After a fair bit of reviewing I am finding a consistent high proportion of newbie questions in these categories. Is it possible that more help up front would help stem the tide?

First: "please write my code for me". See also: [How to close "Please write code" type questions?](https://meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/262103/how-to-close-please-write-code-type-questions). Personally I think this comes up often enough that a specific close reason would be justified, which I work around by writing a comment to this effect. This is a **big** category, and really deserves some specific newbie advice.

Second: "please debug my code" questions have been raised many times here, and I won't rehash the debate. I'm just asking for more specific advice targeted at newbies to try to stem the flow of horrible code with trivial bugs.

Third: "please find a bug that is not in the code I've shown you". It's all very well producing a page of [SSCCE](http://sscce.org/) help after the event, but I've spent significant time looking for things that just aren't there, and eventually voted to close in frustration.

So the question is: can we conceivably provide some specific, blunt advice specifically to newbies before they ask someone to write their code or find their trivial or invisible bugs?

The alternative is simply close early and close often, in the hope that next time they'll try harder.

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When and where? At the point where a new user asks their first question. Possibly anyone who asks a question with a rep of less than 10 or 20. Simple, straightforward, blunt.

* Stack Overflow is not here to do you your assignments or homework for you. Don't ask.
* Stack Overflow is not a code-writing service. Please do not ask us to write your code for you.
* Stack Overflow is not a debugging service. Please do not ask us to find simple bugs and mistakes in your programs. You should be able to find them yourself using a debugger or similar tools.
* Stack Overflow can help with tough problems but only after you've narrowed it down to the minimum code, and then posted the complete problem. See SSCCE.

Remember that Stack Overflow is about good questions as well as good answers. Don't abuse it.