Last time I spoke about the importance of community, of the social side of Discourse, and what we can do to leave it a better place than we found it.
This is a subject I intend returning to but this time I want to focus on more practical usage of the software that can make our experience here easier, quicker, and hopefully more functional.
Under-The-Hood
Tip 1:
For topics with more than 20 replies use the Discourse Ctrl + F function to search within a topic.
Why do I love this neat trick? Results will display the post number and user so you can click and quickly jump to what you want.
Example:
Here is one set of results (screenshot only captures the top ones but you get the idea)
Tip 2:
The Ubuntu Support Template and some troubleshooting commands.
We do encourage you to use this but obviously there are no obligations.
Why is it important?
We think it helps keep information more focused and better structured. The faster volunteers can focus in on the issue, the more likely you will get an answer that will help resolve whatever issue you are facing.
Please remember to remove any extranous information not relevant to your post.
For faster and more focused help, provide as much detail as possible (even if you think it might not be relevant, often it will be).
Additional troubleshooting information can also be invaluable.
Here are some common commands to run in the terminal that will help us to help you:
- slow booting: use
systemd-analyzeorsystemd-analyze blame - boot logs: use
sudo journalctl -b -p 3 --no-pager - your
fstabmay also often have clues that can help diagonose issues with booting or mounting drivescat /etc/fstab - more commands for drives and mounts:
sudo blkidsudo fdisk -llsblk -f - general system information, install
inxiwithsudo apt intall inxiand post the output ofinxi -Fxxrz
These are just a few examples, feel free to share your favourite troubleshooting commands.
As always, we kindly ask users to please wrap terminal or script output with code tags for easier reading and analysis.
Highlight the output in your reply and use either </> in the composer or Ctrl + E on the keyboard.
Tip 3:
Be descriptive (no, not like Shakespeare or Chaucer) with your topic titles.
Why is this so important?
Discoverability and Searchability
We want users here and across the internet to find good content quickly and easily. Think of it like a map where only main roads are shown and one where paths, side roads, rivers and other natural obstacles are displayed.
The more keyword rich the title, the better it can be searched for and found by other users.
Instead of “Update Issues,” which is very generic and non-specific consider something like “Update Manager Displays Update Errors.”
Use tags to help enhance discoverability.
Enhances User Engagement
Your fellow users and volunteers are more likely to help when they see an issue being clearly communicated.
We understand not all our users are native English speakers but please make an effort, even using AI tools, to help formulate more descriptive titles.
In the long run, we all benefit from this.
Provides a Better User Experience
Users can quickly scan topic lists and decide which discussions are relevant to them, saving time and reducing frustration. Good titles set accurate expectations for the content inside.
Supports Effective Moderation and Organization
As a volunteer and community moderator, believe me this is also important. The more time moderators can dedicate to guiding users to existing topics and relevant information, the less time we need to spend on “cleaning up” duplicate or irrelevant content.
Again, I want to stress that we all benefit from these small but important details.
See our posting guidelines for more information about titles (amongst other things).
Final Thoughts:
In the first post I quoted from the FAQ and this week I want to close with another important idea.
Improve the Discussion
Help us make this a great place for discussion by always working to improve the discussion in some way, however small. If you are not sure your post adds to the conversation, think over what you want to say and try again later.
The topics discussed here matter to us, and we want you to act as if they matter to you, too. Be respectful of the topics and the people discussing them, even if you disagree with some of what is being said.
One way to improve the discussion is by discovering ones that are already happening. Spend time browsing the topics here before replying or starting your own, and you’ll have a better chance of meeting others who share your interests.
As usual, feel free to post comments, questions, your own tips and tricks.
Don’t forget to watch the tag to stay tuned for the next episode.
Final bonus tip:
The latest upgrade now allows users to save multiple drafts, so go ahead and prepare your replies to the topics that interest you and come back to them when ready.
You can find all your drafts under your user profile.
