Merge pull request #504 from asymmetric/help

source/contributing/how-to-get-help.md

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+# How to get help
+
+If you need assistance with one of your contributions, there are a few places you
+can go for help.
+
+For better efficiency and chances of success, you should try contacting individuals or
+groups with more specific knowledge first:
+
+- If your contribution is for a package in Nixpkgs, look for its maintainers in the
+  [`maintainers`](https://nixos.org/manual/nixpkgs/stable/#var-meta-maintainers)
+  attribute.
+- Check out if any teams are responsible for the relevant subsystem:
+  - On the [NixOS website](https://nixos.org/community/#governance-teams).
+  - In the [list of Nixpkgs maintainer teams](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/maintainers/team-list.nix).
+  - In the `CODEOWNERS` files for [Nixpkgs](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/.github/CODEOWNERS) or
+    [Nix](https://github.com/NixOS/nix/blob/master/.github/CODEOWNERS).
+- Look at the [git log](https://www.git-scm.com/docs/git-log) for the files you need help
+  with, and take note of the email addresses of people who committed.
+
+Once you've found the people you're looking for, you can contact them via:
+
+- GitHub
+
+  [Mention the GitHub username](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/writing-on-github/getting-started-with-writing-and-formatting-on-github/basic-writing-and-formatting-syntax#mentioning-people-and-teams) found in the [`maintainers-list.nix` file][maintainers-list] in issue or pull request descriptions, or comments.
+
+- [Discourse](https://discourse.nixos.org)
+
+  Try the GitHub username found in the [`maintainers-list.nix` file][maintainers-list] to mention or directly contact a specific user.
+  Note that some people use a different username on Discourse.
+  
+- [Matrix]
+
+  Use the Matrix handle found in the [`maintainers-list.nix` file][maintainers-list].
+  If no Matrix handle is present for a specific maintainer, try searching for them using their GitHub username, as most people tend to use the same one across channels.
+  
+- Email
+
+  Use email addresses found with `git log`.
+
+If you haven't found any specific users or groups that could help you with your
+contribution, you can resort to asking the community at large, using one of the following official
+communication channels:
+
+- A room related to your question in the [NixOS Matrix space][matrix].
+- The [*Help* category](https://discourse.nixos.org/c/learn/9) on Discourse.
+- The general [`#nix`](https://matrix.to/#/#nix:nixos.org) room on Matrix.
+
+[matrix]: https://matrix.to/#/#community:nixos.org
+[maintainers-list]: https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/maintainers/maintainer-list.nix

source/index.md

@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ reference/glossary.md
 :hidden:
 
 contributing/how-to-contribute.md
+contributing/how-to-get-help.md
 contributing/documentation.md
 contributing/writing-a-tutorial.md
-```
+```