Recently, scratch introduced a new button. The Debug button.

It appears in the project editor view. When clicked, it opens a popup with several pages about how to debug your code.

At the end is a “Ask for Help” page.
Currently, it looks like this:


I suggest adding a small link that connects to the “Help with Scripts” subforum.


Why?
First, this would help bring new users to the forums, but would also be quite discreet (unknown). Most users might not notice the menu, and if they do they'll just skip through a few pages and close it. Only the users who actually need/want help will look all the way through it.

Second, a lot of users don't have good friends who can also/are willing to debug their code. Connecting users to a group who has a lot more knowledge and time to help out would benefit these programmers.

I support this if it somehow luckily doesn't flood the forums with “PLAY MY PROJECT #GAMES#GAMES#GAMES#GAMES” “sdkwkdwkdakwddkwld” "(removed by moderator - please keep it polite)LOL“ ”guys how do I start a project? I'm pressing the flag but nothing is working"

Semi-support.
It's hard to find “help with scripts” studios, and plus you can't even use scratchblocks in studios so there's no point.
However, this might flood the forums with "PLAY THE BEST PLATFORMER https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/projects/123456“ ”youtube video test“ ”how do i stack blocks“ ”SCRATCH TEAM IS THE WORST {insert inappropriate image here}"

Menu looks like this on school devices (bitly is blocked)

cookieclickerer33 wrote:

(#4)
Menu looks like this on school devices (bitly is blocked)

Looks like an issue on your end?

cookieclickerer33 wrote:

Menu looks like this on school devices (bitly is blocked)

If your school blocks bitly that was a really stupid idea by them

+1, this was my issue with it anyway.


DIES FROM 60 second DEMON >:((((((((((((((((((((((((((

This might be rejected under the same reasoning as TOLORS 9.1 (bring back the discuss button), but it would be a matter of debate of if the last page of the debug screen is more or less visible than the link in the footer.

I think that logic is likely why it isn't there now, though.

BigNate469 wrote:

(#8)
This might be rejected under the same reasoning as TOLORS 9.1 (bring back the discuss button), but it would be a matter of debate of if the last page of the debug screen is more or less visible than the link in the footer.

I think that logic is likely why it isn't there now, though.

Well, it probably wasn't suggested during development since the forums are kind of unknown to most of the community but maybe that's the reason.

BigNate469 wrote:

This might be rejected under the same reasoning as TOLORS 9.1 (bring back the discuss button), but it would be a matter of debate of if the last page of the debug screen is more or less visible than the link in the footer.

I think that logic is likely why it isn't there now, though.

Disagreed. This is a separate idea, such as the delete FULLY UNUSED accounts.

Create-Scratch101 wrote:

BigNate469 wrote:

snip

Disagreed. This is a separate idea, such as the delete FULLY UNUSED accounts.

It's not about the idea, it's about why it was rejected. Bringing back the discuss button is rejected because it was removed to make the forums less visible, to prevent people from spamming them constantly. Adding a link to Help with Scripts in the debug modal might undo that, in a way.

I think that just adding “Ask the forums” to the end would be a little… Out of place?
How about adding it to the initial sentence instead, like this:

Nooo I already hid the tutorial button

Anyways, when was this added??

Semi-support the reason why the forums are so hidden are because of SPAM chances

I imagine if this was added their would be so much “PLAY MY GAME AT 3AM!!11” “CHAT MY GAEM WON'T WORK PLS FIX IT” (in questions about scratch) or various necroposting or spam everywhere

But If Contact Us says use the forums why shouldn't the Debugger say that?

BigNate469 wrote:

This might be rejected under the same reasoning as TOLORS 9.1 (bring back the discuss button), but it would be a matter of debate of if the last page of the debug screen is more or less visible than the link in the footer.

I think that logic is likely why it isn't there now, though.

There is a help with scripts link at the bottom of Ideas.

SpyCoderX wrote:

Currently, it looks like this:


I suggest adding a small link that connects to the “Help with Scripts” subforum.
.

This is actually a simple thing anyone can do, go to Scratch Foundation's github and make a Pull Request fixing it.

Rosics wrote:

BigNate469 wrote:

-snip-

There is a help with scripts link at the bottom of Ideas.

SpyCoderX wrote:

-snip-

This is actually a simple thing anyone can do, go to Scratch Foundation's github and make a Pull Request fixing it.

I can do that? Cool!

No support. I don't see this not leading to way more spam. It would also encourage people who click the debug button to just make a forum post about it without doing any debugging themselves, which is the opposite of what the button is supposed to encourage.

davidtheplatform wrote:

(#17)
No support. I don't see this not leading to way more spam. It would also encourage people who click the debug button to just make a forum post about it without doing any debugging themselves, which is the opposite of what the button is supposed to encourage.

The users who see and click on this link will probably be users who do need help. There will be a few more trolls and such, but the majority of users will be looking for help.

If the user skips the rest of the pages to go to the end I don't think they will be interested in debugging anyway. They'll probably just quit or smth without any help.

I actually think this could be helpful. I don't think this is comparable to bringing back the “Discuss” button, because adding a link to the forums in the debug menu is significantly less visible than adding a button to the top of the website. I somehow doubt that people would start advertising in the forums because of this specific link.

Ah, but one issue that I was just reminded of: Scratchers who just joined cannot use the forums. Considering that new users are ones that probably would use this Debug menu the most, would this be a problem if someone is told where to go for help but then cannot actually get help there?

Za-Chary wrote:

I actually think this could be helpful. I don't think this is comparable to bringing back the “Discuss” button, because adding a link to the forums in the debug menu is significantly less visible than adding a button to the top of the website. I somehow doubt that people would start advertising in the forums because of this specific link.

Ah, but one issue that I was just reminded of: Scratchers who just joined cannot use the forums. Considering that new users are ones that probably would use this Debug menu the most, would this be a problem if someone is told where to go for help but then cannot actually get help there?

Maybe have it only show once you are old enough to post in it?