What is code-of-conduct?

This repository holds the community rulebook for OSSU, a free online computer science education community. Its purpose is to make sure that learners and contributors have a safe, welcoming place to study, ask questions, and collaborate without facing harassment or disruption. The document is organized into a few straightforward sections. It starts with everyday guidelines like being kind, focusing criticism on ideas rather than people, and asking questions directly instead of asking for permission to ask. It then lists strict prohibitions against threats, discriminatory language, sexual harassment, doxxing, and spamming. Notably, it allows swearing about frustrating code or hardware, just not at other people. The rest of the text covers how the rules are enforced. It explains how to report violations, either by emailing the moderation team or pinging them on the community's Discord server. It also outlines that consequences depend on the severity and history of the violation, ranging from temporary mutes to permanent bans. An appeal process exists for anyone who feels they were treated unjustly. This code of conduct is aimed at anyone participating in the OSSU community, from beginners learning their first programming language to experienced developers helping guide others. A concrete example of it in action: if a beginner asks a basic question in a chat channel, the rules ensure they will not be mocked for their skill level. Instead, the community is expected to help them learn, and anyone who insults them could face moderation. The project is notable for its practical, conversational tone. Rather than relying on dense legal language, the rules are written in plain English with touches of humor, making the expectations feel approachable. The document also credits other open-source community standards, showing it was built by adapting established practices rather than starting from scratch.