My question is somewhat related to this one, in that, it seems to me that many answers flagged as low-quality are code-only answers. While Will's answer to the previous question indicates that some code-only answers are acceptable, I feel that they could usually be improved with just a little extra effort from the answerer.

I propose that we introduce a new "Code-only Answer" deletion reason with the following canned comment:

While this code-only answer may solve the problem at hand, more explanation is necessary to help future users of the site understand how to apply this solution to their situation.

Do you agree that this is a step in the right direction?

Sorry to see you get so many downvotes. I think this is a good question, and essentially getting all 'no' answers doesn't make it a bad one to ask. After all, I came onto meta thinking to ask the same thing but am satisfied by the reasons given here why it won't work. –  Numeron Oct 20 at 0:30
@Numeron that's just how meta works. It's cool. –  Austin Mullins Oct 20 at 0:54

3 Answers 3

up vote 13 down vote accepted

You can find on StackOverflow a Japanese user who follows one of the same tags that I follow. This user understands English (and the code in the questions) well enough to know exactly what is going wrong, and often expresses their solution as a code-only answer.

These code-only answers are usually the best answers the question receives, even if occasionally they may not be recognized as such. Even when the majority is not brilliant enough to give this user's answers the attention they deserve, I always do, because I know it to be rewarding.

If you chase this user away from StackOverflow, I will make it my mission to chase you away from StackOverflow.

Nah, I'm kidding. But I would be sorry if you bother this user. Some ignoramus might contribute to make them feel unwelcome by using the deletion reason that you suggest, and this site needs more users like them, not fewer.

Accepted because this speaks to the real heart of the issue: that the best answerers are not always the best writers in English. –  Austin Mullins Jul 5 at 19:56

A code-only answer is still an answer.

It may be a bad quality answer, but that does not warrant deletion!

If you must, downvote such posts instead, as a code dump is not necessarily helpful. Remember that the Low Quality review queue is not just there to delete posts. You can also edit posts to improve them, or comment to leave feedback.

Regarding down-votes, I seem to have a problem with the review queue UI. The option to down-vote is either not there or is not easy to find within the queue itself. I'll need to work harder to learn the system. –  Austin Mullins Jul 5 at 19:55
@AustinMullins: That's not what that queue is for. It is for deleting absolute crap and/or salvaging what can be salvaged. Of course, you are free to do more. –  Deduplicator Jul 5 at 21:56
@Austin: sorry, I forgot the vote buttons are not available in the LQ queue. You can follow the direct post link. The goal is more to say 'Agreed, it is absolute crap' or 'Nah, this is good enough, let it be'. –  Martijn Pieters Jul 5 at 23:18
I actually do support the OP's request, in some cases, especially things like this (which prompted me to come here - around this time of night I start to see a ton of Code-only questions + Code-only answers). I think these types of answers do warrant deletion on two grounds: 1) They hurt the OP more than help, which is the opposite of what we want, and 2) They encourage more answers of the same type just by being here as an example. However, I understand and agree with the counterpoints as well. –  Jason C Nov 6 at 9:31

That "many answers flagged as low-quality are code-only answers" does not mean that "many code-only answers are flagged as low-quality", which in turn doesn't imply that they should be deleted.

Or would you really delete this answer? Even though it is accepted with 64 upvotes?


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