Dev "call for test/help" section in the forum?

[krinn]

Topic: Test-request: kde-misc/basket:5 (information organiser)
Reason: nah, i'm fine with this topic

My report reason is that, i have seen actually some devs doing that, call for help to use our community users as testers (ffmpeg case, migration to libpng...).
And it's a pretty good initiative, just seeing how the forum is successful is kinda a proof our users base is of a real value.

So i'm wondering, as only arch testers are aware of any call for help/testing, shouldn't we just have a kind of dev section "call for test/help" in the forum... where devs could query community for that?
And non arch testers will have opportunity to help, easing dev's life, easing package testing and stabilization or bug hunt...

What you guys think?
ps: unsure if i should had create a topic on the subject, but you could split this off if need

[pjp]

Split from the report thread.


That's not a bad idea, but as you mentioned, some devs already do it. So why don't others? I know in the past many devs didn't interact on the forum.

One additional option which is already available would be News items. But that still takes an initiation from developers.

It is also possible this is an avenue for users in the community to help out by helping create the forum presence for devs who might otherwise not engage in the forums but would be willing to help.

Ultimately the effort / interest would seem to need to come from the developers. But it may just be that threads posted into the respective forum engage with the target users most directly.
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Quis separabit? Quo animo?

[Maitreya]

I think it would be great idea. A lot of people want to contribute back, but don't wan't to commit themselves in a position.
If it would be possible to come home, surf to the test request section, help some devs, be done with it ,everybody happy.
(eventually people helping out this way will want to do more, so I see it as good introduction/stepup)

[krinn]