Ask HN: Does a code explainer app worth it?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29889792

by NithurM • 5 years ago

2 8 5 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I am banging my head over this thing. Does a code explainer app worth it? if yes, who can it serve?

I am asking this because I built an app that explains code in plain english on any site. I am on the verge of shutting it down. But before doing it, I am curious to hear your thoughts.

NicoJuicy4• 5 years ago

I don't think so.

1) non-coders don't need to watch code. They will need code snippets when learning how to code, to learn how to code/syntax. Not to explain the code in most cases.

2) if non English coders don't understand English at all. But almost all programming is in English. Perhaps for the nouns used?

NithurM3• 5 years ago

What about a code piece they come across in SO or github, and they don't understand what is does?

NicoJuicy4• 5 years ago

SO is to find solution through code. The code is normally the answer.

GitHub is useful for learning and running it yourselves and is not limited to a snippet.

It's mostly architectural or an interesting project. Which you wouldn't want to translate, since you are interested in the project itselve. ( Eg. How they did it). Analyzing through code would be a lot quicker.

( Just my 2 cents)

Edit: i think an explainer for NFT's would be worth it. Quickly describe the smart contract and potential flaws? Depending on how much value you think NFT's have ( I'm pretty low on that scale though)

"Smart contract explainer", but i have no idea on how to monetize it.

ssss11• 5 years ago

Maybe for absolute newcomers to coding… perhaps it could be used as a component of a learning/training platform?

Ask HN: Does a code explainer app worth it?

Related Stories