View
Tools

Get Involved

Version 6 by Kip Streithorst
on Aug 22, 2009 15:56.

<< Changes from 5 to 6

compared with

Current by Kip Streithorst
on Apr 12, 2010 08:09.

Key

This line was removed.

This word was removed. This word was added.

This line was added.

Comment:

Changes (2)

View Page History

...

h1. Why Should I Get Involved?

Opticks is an *free and open source* application. The best part of any open source project is the community, so why not join in? There are a variety of ways to get involved.

h1. I'm a Scientist/Analyst/End-user, How Can I Get Involved?

h5. Step 1: Connect
First, you have to connect to the Opticks community and here's how:

* [Download|Download] the software, that's a good start.
* Have a question?

** Use our [e-mail list|Mailing Lists] to ask
** Jump into our [real-time chat|opticksChat:Chat Client] and ask

* [Report any bugs|Bug and New Feature Enhancement Reporting Guidelines] you run across

* Is Opticks missing something? Tell us about it and [put in a new feature request|Bug and New Feature Enhancement Reporting Guidelines].

* Follow the latest developments
** Subscribe to the latest announcements using any RSS or Feed Reader, here is our [Feed|http://feeds2.feedburner.com/OpticksAnnouncements]

...

** Or have the latest announcements [e-mailed to you|http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=OpticksAnnouncements&loc=en_US]
** Come back and check out the [Roadmap] to see the future direction of Opticks.
* Follow the rest of the community
** Subscribe to the latest Opticks related blogs using any RSS or Feed Reader, here is our [Feed|http://feeds2.feedburner.com/OpticksSpectrum]
** Or have the latest blog postings [e-mailed to you|http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=OpticksSpectrum&loc=en_US]

h5. Step 2: Collaborate
Now that you've connected, you can help grow and support the opticks community, here's how:
* Answer questions. It's one of the easiest ways to give back and one of the very best ways.
** You can answer questions on the [e-mail list|Mailing Lists].
** Or the [real-time chat|opticksChat:Chat Client]
** Or Both.
* Tell your friends
** If you have a blog or start a blog, let us know and we can add your blog to the [Opticks Spectrum|http://feeds2.feedburner.com/OpticksSpectrum], a collection of Opticks community blogs. If you want your blog added, please contact Kip Streithorst, [mailto:kstreith@ballforge.net].
* Help anyway you can
** Have some sample data? Why not donate it to the community?
** Have some free time? Why not test the release candidates and let us know what problems you find?
** Know how to write documentation? Why not help improve the documentation and make it even better for the next new user?

h1. I'm a Programmer, How Can I Get Involved?
* First, check out the above section for ways to get involved. It's a great list of ways to get involved that applies to everyone.
* Write an extension. Check out the [Opticks Extension Development|opticksSDK:Welcome To Extension Development] for more details on writing an extension.
* Fix an open bug or implement a new feature request. Check out [Opticks Development|opticksDev:] for more details.