41 Engaging This or That Post Ideas Every Software Development Community Needs

Struggling to spark lighthearted conversations in your software development community? Our This or That template library offers fun, easy prompts that get members talking and sharing. Bring fresh energy to your space with engaging choices everyone can answer.

Software Development 41 Templates

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Why This Works

This or That questions tap into our instinct for quick decision-making and friendly debate. By posing two simple, contrasting options, you lower the barrier to participation, making it easy for anyone to jump in without overthinking. This type of content encourages spontaneous interaction, which is ideal for building rapport and breaking the ice among members.

In software development communities, where discussions can sometimes become technical and intense, these casual prompts provide a refreshing change of pace. They help humanize members, showcase personality, and foster a sense of camaraderie. Over time, regular use of This or That posts can boost morale, increase engagement, and strengthen your community culture.

41 Ready-to-Use Templates

1

Dark mode or light mode? Which do you code in most often?

💡 Example: "Dark mode or light mode? Which do you code in most often?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #preferences #UI/UX
2

Tabs or spaces? Quick, pick one!

💡 Example: "Tabs or spaces? Quick, pick one!"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #code_style #debate
3

Frontend or backend - which do you enjoy more?

💡 Example: "Frontend or backend - which do you enjoy more?"

🔴 High Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #role #work_preference
4

Morning coding or late-night sessions?

💡 Example: "Morning coding or late-night sessions?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Irregular #routine #lifestyle
5

Work from home or in-office?

💡 Example: "Work from home or in-office?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #work_style #remote
6

Python or JavaScript?

💡 Example: "Python or JavaScript?"

🔴 High Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #languages #favorites
7

Solo projects or team collaborations?

💡 Example: "Solo projects or team collaborations?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #project_type #personality
8

Coffee or tea while coding?

💡 Example: "Coffee or tea while coding?"

🟢 Low Engagement Barrier 👤 Lurker #personal #habits
9

GitHub or GitLab?

💡 Example: "GitHub or GitLab?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #tools #version_control
10

Mac or Windows for development?

💡 Example: "Mac or Windows for development?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #hardware #preferences
11

Debugging or writing new features?

💡 Example: "Debugging or writing new features?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #work_type #tasks
12

Open source or proprietary projects?

💡 Example: "Open source or proprietary projects?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #project_type #philosophy
13

Code comments or self-explanatory code?

💡 Example: "Code comments or self-explanatory code?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #code_style #best_practices
14

Agile or Waterfall?

💡 Example: "Agile or Waterfall?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #methodology #workflow
15

Standups: love them or skip them?

💡 Example: "Standups: love them or skip them?"

🟢 Low Engagement Barrier 👤 Irregular #meetings #culture
16

Learning by doing or learning by reading docs?

💡 Example: "Learning by doing or learning by reading docs?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #learning #habits
17

Short sprints or longer release cycles?

💡 Example: "Short sprints or longer release cycles?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #workflow #preferences
18

Unit tests or integration tests?

💡 Example: "Unit tests or integration tests?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #testing #best_practices
19

Pair programming or solo coding?

💡 Example: "Pair programming or solo coding?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #collaboration #work_style
20

Text editor: VS Code or Sublime?

💡 Example: "Text editor: VS Code or Sublime?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #tools #editor
21

Daily commits or big batch pushes?

💡 Example: "Daily commits or big batch pushes?"

🟢 Low Engagement Barrier 👤 Lurker #workflow #habits
22

Bugs: find them yourself or get feedback from QA?

💡 Example: "Bugs: find them yourself or get feedback from QA?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #quality #process
23

Lightweight frameworks or full-featured ones?

💡 Example: "Lightweight frameworks or full-featured ones?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #frameworks #preferences
24

Meetings: video or chat?

💡 Example: "Meetings: video or chat?"

🟢 Low Engagement Barrier 👤 Irregular #meetings #communication
25

Automate tasks or do them manually?

💡 Example: "Automate tasks or do them manually?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #automation #habits
26

Refactor old code or start from scratch?

💡 Example: "Refactor old code or start from scratch?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #refactoring #project
27

Notifications: keep them on or mute everything?

💡 Example: "Notifications: keep them on or mute everything?"

🟢 Low Engagement Barrier 👤 Lurker #focus #communication
28

Learning new languages or mastering one?

💡 Example: "Learning new languages or mastering one?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #learning #growth
29

Work with music or in silence?

💡 Example: "Work with music or in silence?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Irregular #environment #personal
30

Shortcuts or mouse navigation?

💡 Example: "Shortcuts or mouse navigation?"

🟢 Low Engagement Barrier 👤 Lurker #productivity #workflow
31

Documentation: write as you go or at the end?

💡 Example: "Documentation: write as you go or at the end?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #documentation #habits
32

Code reviews: async or live?

💡 Example: "Code reviews: async or live?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #code_review #collaboration
33

Build tools: npm or yarn?

💡 Example: "Build tools: npm or yarn?"

🟢 Low Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #tools #build
34

Mobile dev or web dev?

💡 Example: "Mobile dev or web dev?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #specialization #platform
35

Quick MVP or polished release?

💡 Example: "Quick MVP or polished release?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #release #strategy
36

Conferences: in-person or virtual?

💡 Example: "Conferences: in-person or virtual?"

🟢 Low Engagement Barrier 👤 Irregular #events #preferences
37

Plan first or dive right in?

💡 Example: "Plan first or dive right in?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #workflow #planning
38

Stack Overflow or official docs?

💡 Example: "Stack Overflow or official docs?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #resources #learning
39

Working with legacy code or greenfield projects?

💡 Example: "Working with legacy code or greenfield projects?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #project_type #preferences
40

Bash or PowerShell?

💡 Example: "Bash or PowerShell?"

🟢 Low Engagement Barrier 👤 Lurker #tools #command_line
41

Sprints: love the pressure or prefer a steady pace?

💡 Example: "Sprints: love the pressure or prefer a steady pace?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Irregular #workflow #pace

How to Use These Templates

Share one of these prompts as a standalone post or pair it with a relevant image or emoji to catch attention. Encourage members to answer with a simple pick or elaborate on their choice for extra fun. Rotate topics weekly or use them as conversation starters in slower periods. For live chats or virtual events, try posting a few in rapid succession to energize the room. Always keep the tone positive and thank participants for sharing.

Best Practices

  • Keep prompts light, avoiding polarizing or overly technical topics.
  • Rotate between work-related and personal themes to engage a wide audience.
  • Encourage brief explanations for richer conversations.
  • Acknowledge responses to foster ongoing participation.
  • Schedule posts when members are most active for maximum visibility.

All Platforms Tips

On all platforms, use concise text and consider pairing your prompt with relevant emojis or simple graphics to boost visibility. Tag or mention active members to kickstart replies. Use polls where available for easier participation, or ask for comments if polls are not supported.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a This or That post?

A This or That post is a fun prompt presenting two options for members to choose between, encouraging quick engagement.

How often should I use This or That templates?

Once or twice a week is ideal to keep content fresh and avoid repetition while boosting regular engagement.

Can I modify the templates for my specific community?

Absolutely. Feel free to tweak the wording or options to better fit your community's culture or interests.

Are these templates suitable for all experience levels?

Yes. The prompts are designed to be approachable for beginners and seasoned developers alike.

What if participation is low?

Tag a few active members to start the conversation and respond to answers to build momentum.

Should I use images or just text for these posts?

Text works well, but adding images or emojis can increase visibility and make posts more inviting.

Can I use these prompts in live events or chats?

Yes. They are great conversation starters for live sessions and can help energize group discussions.

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