Steveire: New page: 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...

2008-12-30T15:09:46Z

New page: 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...

New page

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 ==

:: '''[[Paths/Developer/Creating plasmoids with scripts|Creating plasmoids with scripts]]''' Learn how to create simple plasmoids with QtScript and python. No compiling required.

:: '''[[Paths/Developer/Creating application plugins and scripts|Creating Application plugins and scripts]]''' Learn to create plugins for Kig, koffice, and other KDE applications. No compiling required.

:: '''[[Paths/Developer/Basics of KDE applications|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.

:: '''[[Paths/Developer/Fixing bugs and sending patches|Fixing bugs and sending patches]]''' Once you understand the basics of how kde applications are built, it's time to start improving it.

:: '''[[Paths/Developer/Join a team|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 ...

:: '''[[Paths/Developer/How to use CMake|How to use CMake]]''' Get to understand the KDE build system and the layout of the KDE Software Distribution and buildsystem

:: '''[[Paths/Developer/Tour of Qt and KDE frameworks|Tour of Qt and KDE frameworks]]''' For greater integration, KDE uses replacements for some Qt modules and classes.

:: '''[[Paths/Developer/Development tools and tips|Development Tools and tips]]''' Learn to use the tools to create KDE software.

:: '''[[Paths/Developer/Writing translatable code|Writing translatable code]]'''

:: '''[[Paths/Developer/Writing API documentation|Writing API documentation]]'''

:: '''[[Paths/Developer/Writing portable Code|Writing portable Code]]'''

:: '''[[Paths/Developer/Getting your application to the users|Getting your application to the users]]''' Put your application on kde-apps.org, or in the official KDE modules.

:: '''[[Paths/Developer/Design patterns|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.
* {{KDEML|kde-devel}} KDE developers mailing list. This list is for development of KDE applications, while {{KDEML|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, [http://www.qtcentre.org/forum/ forum] and [http://wiki.qtcentre.org/ wiki]
* [http://doc.trolltech.com/qq/ Qt Quarterly] - Regularly published usage tips from the Engineers who create Qt.
* [http://lists.trolltech.com/qt-interest/ Qt interest] - Mailing list for the Qt community. Helpful for Qt related issues.
* [http://doc.trolltech.com/4.4/demos.html Qt demos] - Simple uses of individual parts of the Qt framework.
* [http://doc.trolltech.com/4.4/examples.html Qt examples] - Somewhat more complex example uses of Qt.

=== Books ===
* [http://cartan.cas.suffolk.edu/oopdocbook/opensource/ Design patterns in Qt] Free licenced complete book on Qt
* [Foundations of Qt development] By KDE contributor Johan Thelin.
* [http://www.mindview.net/Books/TICPP/ThinkingInCPP2e.html 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]]

Paths/Developer - Revision history

Steveire: New page: 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...