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.
Connect your community and StickyHive auto-posts these templates on the best days & times for engagement.
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.
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?"
Tabs or spaces? Quick, pick one!
💡 Example: "Tabs or spaces? Quick, pick one!"
Frontend or backend - which do you enjoy more?
💡 Example: "Frontend or backend - which do you enjoy more?"
Morning coding or late-night sessions?
💡 Example: "Morning coding or late-night sessions?"
Work from home or in-office?
💡 Example: "Work from home or in-office?"
Python or JavaScript?
💡 Example: "Python or JavaScript?"
Solo projects or team collaborations?
💡 Example: "Solo projects or team collaborations?"
Coffee or tea while coding?
💡 Example: "Coffee or tea while coding?"
GitHub or GitLab?
💡 Example: "GitHub or GitLab?"
Mac or Windows for development?
💡 Example: "Mac or Windows for development?"
Debugging or writing new features?
💡 Example: "Debugging or writing new features?"
Open source or proprietary projects?
💡 Example: "Open source or proprietary projects?"
Code comments or self-explanatory code?
💡 Example: "Code comments or self-explanatory code?"
Agile or Waterfall?
💡 Example: "Agile or Waterfall?"
Standups: love them or skip them?
💡 Example: "Standups: love them or skip them?"
Learning by doing or learning by reading docs?
💡 Example: "Learning by doing or learning by reading docs?"
Short sprints or longer release cycles?
💡 Example: "Short sprints or longer release cycles?"
Unit tests or integration tests?
💡 Example: "Unit tests or integration tests?"
Pair programming or solo coding?
💡 Example: "Pair programming or solo coding?"
Text editor: VS Code or Sublime?
💡 Example: "Text editor: VS Code or Sublime?"
Daily commits or big batch pushes?
💡 Example: "Daily commits or big batch pushes?"
Bugs: find them yourself or get feedback from QA?
💡 Example: "Bugs: find them yourself or get feedback from QA?"
Lightweight frameworks or full-featured ones?
💡 Example: "Lightweight frameworks or full-featured ones?"
Meetings: video or chat?
💡 Example: "Meetings: video or chat?"
Automate tasks or do them manually?
💡 Example: "Automate tasks or do them manually?"
Refactor old code or start from scratch?
💡 Example: "Refactor old code or start from scratch?"
Notifications: keep them on or mute everything?
💡 Example: "Notifications: keep them on or mute everything?"
Learning new languages or mastering one?
💡 Example: "Learning new languages or mastering one?"
Work with music or in silence?
💡 Example: "Work with music or in silence?"
Shortcuts or mouse navigation?
💡 Example: "Shortcuts or mouse navigation?"
Documentation: write as you go or at the end?
💡 Example: "Documentation: write as you go or at the end?"
Code reviews: async or live?
💡 Example: "Code reviews: async or live?"
Build tools: npm or yarn?
💡 Example: "Build tools: npm or yarn?"
Mobile dev or web dev?
💡 Example: "Mobile dev or web dev?"
Quick MVP or polished release?
💡 Example: "Quick MVP or polished release?"
Conferences: in-person or virtual?
💡 Example: "Conferences: in-person or virtual?"
Plan first or dive right in?
💡 Example: "Plan first or dive right in?"
Stack Overflow or official docs?
💡 Example: "Stack Overflow or official docs?"
Working with legacy code or greenfield projects?
💡 Example: "Working with legacy code or greenfield projects?"
Bash or PowerShell?
💡 Example: "Bash or PowerShell?"
Sprints: love the pressure or prefer a steady pace?
💡 Example: "Sprints: love the pressure or prefer a steady pace?"
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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