What is/should be our take about code-debugging questions?

Question

As we are in an early stage beta and are still molding our scope and the culture, let's have a string of discussions regarding the same. And, here's one:

Should code debugging questions be welcome here?

Or should we send them to SO? We, the mods have some opinions too. So, putting the question out there so that we can all discuss collectively.

Answer 1

In my opinion, it depends, on the code. If the code in question is about building an extension for one of the many DevOps tools that are on-topic and the problem at hand appears to be as a result of that tools API then it should be allowed.

If the code has a gramatical error or is simply "why doesn't my code work" then it is off topic on SO and here.

If the code is part of a consumer application that serves requests from actual users then it is on topic for SO but off topic here.

Answer 2

I'd recommend asking separate specific meta questions (ideally referencing this Q&A for context and inter-linking) about each particular case, especially for the borderline ones, for example questions about:

• CI/CD pipeline failures caused by errors in the very sw product itself (build failures, for examples)
• custom scripts for devops use

Collectively these Q&As should help:

• clarify whatever is the outcome decision and help with future reviews of such questions
• fill in the DevOps specific on-topic guidelines
• clarify some of the future DevOps customisation of the menu seen when flagging questions for closing
• clarify some of the future decision of which SE sites would be included in the DevOps list for off-topic question migration (well, SO in this particular case).