Paths/Developer

This page is a guide to new KDE contributors who want to create software.

There are several entry points to this path. If you are not an experienced developer, but are willing to give it a try, start at the top. A more experienced developer could start with the introductory Qt or KDE tutorials, whereas an experienced C++/Qt developer could skip up to learning about the Pillars of KDE.

Dive in

Creating plasmoids with scripts Learn how to create simple plasmoids with QtScript and python. No compiling required.

Creating Application plugins and scripts Learn to create plugins for Kig, koffice, and other KDE applications. No compiling required.

Basics of KDE applications Learn to create a simple KDE application in C++. This series introduces several aspects of the KDE framework, so would be useful even for seasoned C++ developers to read.

Fixing bugs and sending patches Once you understand the basics of how kde applications are built, it's time to start improving it.

Join a team Work together with other KDE developers. Join the Plasma team! Or the KDE-PIM team! Or the KDE EDU team! Or the KDE Games team! Or ...

How to use CMake Get to understand the KDE build system and the layout of the KDE Software Distribution and buildsystem

Tour of Qt and KDE frameworks For greater integration, KDE uses replacements for some Qt modules and classes.

Development Tools and tips Learn to use the tools to create KDE software.

Writing translatable code

Writing API documentation

Writing portable Code

Getting your application to the users Put your application on kde-apps.org, or in the official KDE modules.

Design patterns Understanding some of the patterns found in Qt and KDE.

Resources

This is a list of resources to help you along the way to making valuable contributions to KDE. This is not required reading, or mailing lists you must subscribe to, but just a list of where to go for help.

Links and Documentation

• irc://freenode.net/kde-devel - Chat to kde developers in real time.
• kde-devel KDE developers mailing list. This list is for development of KDE applications, while kde-core-devel is for development of the KDE libraries.
• http://doc.trolltech.com/latest/ - Qt API documentation. As all KDE applications use Qt classes, these will become familiar quickly.
• http://api.kde.org - KDE API documentation.
• http://www.qtcentre.org/ - Unofficial website of Qt developers. This is not a KDE website, but another resource for relevant tutorials, forum and wiki
• Qt Quarterly - Regularly published usage tips from the Engineers who create Qt.
• Qt interest - Mailing list for the Qt community. Helpful for Qt related issues.
• Qt demos - Simple uses of individual parts of the Qt framework.
• Qt examples - Somewhat more complex example uses of Qt.

Books

• Design patterns in Qt Free licenced complete book on Qt
• [Foundations of Qt development] By KDE contributor Johan Thelin.
• Thinking in c++

Free licenced book on fundamentals of C++

• [Design Patterns] Gang of Four book describing many object orientated

patterns found in qt/kde

• [Programming pearls] Gain understanding of algorithms
• Development/Further_Information