elicit dismissive or sarcastic replies, such as “RTFM” or vague guesses, which neither resolve the problem nor provide lasting knowledge.

Insights and Conclusions

My analysis of smart questions has given me valuable insight on how to best find solutions to my problems when getting help. Providing context, documenting attempts, and describing the problem clearly makes it more likely that others can help effectively.Additionally, respecting community norms and communicating clearly fosters collaboration and helps maintain the overall productivity of technical forums. Poorly framed questions disrupt this and reduce the likelihood of receiving useful guidance.

Ultimately, asking smart questions is integral to effective problem solving and professional growth in software engineering. Questions that provide context, demonstrate research, and clarify the problem encourage constructive responses and contribute to communal learning. Responses that combine concise instructions with clear explanations, like the Git branch deletion answer, maximize both efficiency and understanding. Practicing smart questioning not only improves one’s own problem-solving skills but also strengthens the broader technical community. If you wish to visit the original StackOverflow question and see all the amazing and detailed answers here is the link: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2003505/how-do-i-delete-a-git-branch-locally-and-remotely