Ask the crowd: Scaffolding coordination and knowledge sharing in microtask programming

Programming work is inherently interdependent, requiring developers to share and coordinate decisions that crosscut the structure of code. This is particularly challenging for programming in a microtasking context, in which developers are assumed to be transient and thus cannot rely on traditional learning and coordination mechanisms such as an extended onboarding process and code ownership. In this paper, we explore scaffolding coordination and knowledge sharing through a question and answer system, structuring project knowledge and coordination into questions and answers. To investigate its potential for enabling coordination in a microtask setting, we implemented a Q&A system for microtask programming work and conducted a user study where a crowd used it to coordinate their work on a software project over a 30-hour period. The results reveal both the potential for the use of Q&A systems for within project coordination and challenges that this approach brings.