The Tech team is responsible for maintenance of the site and the development of new features. It is comprised of a large group of volunteers with a diverse range of experience and capabilities, and provides a supportive environment to develop your skills while contributing to the site.
Tech staff usually fall into three broad groups:
- Backend developers - proficient in programming, they code new features and resolve bugs with the previously-coded features. A willingness to work in Perl is required, as this is what the majority of the site architecture is written in. After a few months on the team, Stockholm Syndrome settles in, and most people come to tolerate Perl.
- Database administrators - experienced with databases and MySQL, they focus on improving site performance to cope with the increased demands the backend developers keep heaping on it. The site has very large amounts of data stored in MySQL, and a high rate of queries, these people are involved in the decision-making and administration involved in using data at scale, from table schema design and query optimization to backup and disaster recovery.
- Frontend designers - people who cry with despair at the dated appearance of the site, and have the skills and realisable plans for addressing this (Pink Theme confirmed). Improving the site's accessibility is also a key goal in this area. As one of the internet's older sites, NationStates doesn't currently employ a modern frontend framework, and is mostly old-school HTML and CSS at present. There are plans to change this.
How to Apply:
We have previously held several rounds of recruitment for the Tech team, and have now taken the decision to permanently welcome applications to the Tech team on an ongoing basis from interested and talented site users. We are only taking applications for this role, not nominations. If you are interested in applying, please contact us via Getting Help Request.
Supporting information on your skills is essential, as well as letting us know what you think you could achieve in the role. We will disregard applications that fail to include this.
Ideally please link to projects or a GitHub profile. We understand that some code mostly in their profession, so this is not always possible - but if you do have a GitHub profile, please add it. If accepted to the team, GitHub is mandatory in order to contribute to the source code.
FAQs:
What's the deadline for applying?
There is no deadline for applications - we are always on the lookout for talented individuals who have ideas for contributing to the site.
How many people are you looking for?
We do not have a target for a number of people to take on - we'll evaluate all applications that come through.
I have some blemishes on my Moderation record. Can I still apply?
Yes. This is considered as part of the Moderator team review, and we consider the "whole person," not isolated instances of misbehavior alone. Note that while Moderating is not a primary responsibility of joining the Tech team, and many Techs do not involve themselves in it, the site staff would need to be comfortable with candidates having access to Moderator powers.
Is there a minimum age for the role?
You will need to be at least 18 years of age to serve in a Moderator or Tech role.
I've heard you all use Discord to communicate. I don't have it, can I still apply?
No. The team utilizes Discord extensively in day-to-day communication, and it is critical that new Tech staff members have access to the rest of the team while learning the codebase.
Can I use AI in my application, or within the role?
While AI tools like Copilot can offer useful support when coding, they are no substitute for genuine competence and experience. If you use AI to support your application, you must state how.
How soon will I hear back?
We acknowledge all applications on receipt, usually within a day. Promising applicants will be contacted with follow-up questions, usually within a couple of weeks, although sometimes our deliberations may take longer depending on staff availability. If you have not heard back within a month, please assume that your application was unsuccessful -- if you wish, you can contact us for confirmation via Getting Help Request.
Please feel free to ask any other questions you have in this thread, but do not use it for applications/nominations.
