What is Askizo?

Askizo is a typical Q&A/discussions forum with option for live help or pair programming.

You can post questions, answers and comments like you have always done. Or if you would like to talk live to someone about your problem you request live help. On the other hand, if you think you can help someone you can decide to provide your assistance. At that point the two of you will be connected to a live video call with screen sharing possibility and chat.

From then on it's entirely up to you how you want to proceed.

For more details about the live help part please visit the How It Works page.

What is the idea behind Askizo?

Being primarily a backend (Java/Spring) developer throughout my career so far and working on medium to big size projects it was always difficult for me to make a portfolio that I could show off to the world. I started multiple projects over time but none of them came to fruition because of one simple fact - I had close to 0 (zero) understanding and knowledge about frontend. Over the past couple of years that changed. I learned Vue.js and forced myself to learn how to actually center a div (CSS).

Now I could finally tie the loose ends and make a complete application. But what to make?

After considering a couple of ideas I decided to make something I think would be useful, and that I would personally use. You see, I wanted to solve a problem that I encountered a lot of times while developing - lack of quick help when you are stuck. The idea is to get connected with someone who knows how to solve your problem, or at least point you in the right direction, or maybe even solve the problem together. Pair programming.

I was personally stuck multiple times and, even though I eventually found my way out, I feel like it would be a much better experience and smoother ride if I had someone by my side.

And that's what Askizo is all about. The questions and answers are for reference and for posterity, but the live help is for that quick boost when you are stuck. It can even serve as just a conversation facilitator, a discussion starter, a pair programming finder. However you want to use it - it's for you to decide.

What makes Askizo special?

Askizo unifies two most common communication mediums - written (in form of questions, answers and comments) and verbal/visual (in the form of live help). It does this in a straightforward and well structured manner with minimal moderation (please visit our community guidelines).

In over a decade of professional software development I haven't encountered something quite like this. It may be that that's because of lack of effort on my part or it may be that something exactly like this doesn't yet exist - I don't know. But the point is that I think it's unique in this regard.

As for its utility - only time will tell.

So go ahead - ask a question, share your knowledge, or jump into a live session and see where the conversation takes you.

Welcome to Askizo!

I hope you will like it here.