Development/Getting Started

So you want to help us develop Growstuff? Fantastic! Welcome aboard!

This page has all the info you need to get up and coding.

Quick Start
If you just want to take a look at our code or start hacking, and you're reasonably technically confident, try out our quick start guide.

New to coding?
If you're new to coding, or your skills are a bit rusty, check out our Newbie guide for some beginner-friendly resources.

Step by step
This is a more detailed guide for how to get started.


 * Tool installation -- there are some software packages you'll want to install to get up and running. This lists them and points you at download sites.
 * Sign up for these services -- there are a few online services that will make your life easier as a developer, which you should probably sign up for.
 * Setup -- everything you need to get Growstuff's code running on your local development box.
 * Coding environment -- how to set up your coding environment to be productive.
 * Coding session -- how to work on our code; walks you through a typical coding session.
 * Submitting code -- how to submit your code to our project.

Understanding our code
Here are some resources for helping you understand how our code is laid out.


 * Design overview
 * Code tour
 * Development/Databases

Development practices
We mostly use an Agile/Extreme Programming process for developing our code. The following pages will help you understand that a bit better.


 * Pairing -- we like our developers to work together in pairs. This explains why and shows you how.
 * Iteration -- we manage and track our work by working in short bursts called "iterations".
 * Test driven development -- why writing automated tests is a key part of coding on Growstuff, and how to do it.

Coding by yourself (without pairing)
We really like our developers to pair-program, but if that doesn't work for you for some reason, here are some ways you can code on Growstuff by yourself.


 * Solo coding

Troubleshooting and getting help

 * Troubleshooting guide for developers
 * Getting help for developers