53 lines
2.1 KiB
Markdown
53 lines
2.1 KiB
Markdown
---
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id:
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aliases: []
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title: XY Problem
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tags:
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- authorship/other-for-now
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- destiny/permanent
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- status/not-started
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- topic/transparency
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- type/encyclopedia-entry
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dg-publish: true
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---
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# XY Problem
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> [!quote] [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XY_problem)
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> The XY problem is a communication problem ...
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> where the question is about an end user's attempted solution (X)
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> rather than the root problem itself (Y).
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> [!quote] [_How To Ask Questions The Smart Way_ --- Eric Steven Raymond](http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html)
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> > [!quote] ["Questions Not To Ask"](http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html#classic)
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> > **Q:** How can I use X to do Y?
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> >
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> > **A:** If what you want is to do Y,
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> > you should ask that question without pre-supposing the use of a method
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> > that may not be appropriate.
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> > Questions of this form often indicate a person who is not merely ignorant about X,
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> > but confused about what problem Y they are solving
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> > and too fixated on the details of their particular situation.
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>
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> > [!quote] ["Describe the goal, not the step"](http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html#goal)
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> > If you are trying to find out how to do something
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> > (as opposed to reporting a bug),
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> > begin by describing the goal.
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> > Only then describe the particular step towards it
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> > that you are blocked on.
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> >
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> > Often, people who need technical help
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> > have a high-level goal in mind
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> > and get stuck on what they think is one particular path towards the goal.
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> > They come for help with the step,
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> > but don't realize that the path is wrong.
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> > It can take substantial effort to get past this.
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> >
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> > **Stupid:** How do I get the color-picker on the FooDraw program
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> > to take a hexadecimal RGB value?
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> >
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> > **Smart:** I'm trying to replace the color table on an image with values of my choosing.
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> > Right now the only way I can see to do this is by editing each table slot,
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> > but I can't get FooDraw's color picker to take a hexadecimal RGB value.
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> >
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> > The second version of the question is smart.
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> > It allows an answer that suggests a tool better suited to the task. |