Note: Please read the topic first and make sure this actually applies before directing the OP of it here.

When you get an idea for a new project, you are probably very excited about it, and therefore want to create a topic about it to announce it. However, when you do this, you are likely to get backlash, and your topic may even get closed.

Why?

Here is an example topic someone could create in the Advanced Topics.

SuperbSpectacularScratcher wrote:

Hello! I'll make a Scratch Mod called “Glitter”! It will have the following features:

([SuperbSpectacularScratcher]'s profile picture :: sensing)

(☁ cloud list :: list)

I will make it tomorrow.

You can probably notice the central issue with this - the blocks are very difficult to create. Getting a Scratcher's profile picture wouldn't be hard, you could just use the API, but putting it into a Scratch project is. As the post does not go into any detail of how this would work, it's clear that this wasn't very well thought through. Cloud lists would imply that the person creating the mod has a server on which cloud variables can be stored, on which projects can also be shared, which is also done in a way that would allow advertising in Scratch. Without any further details, this would be impossible to create. Also, it is suggested that this would be made in one day, but has not been made yet. This is way too low of a timeframe.

Issues like these are pretty easily spotted by some people, but they might not be for someone who is excited about their project idea and doesn't really see the problems in their idea. However, this causes people to be pretty unhappy, as they might've actually been very excited for this project, only to realize that it does not exist yet and is also not thought through.

Therefore, it is recommended not to prematurely announce your project ideas to the world. Instead, try making the project - if it goes well, and you have released it so that it's open for everyone to try, then you can make the topic. This also ensures that there is less clutter in the ATs, and only real, currently usable, programs.

This also applies to projects that are made, but not released yet. There's two potential reason to do this:

• The project is mainly done, but there's still some tiny flaw that needs to be fixed. Often, these flaws look much less important than they actually are. What currently looks like three lines of code might require a complete change of the architecture of your program. Of course, this doesn't always happen — but if it isn't, go ahead and write those three lines and release it!
  
• The project is done, but you want to build up hype. The problem with this is that it's very hard to be sure that the project is actually done if you're viewing the topic. The poster could actually not have started with their project at all, and just said it's done so they're not redirected to this topic. Or there might be one “tiny” bug that they just forgot to mention (see the point above). This makes people much more skeptical of your project. All in all, if there's an actual thing to try, people will be much more excited than if it's just some words describing what it is!

If you have any suggestions to improve this post, please post them here.

mybearworld wrote:

Instead, try making the project - if it goes well, then you can make the project.

words for life really. /s
i think it's supposed to say

then you can make the topic.

EngineerRunner wrote:

(#3)

mybearworld wrote:

Instead, try making the project - if it goes well, then you can make the project.

words for life really. /s
i think it's supposed to say

then you can make the topic.

Thank you, that's true.

You should add that if you're itching to create a topic, at least get a prototype done. That's what I did with Snazzle lol

Very nice! I would suggest removing the “actually” marked below:

mybearworld wrote:

recommended not to actually prematurely announce

NFlex23 wrote:

Very nice! I would suggest removing the “actually” marked below:

mybearworld wrote:

recommended not to actually prematurely announce

Thanks!

Noted

Very helpful sticky!
Congrats btw

Did you make this because of this LOL
https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/693573/
Edit: oh my god he did XDDDD

medians wrote:

(#10)
Did you make this because of this LOL
<link removed>
Edit: oh my god he did XDDDD

There've been a lot of occurrences of this lately, and Jayden had a good idea there

New ATs Sticky?

DifferentDance8 wrote:

New ATs Sticky?

Yep!

mybearworld wrote:

DifferentDance8 wrote:

New ATs Sticky?

Yep!

Last one was stickied Q1 2023, which was a couple months ago, but it definitely feels like forever

The oldest one is from 2013 (!) which means it's 10 years old (!!)

Redstone1080 wrote:

mybearworld wrote:

DifferentDance8 wrote:

New ATs Sticky?

Yep!

Last one was stickied Q1 2023, which was a couple months ago, but it definitely feels like forever

The oldest one is from 2013 (!) which means it's 10 years old (!!)

Wait, 2013 was 10 years ago???? HOW
Also a few months really does not feel like forever

wow this is one of the greatest jd idea.
Nice sticky.

Congrats on the Sticky!

VedanshS933 wrote:

(#17)
Congrats on the Sticky!

Thanks!

How about posting links to the make the thing before announcing it memes?

applejuiceproduc wrote:

How about posting links to the make the thing before announcing it memes?

Wouldn't that lead to off-topic/spam posts?