TIE: What is Tech It Easy (TIE)?
Tags: codenewbie, beginners
Published: 2022-03-21 16:52:56

Hi! Welcome! Have you ever had a hard time understanding a code or programming concept? Then you're in the right place.

## Jump to
 - [What is TechItEasy](#what-is) 👀 
 - [Are there Rules?](#rules)
 - [Some TechItEasy Do's && Don'ts](#guidelines)
   - [Asking](#requester)
   - [Answering](#responder)
 - [Where is TechItEasy?](#where) 

## What is TechItEasy? <a name=what-is></a>
TechItEasy is a developer community built to resemble Reddit's [Explain Like I'm Five (ELI5)](https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/) subreddit. If you're not familiar with it, ELI5 is a forum with requests for concepts to be explained in jargon-free simplified terms. 

TechItEasy is your place to ask about those things you just cannot comprehend, have a hard time understanding, and could really use some help with.

TechItEasy is also your place to help others understand concepts that you know.

{% twitter 1499110207921741824 %}

## A Few Basic Rules <a name=rules></a>

![A person in a spooky background saying "best get some consistent rules"](https://media.giphy.com/media/MpjvaamQCOOw7eCtar/giphy.gif)
➡️ Do start Tweets with `TIE:`

>This will keep TechItEasy tweets easy to recognize and search for.

<a name=ideas></a>➡️ Do give relatable explanations without scary tech jargon

>Some ideas: cats, doing dishes, weather, music, cutting vegetables, cats knocking over trashcans, games, reading, and so so so many other things

➡️ Keep tweets on topic

>Tweets shall only include Requests for Explanations, Suggestions or Complaints, or Praise. Tweets should add to the community and not distract from the purpose.

➡️ Avoid vague Requests for Explanation

>(e.g. "TIE: What is Programming?", "TIE: What causes this error?", )

➡️ Be respectful && Report the jerks

>We are all human. We are not perfect. If someone is wrong, kindly help them understand, tag someone to help explain, or just ignore it.

---
## Some Do's && Don'ts <a name=guidelines></a>

### Asking Questions <a name=requester></a>

**Do ask...**
- for help understanding a concept, idea, or how things work
- for explanations in relatable terms
- your question even if you think it's "simple" or "should be easy". I promise, there are others that don't understand either

_Good Examples_
✨ TIE: What is control flow and how does it work?
✨ TIE: What is a cascading delete?
✨ TIE: How is a tuple different from a list?
✨ TIE: Why does 0.1 + 0.2 not equal to 0.3?

**Don't ask...**
- for opinions
- controversial or loaded questions
- for anyone to do your homework

_Bad Examples_
🚫 TIE: Light or dark mode?
🚫 TIE: What language should I start with
🚫 TIE: What is Programming?


### Answering Questions <a name=responder></a>
**Do**
- assume zero prior experience
- use relatable examples [(ideas)](#ideas)
- use descriptive names
- avoid [circular definitions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_definition)

_Good Examples_
✨ watermelon_count = (5 - spoiled_watermelons) / people
✨ A customer has moved and you need to delete an `owner` from `owners_table` and all of their `pet` records that are in different tables. Here you would used a cascading delete to remove the owner and all of their `pets`.

**Don't...**
- use `foo`, `bar`, or other non-descriptive names
- use math examples (unless the the original poster is a mathematician)

_Bad Examples_
🚫 x = (5 - y)/2
🚫 `baz` has many `foo` and if we want to delete `foo` and all associated records, we'd call that a cascading delete

---
## Where do I start? <a name=where></a>

![Some doodled cat-like figures bowing down and saying "one of us"](https://media.giphy.com/media/ejpCynLi88pGEUbmvQ/giphy.gif)

Remember, start questions with `TIE:` and make sure answers are as simplified as possible.

## Twitter
Join us in the [TechItEasy](https://twitter.com/i/communities/1499095889104752646) community on Twitter. From there it's up to you to ask a question or answer someone else's. I look forward to seeing you there. 

## Other places, like right here on Dev.to
Create a new post, start your title with `TIE:`, then tag your post with `#help`.
![Screenshot of dev.to post with the title starting  with `TIE:` and tagged with the `#help` tag](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/eg7tlvbyxdg6gz3tkefh.png)