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Open source devs: please, please add screenshots... (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by mypasswordis1234@lemmy.world to c/opensource@lemmy.ml

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I beg you, if you are a developer of an open source app or program - add screenshots of your app to the README file. When looking for the perfect app, I had to install dozens of them just to see what the user interface looked like and whether it suits me. This will allow users to decide if the app they choose will suit them... Please, don't think about it, just do it....

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[-] TCB13@lemmy.world 334 points 1 year ago

Dear open source app user: feel free to improve the README file of the projects you come across by adding a few screenshots you believe are relevant.

[-] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 28 points 1 year ago

There's both an ignorance and fear barrier to that.

A lot of people don't know they can, and don't know how. And even the ones that do know, often worry their contributions would be shit.

And there's folks that just don't think the project would accept that kind of submission.

I'm not contradicting your suggestion! It's a great thing to let people know that they can contribute without knowing how to code. Just adding in both an explanation as to why it's so rare, and hopefully allaying some of those worries for passersby.

[-] OrnateLuna@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 year ago

NGL I actually didn't know that I can do such a thing. I do still kinda have a closed source mindset in that anything I use I cannot change or Influence. Like I knew that other people can do that but I didn't know I can do that

[-] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, it's a thing :)

I've only done it once, and it wasn't pictures, it was rewriting a horrible section about how to install a program my cousin was trying to build. He abandoned it three months later, but still.

From what I've heard from people that code, it's polite to approach whoever is maintaining the project before jumping in, and it makes sense so that nobody wastes resources on something that isn't going to get used.