I created a couple of questions and I have a feeling that no one will answer them. There are lots of questions with no answer.
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5Well, the number of programs is limited, while the number of user requirements is pretty much infinite.– Franck DernoncourtCommented Aug 28, 2014 at 2:43
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1This is more of a feeling than anything data driven, but it does seem like only the question asking audience is really active for this particular stack exchange site. There don't appear to be a lot of people actively answering.– Matthew VinesCommented Oct 10, 2014 at 19:49
2 Answers
Definitely not, as the site statistics for Software Recommendations on Area51 show:
- 59% answered
- on average, 1.9 answers per question
But admitted, there are a lot of questions without answers:
Not every question is answerable, and not every request has a fitting solution. To give an extrem example (not a real question, of course): "Android web browser without internet permission" would clearly stay unanswered, as it's a contradiction in terms. Other things like Extensions that blocks ability to click on ads are clearly niche products (if they exist at all). A few of your questions fall into the latter category at least (I e.g. have never heard of a tool to Remux http video file on the fly) – while for others I share your doubts (I'm pretty sure that e.g. a NFS server for Windows – but that's the only question I can say so for, and also the only one already having an answer. So in your case, it's clearly the "niche argument" being the cause.
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If you count only questions which cannot be googled in 1 minute (to which all my current questions belong) you'll have completely different statistics. Commented Aug 26, 2014 at 9:37
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2“Never trust any statistics that you didn’t forge yourself.” / “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”– IzzyCommented Aug 26, 2014 at 9:40
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I think you should link here instead: softwarerecs.stackexchange.com/unanswered/tagged/?tab=noanswers– gparyaniCommented Sep 29, 2014 at 16:18
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Reading the unanswered questions is like an invitation to start your own personal project. The questions are unanswered because the software doesn't exist (yet).– trooperCommented Oct 22, 2014 at 1:28
"Android web browser without internet permission" would clearly stay unanswered, as it's a contradiction in terms."
Shouldn't there be at least one answer here explaining the contradiction? And why such an application is not likely to ever be produced. The question shows a lack of understanding by the person asking it, but the community can provide a service by pointing them in the right direction. It is entirely likely that others at the same level of understanding may arrive later and also be educated.
I asked my first question on this site, not because I am unable to do the research myself, but because I don't fully understand the niche that I am exploring. My hope by asking here, was that people who were familiar could confirm or shoot down my assumptions, give me some leads, and point me in a good direction so I have some boundaries to use when I continue my research.