dw_dev | Development Poll

Out of curiosity, I'd like to do a checkpoint dev poll once a quarter or so, so

mark and I can identify what we can improve in the process and pat ourselves on the back for things that we're doing well. :)

This poll is for people who have done any sort of work on the DW codebase. It's not just limited to people who have finished/submitted patches -- if you've downloaded/installed the code at all, or if you have a Dreamhack installation, fill out this poll even if you haven't finished or submitted a patch yet!

If you've got any feedback you'd like to provide about the process, or if you want to clarify your answers in any way, you can comment here, or email me and

mark privately at the_bosses@dwscoalition.org.

Poll #703

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: Just the Poll Creator, participants: 29

Your development-related history with Dreamwidth so far is (check all that apply):

I've contributed major features/functionality
5 (17.9%)

I've contributed major bugfixes
5 (17.9%)

I've contributed minor features/functionality
15 (53.6%)

I've contributed minor bugfixes
21 (75.0%)

I've contributed a single patch
3 (10.7%)

I've contributed a few patches
11 (39.3%)

I've contributed a number of patches
11 (39.3%)

I've written patches that haven't been committed (for any reason)
12 (42.9%)

I've done some tinkering, but haven't finished a patch yet
4 (14.3%)

Before starting dev work with Dreamwidth, your perl experience could be summed up as:

Heavily experienced with perl
4 (14.3%)

Moderately familiar with perl
10 (35.7%)

Vaguely familiar with perl
8 (28.6%)

Had no clue about perl
6 (21.4%)

Before starting dev work with Dreamwidth, your Unix experience could be summed up as:

Heavily experienced with Unix
10 (35.7%)

Moderately familiar with Unix
11 (39.3%)

Vaguely familiar with Unix
4 (14.3%)

Had no clue about Unix
3 (10.7%)

You do your development work:

On your own private server
5 (18.5%)

On a Dreamhack installation
22 (81.5%)

On something I've forgotten to think about
1 (3.7%)

On a scale of 1 (very) to 5 (not at all), how helpful/useful/approachable do you find other DW volunteer developers to be?

Mean: 1.76 Median: 1 Std. Dev 1.16

1		17 (58.6%)
2		7 (24.1%)
3		2 (6.9%)
4		1 (3.4%)
5		2 (6.9%)

The DW Wiki?

Mean: 2.17 Median: 2 Std. Dev 0.91

1		5 (17.2%)
2		18 (62.1%)
3		3 (10.3%)
4		2 (6.9%)
5		1 (3.4%)

The dw_dev community?

Mean: 2.59 Median: 3 Std. Dev 0.83

1		2 (7.4%)
2		10 (37.0%)
3		13 (48.1%)
4		1 (3.7%)
5		1 (3.7%)

The Dreamwidth irc channels?

Mean: 1.93 Median: 2 Std. Dev 1.01

1		11 (37.9%)
2		13 (44.8%)
3		2 (6.9%)
4		2 (6.9%)
5		1 (3.4%)

mark and denise?

Mean: 1.78 Median: 2 Std. Dev 0.87

1		12 (44.4%)
2		11 (40.7%)
3		2 (7.4%)
4		2 (7.4%)
5		0 (0.0%)

What single resource has helped you most while hacking?

The DW wiki
10 (34.5%)

dw_dev
0 (0.0%)

#dw/#dw_work
13 (44.8%)

#dw_kindergarten
6 (20.7%)

Rate the following statements from 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree): I feel like I can approach Mark and Denise with questions.

Mean: 1.89 Median: 2 Std. Dev 1.01

1		13 (46.4%)
2		7 (25.0%)
3		7 (25.0%)
4		0 (0.0%)
5		1 (3.6%)

I feel like it's easy to find a project I want to work on.

Mean: 2.18 Median: 2 Std. Dev 0.97

1		8 (28.6%)
2		10 (35.7%)
3		7 (25.0%)
4		3 (10.7%)
5		0 (0.0%)

I feel like my contributions are valued.

Mean: 1.56 Median: 1 Std. Dev 0.83

1		16 (59.3%)
2		9 (33.3%)
3		0 (0.0%)
4		2 (7.4%)
5		0 (0.0%)

I feel like there are clearly defined goals for the project.

Mean: 1.96 Median: 2 Std. Dev 0.94

1		10 (35.7%)
2		12 (42.9%)
3		3 (10.7%)
4		3 (10.7%)
5		0 (0.0%)

If I get stuck on something, I know exactly where to go to find help.

Mean: 1.93 Median: 2 Std. Dev 1.17

1		12 (41.4%)
2		13 (44.8%)
3		1 (3.4%)
4		0 (0.0%)
5		3 (10.3%)

I feel like the process and requirements for contributing code is well-documented.

Mean: 1.86 Median: 2 Std. Dev 0.79

1		10 (35.7%)
2		13 (46.4%)
3		4 (14.3%)
4		1 (3.6%)
5		0 (0.0%)

I feel like the codebase's architecture is well-documented.

Mean: 3.22 Median: 3 Std. Dev 0.92

1		1 (3.7%)
2		4 (14.8%)
3		12 (44.4%)
4		8 (29.6%)
5		2 (7.4%)

I find it easy to find what I'm looking for in the code.

Mean: 2.93 Median: 3 Std. Dev 0.88

1		1 (3.6%)
2		9 (32.1%)
3		9 (32.1%)
4		9 (32.1%)
5		0 (0.0%)

I find it easy to keep my development installation up-to-date.

Mean: 2.19 Median: 2 Std. Dev 0.98

1		8 (29.6%)
2		9 (33.3%)
3		7 (25.9%)
4		3 (11.1%)
5		0 (0.0%)

I know where to go to get a policy decision on something I'm working on.

Mean: 2.26 Median: 2 Std. Dev 1.35

1		10 (37.0%)
2		9 (33.3%)
3		2 (7.4%)
4		3 (11.1%)
5		3 (11.1%)

I feel like my patches are reviewed and committed in a timely fashion.

Mean: 1.83 Median: 2 Std. Dev 0.80

1		10 (41.7%)
2		8 (33.3%)
3		6 (25.0%)
4		0 (0.0%)
5		0 (0.0%)

I feel like contributing code to Dreamwidth is a rewarding use of my time.

Mean: 1.57 Median: 1 Std. Dev 1.02

1		19 (67.9%)
2		5 (17.9%)
3		2 (7.1%)
4		1 (3.6%)
5		1 (3.6%)

I find the Programming Guidelines easy to understand and follow.

Mean: 1.96 Median: 2 Std. Dev 0.82

1		8 (28.6%)
2		15 (53.6%)
3		3 (10.7%)
4		2 (7.1%)
5		0 (0.0%)

Development Poll

no subject