As a counterpoint, here are a list of highly ranked, small-code questions that have high quality answers, and are generally successful:
- Each element is the sum of itself with the next element of a List: now do this point-free in HaskellEach element is the sum of itself with the next element of a List: now do this point-free in Haskell
- http://codereview.stackexchange.com/questions/25905https://codereview.stackexchange.com/questions/25905
- Implementing a Singleton pattern in C#Implementing a Singleton pattern in C#
- http://codereview.stackexchange.com/questions/14123https://codereview.stackexchange.com/questions/14123
- single array or many single argument to call a constructor with params?single array or many single argument to call a constructor with params?
- http://codereview.stackexchange.com/questions/30024https://codereview.stackexchange.com/questions/30024
- Shorthand for isset($var['foo']) ? $var['foo'] : ''Shorthand for isset($var['foo']) ? $var['foo'] : ''
- http://codereview.stackexchange.com/questions/21023https://codereview.stackexchange.com/questions/21023
- Which way is better for converting number to string?Which way is better for converting number to string?
- http://codereview.stackexchange.com/questions/31680https://codereview.stackexchange.com/questions/31680
I could go on, and on, and on (cherry-picking off this query on SEDE)
in each of these questions, the complete opposite of what Mat suggests may happen, did happen....
These short questions are to-the-point, they have long, detailed answers, that overall improve the quality of the site.
Small questions often highlight controversial or common problems, and invite experienced users to provide the best answers.
As for answering them with a 'mere comment', that is true for long questions as well as short questions.
The length of the question has no bearing on it's quality.
Finally, whether a question is on-topic or not, is not related to its length, but about whether it conforms to the requirements of being on topic.
Adding a requirement about code length to the on-topic system will be overly complicated, and ineffective. For example, what is to be said:
- python programs must be at least 256 character, or 5 lines before they are on topic, but that is assuming they use tabs, not spaces for indents.
- brainfuck programs must be at least 4 characters.
- regex problems must have at least one grouping construct
- COBOL programs need a .....
- C programs must be at least twice as long as the same program written in perl
