Mmastodon TechnologyTechnology first seen 4 d ago, last 4 d ago, peak #6
Writer pays strangers to test if his README actually works
Original: I paid people to try and follow my README https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/10/i-paid-people-to-try-and-follow-my-readme/ #
A developer blogger paid several people to follow a README file and report where they got stuck, testing whether his documentation truly stands on its own. The experiment highlights a familiar problem in software: instructions that seem clear to the author often confuse everyone else. Readers are sharing their own experiences of unclear documentation and debating how much effort maintainers should put into testing guides on real users.
Why now: The unusual experiment resonates with developers who struggle with poorly tested documentation
Evidence
- I paid people to try and follow my README https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/10/i-paid-people-to-try-and-follow-my-readme/ # Tech # OpenSource # Usability · hackernews@robot.villas · 2
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