41+ This or That Post Templates for Software Development Communities

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?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Dark mode or light mode? Which do you code in most often?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #preferences #UI/UX
2

Tabs or spaces? Quick, pick one!

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Tabs or spaces? Quick, pick one!"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Frequent #code_style #debate
3

Frontend or backend - which do you enjoy more?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Frontend or backend - which do you enjoy more?"

๐Ÿ”ด High Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #role #work_preference
4

Morning coding or late-night sessions?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Morning coding or late-night sessions?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Irregular #routine #lifestyle
5

Work from home or in-office?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Work from home or in-office?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #work_style #remote
6

Python or JavaScript?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Python or JavaScript?"

๐Ÿ”ด High Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Frequent #languages #favorites
7

Solo projects or team collaborations?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Solo projects or team collaborations?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #project_type #personality
8

Coffee or tea while coding?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Coffee or tea while coding?"

๐ŸŸข Low Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Lurker #personal #habits
9

GitHub or GitLab?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "GitHub or GitLab?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #tools #version_control
10

Mac or Windows for development?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Mac or Windows for development?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Frequent #hardware #preferences
11

Debugging or writing new features?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Debugging or writing new features?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #work_type #tasks
12

Open source or proprietary projects?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Open source or proprietary projects?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #project_type #philosophy
13

Code comments or self-explanatory code?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Code comments or self-explanatory code?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Frequent #code_style #best_practices
14

Agile or Waterfall?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Agile or Waterfall?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #methodology #workflow
15

Standups: love them or skip them?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Standups: love them or skip them?"

๐ŸŸข Low Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Irregular #meetings #culture
16

Learning by doing or learning by reading docs?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Learning by doing or learning by reading docs?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #learning #habits
17

Short sprints or longer release cycles?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Short sprints or longer release cycles?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #workflow #preferences
18

Unit tests or integration tests?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Unit tests or integration tests?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Frequent #testing #best_practices
19

Pair programming or solo coding?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Pair programming or solo coding?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #collaboration #work_style
20

Text editor: VS Code or Sublime?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Text editor: VS Code or Sublime?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Frequent #tools #editor
21

Daily commits or big batch pushes?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Daily commits or big batch pushes?"

๐ŸŸข Low Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Lurker #workflow #habits
22

Bugs: find them yourself or get feedback from QA?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Bugs: find them yourself or get feedback from QA?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #quality #process
23

Lightweight frameworks or full-featured ones?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Lightweight frameworks or full-featured ones?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #frameworks #preferences
24

Meetings: video or chat?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Meetings: video or chat?"

๐ŸŸข Low Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Irregular #meetings #communication
25

Automate tasks or do them manually?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Automate tasks or do them manually?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #automation #habits
26

Refactor old code or start from scratch?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Refactor old code or start from scratch?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Frequent #refactoring #project
27

Notifications: keep them on or mute everything?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Notifications: keep them on or mute everything?"

๐ŸŸข Low Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Lurker #focus #communication
28

Learning new languages or mastering one?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Learning new languages or mastering one?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #learning #growth
29

Work with music or in silence?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Work with music or in silence?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Irregular #environment #personal
30

Shortcuts or mouse navigation?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Shortcuts or mouse navigation?"

๐ŸŸข Low Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Lurker #productivity #workflow
31

Documentation: write as you go or at the end?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Documentation: write as you go or at the end?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #documentation #habits
32

Code reviews: async or live?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Code reviews: async or live?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Frequent #code_review #collaboration
33

Build tools: npm or yarn?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Build tools: npm or yarn?"

๐ŸŸข Low Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #tools #build
34

Mobile dev or web dev?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Mobile dev or web dev?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #specialization #platform
35

Quick MVP or polished release?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Quick MVP or polished release?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Frequent #release #strategy
36

Conferences: in-person or virtual?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Conferences: in-person or virtual?"

๐ŸŸข Low Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Irregular #events #preferences
37

Plan first or dive right in?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Plan first or dive right in?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #workflow #planning
38

Stack Overflow or official docs?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Stack Overflow or official docs?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Frequent #resources #learning
39

Working with legacy code or greenfield projects?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Working with legacy code or greenfield projects?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Average #project_type #preferences
40

Bash or PowerShell?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Bash or PowerShell?"

๐ŸŸข Low Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค Lurker #tools #command_line
41

Sprints: love the pressure or prefer a steady pace?

๐Ÿ’ก Example: "Sprints: love the pressure or prefer a steady pace?"

๐ŸŸก Medium Engagement Barrier ๐Ÿ‘ค 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

How can I use 'This or That' templates to spark debates about programming languages (e.g., Python vs. Java) without causing heated arguments in my developer community?

To foster constructive discussions around programming languages, frame your 'This or That' posts with curiosity rather than competition. For example, ask members to share their favorite use cases or stories for each language rather than declaring a 'winner.' Remind users that preferences often depend on project needs, and encourage respectful sharing of perspectives to keep the conversation professional and engaging.

What are some effective ways to create 'This or That' scenarios around development methodologies (e.g., Agile vs. Waterfall) that resonate with both frontend and backend developers?

Craft scenarios that highlight real-world trade-offs each group faces, like 'Sprint planning vs. Fixed milestones' or 'Continuous integration vs. Scheduled releases.' Use terminology familiar to both frontend and backend roles, and consider adding context such as 'in large-scale enterprise projects' or 'in fast-paced startups' to make the discussion relevant and inclusive across specialties.

How can I ensure 'This or That' posts address current trends in software development, such as AI-assisted coding tools vs. traditional code editors?

Stay updated on industry trends by following developer news sources and forums. Incorporate timely topics like 'Copilot vs. manual code reviews' or 'Low-code platforms vs. custom development.' Encourage members to discuss the pros and cons they've experienced with these tools, and rotate topics regularly to keep the content fresh and timely.

What are some best practices for using 'This or That' templates to engage remote vs. on-site software development teams in our community?

Design posts that tap into shared experiences, such as 'Virtual stand-ups vs. In-person scrums' or 'Remote code collaboration tools vs. whiteboard sessions.' Invite members to share productivity tips or challenges unique to their work environment, and be sensitive to the diversity of team setups within the community.

How can I tailor 'This or That' questions to appeal to both junior and senior developers without alienating either group?

Balance technical depth with accessibility. For example, use prompts like 'Code-first documentation vs. Design-first documentation' and invite juniors to share their learning experiences while encouraging seniors to offer mentorship insights. You can also run separate threads targeting different experience levels, or ask for advice on bridging gaps between them.

What strategies work best for moderating 'This or That' discussions around controversial topics like open source vs. proprietary software within a developer community?

Set ground rules for respectful debate before launching these topics. Emphasize sharing personal experiences and project outcomes rather than making absolute claims. If a discussion gets heated, step in to remind members of the community guidelines and redirect focus to constructive aspects, such as collaboration benefits or lessons learned from each approach.

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