What kinds of questions can I ask here?
Most importantly, questions should be relevant to Python and its use in science, mathematics, and engineering. This site is not limited to questions about numpy and scipy although those are quite welcome.
Good questions are specific, detailed, and clear. You can always edit your question later to provide more information and clarify details.
Before asking your question, please make sure to use the search feature to see if it has already been answered. It is okay to re-ask old questions, particularly if your question is slightly different in the details, but hopefully users will link to related questions to keep the information on this site easily searchable.
What kinds of questions should be avoided?
Please avoid asking questions that are not relevant to Python in the sciences and related fields. Do not ask questions that require extended back-and-forth discussion. Installation problems are typically best handled on a mailing list where helpers can have a back-and-forth discussion with you as you try their recommendations and provide details about your system.A summary of the end results of these discussions, however, may make an excellent question and answer pair on this site.
What should I avoid in my answers?
SciPy Advice is a question and answer site, not a discussion group. Please avoid holding debates in your answers as they tend to dilute the essense of questions and answers. For the brief discussions that are necessary to clarify questions and answers please use the commenting facility.
Above all, be nice.
Who moderates this community?
The short answer is: you. This website is moderated by the users. The reputation system allows users earn the authorization to perform a variety of moderation tasks.
How does reputation system work?
When a question or answer is upvoted, the user who posted them will gain some points, which are called “reputation points”. These points serve as a rough measure of the community trust to him/her. Various moderation tasks are gradually assigned to the users based on those points.
For example, if you ask an interesting question or give a helpful answer, your input will be upvoted. On the other hand if the answer is misleading, it will be downvoted. Each vote in favor will generate 10 points, each vote against will subtract 2 points. There is a limit of 200 points that can be accumulated per question or answer. The table below explains reputation point requirements for each type of moderation task.
| 50 | add comments |
| 100 | downvote |
| 250 | open and close own questions |
| 500 | retag questions |
| 750 | edit community wiki questions |
| 2000 | edit any answer |
| 3000 | open any closed question |
| 5000 | delete any comment |
| 10000 | delete any questions and answers and perform other moderation tasks |
What is gravatar?
Gravatar means globally recognized avatar - your unique avatar image associated with your email address. It's simply a picture that shows next to your posts on the websites that support gravatar protocol. By default gravar appears as a square filled with a snowflake-like figure. You can set your image at gravatar.com
To register, do I need to create new password?
No, you don't have to. You can login through any service that supports OpenID, e.g. Google, Yahoo, AOL, etc. Login now! »
Why other people can edit my questions/answers?
SciPy Advice aims to be an efficient exchange of information about the use of Python in the sciences. So questions and answers can be edited like wiki pages by experienced users of this site and this improves the overall quality of the knowledge base content. If this approach is not for you, we respect your choice.
Still have questions?
If you have questions or comments about the site or need help using the site, you can email us on the scipy-users mailing list.
