snapshot of https://github.com/zulip/zulip.git @ 48c69911c7dd4e03b20552eb3bd77ad8151c1357 (2026-09-15)

docs/contributing/asking-great-questions.md

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+# Asking great questions
+
+A well-formed question helps you learn, respects the person answering, and makes
+efficient use of time for everyone involved. Asking the right question, to the
+right person, in the right way, at the right time, is a skill that requires a
+lifetime of fine-tuning. This page offers some guidelines and resources the
+[Zulip community](https://zulip.com/development-community/) has found helpful in this pursuit.
+
+## Where to ask your question
+
+It is almost always best to ask questions and have a conversation in a public
+channel, rather than in direct messages. You’ll get better and faster answers
+since many people can help, and it makes it possible for others to benefit from
+the discussion.
+
+The [Zulip community
+guide](https://zulip.com/development-community/#where-do-i-send-my-message)
+offers guidelines on how the major public channels in the community are used.
+Don’t stress too much about picking the right place if you’re not sure, as
+moderators can [move your question thread to a different
+channel](https://zulip.com/help/move-content-to-another-channel) if needed.
+
+## How to ask a great question
+
+Spending some extra time and effort to carefully formulate your question is well
+worthwhile, as it makes it much more likely that you'll get the information you
+need to move forward. There are a few wonderfully thoughtful blog posts that
+explain what it means to ask a good question:
+
+- [Try, Then Ask](https://www.mattringel.com/2013/09/30/you-must-try-and-then-you-must-ask/)
+- [We Aren’t Just Making Code, We’re Making History](https://www.harihareswara.net/sumana/2016/10/12/0)
+- [How to Ask Good Questions](https://jvns.ca/blog/good-questions/)
+
+In brief, to formulate a great question, you should:
+
+- Try to solve your own problem first, including reading through relevant
+  documentation and code.
+- Identify the precise point on which you feel stuck.
+- Formulate a clear question that includes an appropriate amount of context
+  and a specific request for help.
+
+When your question is answered, follow through on the advice you receive, and (when
+appropriate) summarize the resolution of your problem so that others can learn
+from your experience.
+
+## Follow the community guidelines
+
+As always, be sure to follow the [Zulip community
+norms](https://zulip.com/development-community/). In particular, check out [the
+section on getting help](https://zulip.com/development-community/#getting-help)
+before you post.