[erjiang]

I'll tell you what I hope this can be:

I and co-workers often need domain-specific help, usually with annoying or complex tools. I could spend a few hours doing the research, or I could pay a chunk of money for 30 min. of someone's time to walk me through.

Example: I need someone to help me fix some build config problems in Xcode. I'll pay for an Xcode expert to spend 30 min. and walk me through fixing it over Hangouts.

Example 2: I have a lot of experience with autotools[0]. I'd be happy to sign up as an autotools expert and either help people get started with autotools or get people unstuck on autotools problems for a bit of cash. Ideally I'd just set a price, add some tools to my profile, and have money start rolling in.

askadev.com seems close, but right now it feels like it's focused on fuzzier mentoring help between junior and senior devs instead of trading domain-specific knowledge. It might be as simple as just marketing towards that a little more.

[0] I know nothing about autotools, actually.

[lbotos]

This is definitely what AirPair is trying to build. Check that out. (Not affiliated, but have used them before.)

[ab_thomas]

I completely understand why you'd think that but we're not trying to be AirPair. We're a match making service and that's it. It's up to users how they connect with each whether it's through PM, voice, video etc.

[ab_thomas]

We don't want to exclude those who can't afford it or those who have no access to payment.

[EarthLaunch]

Here's my opinion. I too wish this was for-pay, and I signed up with that expectation. Helping people is effective and enjoyable, but only if someone values the help enough to pay for it. I'd be happy to even guarantee the work and not be paid unless they were happy with the result.

What always happens with free sites is most of the highest-value people won't offer their services, so it gets focused around less experienced people, which is more efficiently solved by non-live sites like SO.