finding-your-way.md

Finding Your Way

I see a problem	I have an idea	I would like to help

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I see a problem

on the website	with the command-line client (CLI)	getting started with a language	with a specific exercise

I see a problem on the website

• If you're having trouble figuring out how to do something on the website, jump in the online support chat and ask there.

• Check exercism/exercism.io's repo for bugs; and while we might know there's an issue, any additional details sometimes can help.
• If the website has a bug, you can help by filing a bug report in the exercism/exercism.io repository.
  • if you have the time and the desire, you can help even more by fixing it.

I see a problem with the command-line client (CLI)

• If you're having trouble installing or working with the CLI, ask for help in our online support chat.

• It may be a reported/known bug; check exercism/cli's repo for bugs.
• If the CLI has a bug, you can help by filing a bug report in the exercism/cli repository.
  • if you have the time and the desire, you can help even more by fixing it.

I see a problem getting started with a language

• If you're having trouble with the setup instructions, ask for help in our online support chat.

• If you see a problem with the setup instructions, you can help by filing a bug report in the "Issues" section of the corresponding language repository.
  • if you have the time and the desire, you can help even more by fixing it.

I see a problem with a specific exercise

• If a particular exercise is giving you grief, ask for help in our online support chat.

• If there's a defect in the...

  • instructions of the exercise, you can make a difference by filing a bug report in the [exercism/x-common repository][x-common-new-issue].
    • if you have the time and the desire, you can help even more by fixing it.
  • tests or starter code of the exercise, you can help by filing a bug report in the "Issues" section of the corresponding language repository.
    • if you have the time and the desire, you can help even more by fixing it.

• You can ask for help within the track:

  1. exercism submit the code you have;
  • Follow the link that the CLI returns to view your new submission on the website;
  • In the "Manage" pull-down (top-right), select "Request Help".

  When you do this, your submission is highlighted, letting others know you're stuck.

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I have an idea

making the website better	improving the command-line client (CLI)	a brand-new exercise for Exercism	improving an existing exercise

I have an idea about making the website better

We're currently working with professional user experience designers on rethinking the entire experience from scratch. Check out the roadmap for more details about this.

I have an idea about improving the command-line client (CLI)

Current specific discussions:

• Overall user experience with the CLI: exercism/discussions#129.

Here are some helpful starter searches in the two repositories that contain ideas about the CLI:

• exercism/cli

• exercism/discussions?cli

If the idea isn't being discussed yet, kick it off in the exercism/cli repository.

I have an idea about a brand-new exercise for Exercism

New exercise ideas are definitely welcome! Here's how to ensure the idea lands in the right place:

Note: the central library of exercises on Exercism is https://github.com/exercism/x-common.

• Check to see if the exercise is listed: https://github.com/exercism/x-common/tree/master/exercises.
  • If it is there, but not in the language you'd like to solve it in, put in a request in that particular language's repository: http://exercism.io/repositories.
    • if you have the time and the desire, you can help even more by implementing it.
  • If it is not there, suggest it in [exercism/x-common][x-common-new-issue].
    • if you have the time and the desire, you can help even more by implementing it.
• If you know of a good source of potential new problems, please share: exercism/x-common#107.

I have an idea about improving an existing exercise

• If the idea is to improve the...
  • instructions of the exercise, you can make a difference by making the suggestion in the [exercism/x-common repository][x-common-new-issue].
    • if you have the time and the desire, you can help even more by fixing it.
  • tests or starter code of the exercise, you can help by making the suggestion in the "Issues" section of the corresponding language repository.
    • if you have the time and the desire, you can help even more by fixing it.

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I would like to help

with technical writing and organization	with a particular programming language	with web programming	with development in Ruby	with development in Go	with web design	by mentoring others

I would like to help; I can / want to get better at technical writing and organization

• Find discussions about ways we'd like to improve our documentation: exercism/discussions?documentation
• Check out the open issues in the docs repository
• Help make the instructions of an exercise more clear, interesting and/or engaging by tweaking its README.md.
• Issues across all of Exercism looking for help with documentation: [exercism?documentation][org-issues-docs]

I would like to help; I am fluent in / want to get better at a particular programming language

Are you a language enthusiast? Help other people fall in love with your language by...

Mentoring Others

• Give feedback on other's submissions in your activity stream.
• Help others get unstuck in the support chat.
• However you support others, aim to do it [the Exercism way][providing-feedback].

Contributing to a Language Track

This means helping maintain the code of the exercises and supporting tooling for a particular language.

• Find a language you love or want to get to know better: http://exercism.io/repositories
• Orient yourself through our Getting Involved in a Track guide.

I would like to help; I know / want to get better at web programming

Do you have/want to have chops in HTML+CSS+JavaScript/CoffeeScript and want to improve the feel and function of the Exercism website?

1. Setup your local development environment.

• Locate a feature/bug to work on:
  • exercism/exercism.io?label:good first patch
  • [exercism/exercism.io?label:bug][exercism-bug]
• Work the issue: the contribution workflow.

You may also find these helpful:

• Architecture Overview of Exercism

I would like to help; I know / want to get better at Ruby

Do you have/want to have chops in Ruby or Sinatra and want to add to the website?

1. Setup your local development environment.

• Locate a feature/bug to work on:
  • exercism/exercism.io?label:good first patch
  • [exercism/exercism.io?label:bug][exercism-bug]
• Work the issue: the contribution workflow.

You may also find these helpful:

• Architecture Overview of Exercism

I would like to help; I know / want to get better at Go

One of the more subtle but important parts of the Exercism experience is our CLI; it's written in Go.

1. Setup your local development environment for the CLI: exercism/cli

• Locate a feature/bug to work on: exercism/cli
• Work the issue: the contribution workflow.

You may also find these helpful:

• Architecture Overview of Exercism

I would like to help; I know / want to get better at web design

Do you love making enticing user experiences? We're working with UX professionals on rethinking the entire Exercism experience. We're going to be sharing our discoveries and designs in the coming months.

To hear about it when we're ready for input, feedback, thoughts, and opinions, watch the discussions repository.

I would like to help; I know / want to get better at mentoring others

Do you like mentoring people?

• Hang out in the support chat support chat, or
• submit an exercise so you can give feedback to people who have submitted it, too.