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Ask HN: Made my first github project, how do I get exposure?

2 points by anfurny22 ↗ HN
I've just completed my first useful library and have shared it on git-hub (https://github.com/anfurny/ALive-Fields).

But nobody cares, or more realistically, nobody is encountering it. Basically, I've spent a lot of my time sharing this library, and I think people could use it, I just don't know of any good place to connect with those people.

I don't have a blog or a twitter or publicize on (and even if I did I'd still not be sure how to publicize those).

P.S. If this project is redundant because somebody else is already doing it better in PHP, let me know, but I haven't seen anything like it yet.

6 comments

[ 4.3 ms ] story [ 29.0 ms ] thread
pixeloution
If someone can't figure out what it is in the first 30 seconds, they move on -- and that's being generous. The truth is probably more like 8 seconds.

And in 30 seconds I have no clue what your project is, does, or what problem it solves.

Oh and your README isn't IN the README. Seriously?!

switz
Exactly. I often find stuff on Github by searching GH or Google. If your project isn't SEO friendly, I'll never find it. If I can't figure out what it does in <10 seconds, that gives the impression it isn't developed well and I wouldn't want to use it anyway.
nevinera
Your readme should include:

What problem does it solve? How much effort will it take for me to understand it well enough to use it?

It should not consist entirely of a line telling me to read index.php.

anfurny22
My impression was that having a wiki for the project superseded a readme (with the home node essentially being a better formatted readme).

But the SEO point is very good, I hadn't thought about that.

I'm still curious about any places I can go and put this in front of people instead of hoping they chance upon it.

dhaivatpandya
Firstly, its good you're posting it here, programming.reddit.com is another place, post it to IRC, tell your friends about it, etc.
anfurny22
Thanks, that's exactly what I need. Any IRC servers or channels you recommend? I consider myself very out-of-touch with the programming community but want to fix that.