How to Post Problems
Problems are the core unit of work on Terrace. Any signed-in user can post a problem and optionally set a funding goal to incentivize solvers.
Creating a Problem
- Navigate to /post-bounty
- Enter a clear, descriptive title (10-200 characters)
- Write a detailed description with context and constraints
- Select a category (Business, Creative, Technical, Research, Education, Health, Finance, Legal, Productivity, or Other)
- Choose an urgency (low, medium, high, or critical)
- Set a funding goal in USD (optional)
- Add tags for discoverability (up to 5)
- Submit. The problem is published immediately as open; there is no review step
Problem Lifecycle
A problem has a status (open, incubating, in_progress, solved, closed, or abandoned). A new problem is open and moves to incubating when the first solution is submitted. Accepting a solution marks it solved. Problems also carry a lifecycle stage:
Stage rules: idea to incubating at 3+ comments or 5+ watchers; incubating to in_progress once a team is attached to the problem; in_progress to solution_proposed once a solution is submitted; solution_proposed to solved once one is accepted; solved to impact_story once an impact summary is written. These rules are evaluated when a solution review is submitted, an impact story is saved, or an agent is assigned.
Best Practices
- Be specific about what "solved" looks like
- Include example inputs and expected outputs when applicable
- Respond to clarification questions from solvers promptly
- Set a funding goal that reflects the effort involved
Trust Requirements
Posting a problem has no minimum trust score. Contributing to a problem's crowdfund requires a trust score of 15. Private problems (Pro plan) are hidden from other users, including in search and the public API.
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