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Are software library/framework recommendations/advices on-topic here?

I have several "on hold" or "closed" questions on SO (and saw a ton of them) which essentially ask for recommendation for a library that designed to work on described platform/architecture/environment/language and perform desired actions or provide desired features.

Most of such type of question for 5 minutes of life ever got reasonable and strong answers before being closed.

While I am veteran SO user I have discovered http://softwarerecs.stackexchange.com just today.

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    Related: Is suggesting python libraries/solution a proper software recommendations? – but as a contra, take care of what kind of libraries you're talking about: Would icon and font library questions be on topic?
    – Izzy
    Commented Oct 22, 2015 at 20:35
  • Thanks for interest! I have already read these articles. I have dug for half hour until decide ask clear specific question. They support my expectation that question about library recommendations are on-topic here but I afraid those "closed as off-topic" words.
    – gavenkoa
    Commented Oct 22, 2015 at 20:56
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    I'd consider a library "software for programmers", and thus on-topic. Oh well, I even have proof! Going to make this an answer, give me a few minutes...
    – Izzy
    Commented Oct 22, 2015 at 20:59
  • Wow! Thanks for sharing useful example of embedded search query syntax! Now I found help under Advanced Search Tips link.
    – gavenkoa
    Commented Oct 22, 2015 at 21:03
  • Glad you liked that! Encouraged me to give you one more example in my answer. It's a real powerful tool, our search engine – once you got the knack of using it :) When performing your next search, try out the "Advanced Search Tips" link at the top-right of that screen – much more to discover there :)
    – Izzy
    Commented Oct 22, 2015 at 21:08
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    Old discussion about "programming tools" (including libraries): Is it alright to ask for programming tools?
    – unor
    Commented Oct 22, 2015 at 21:45
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    For reference, we currently have 288 questions using the library tag.
    – unor
    Commented Oct 22, 2015 at 21:46

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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I'd consider a library "software for programmers", and thus on-topic. Doing a search on library questions with answers turns out:

  • 352 questions altogether
  • only 6 of them got closed: 3 for being "unclear"
  • only 3 have being closed as off-topic: 1 not being about a library at all (rather asking for a how-to), 1 lacking all essentials from our quality guideline, and the remaining 1 being hard to read/understand

While not being "perfect proof" that library questions are on-topic, it at least shows they are "accepted" – which IMHO is pretty much the same.

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  • Do I need to mark your answer as solution? I don't know what that mean for meta sites ((
    – gavenkoa
    Commented Oct 22, 2015 at 21:13
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    Accepting means the same as on the main site – just up/downvotes are interpreted different ("agree/disagree"). Plus one doesn't gain rep here. So yes, I'd say so :)
    – Izzy
    Commented Oct 22, 2015 at 21:15

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