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Contributing to OpenTraceLab

We welcome contributions from everyone! OpenTraceLab is a community-driven project that benefits from diverse perspectives and expertise.

Ways to Contribute

🐛 Report Bugs

  • Use the "Report Issue" button on any documentation page
  • Create detailed GitHub issues with reproduction steps
  • Include system information and sample files when relevant

📝 Improve Documentation

  • Fix typos and improve clarity
  • Add examples and tutorials
  • Translate content to other languages
  • Update outdated information

💻 Contribute Code

  • Fix bugs and improve performance
  • Add new features and capabilities
  • Write protocol decoders
  • Improve device drivers

🧪 Test and Validate

  • Test new releases and features
  • Validate hardware compatibility
  • Provide feedback on user experience
  • Report performance issues

🎓 Help Others

  • Answer questions in discussions
  • Help troubleshoot issues
  • Share knowledge and best practices
  • Mentor new contributors

Getting Started

1. Set Up Development Environment

Clone repositories: 

# Main documentation
git clone https://github.com/OpenTraceLab/website
cd website
# Core components
git clone https://github.com/OpenTraceLab/opentracecapture
git clone https://github.com/OpenTraceLab/opentraceview
git clone https://github.com/OpenTraceLab/opentracedecode
Install dependencies: 
# Documentation (this site)
pip install -r requirements.txt
mkdocs serve
# Core libraries - see installation guide
sudo apt install build-essential cmake libglib2.0-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev

2. Find Something to Work On

Good first issues: - Documentation improvements - Simple bug fixes - Protocol decoder enhancements - Test case additions Check these resources: - GitHub Issues labeled "good first issue" - Roadmap for planned features - Community discussions for ideas - FAQ for common problems

3. Make Your Changes

Follow our guidelines: - Write clear, descriptive commit messages - Include tests for new functionality - Update documentation as needed - Follow existing code style Test your changes: 

# Documentation
mkdocs serve  # Test locally
# Code changes
make check    # Run unit tests
make install  # Test installation

Contribution Guidelines

Code Style

C/C++ Code: - Follow existing style in the codebase - Use descriptive variable names - Add comments for complex logic - Keep functions focused and small Python Code (Decoders): - Follow PEP 8 style guidelines - Use type hints where appropriate - Include docstrings for public functions - Write comprehensive test cases Documentation: - Use clear, concise language - Include code examples - Add screenshots for UI features - Follow Markdown best practices

Commit Messages

Use clear, descriptive commit messages: 

component: Brief description of change
Longer explanation of what changed and why.
Include any relevant issue numbers.
Fixes #123
Examples: 
docs: Add protocol decoder development guide
opentraceview: Fix crash when loading large files
opentracedecode: Add support for USB HID protocol

Pull Request Process

  1. Fork the repository on GitHub
  2. Create a feature branch from main
  3. Make your changes with clear commits
  4. Test thoroughly on your system
  5. Submit pull request with description
  6. Respond to feedback from reviewers
  7. Celebrate when merged! 🎉 Pull request template: 
    ## Description
Brief description of changes
## Type of Change
- [ ] Bug fix
- [ ] New feature
- [ ] Documentation update
- [ ] Performance improvement
## Testing
- [ ] Tested on Linux
- [ ] Tested on Windows
- [ ] Tested on macOS
- [ ] Added/updated tests
## Checklist
- [ ] Code follows style guidelines
- [ ] Self-review completed
- [ ] Documentation updated
- [ ] No breaking changes

Specific Contribution Areas

Protocol Decoders

High-priority protocols: - USB (HID, CDC, Mass Storage) - Ethernet protocols - Automotive diagnostics (OBD-II, UDS) - IoT protocols (LoRaWAN, Zigbee) Decoder development: 1. Study the protocol - Read specifications and examples 2. Create decoder skeleton - Use existing decoders as templates 3. Implement decode logic - Handle all protocol states 4. Add comprehensive tests - Cover edge cases and errors 5. Write documentation - Usage examples and parameter descriptions See our Protocol Decoder HOWTO for detailed guidance.

Device Drivers

Popular device requests: - Newer Saleae Logic analyzers - High-speed USB 3.0 devices - Wireless logic analyzers - Mixed-signal analyzers Driver development: 1. Understand the hardware - Study datasheets and protocols 2. Implement basic communication - Device detection and configuration 3. Add capture functionality - Data acquisition and streaming 4. Handle edge cases - Error conditions and recovery 5. Test thoroughly - Various configurations and scenarios

User Interface

OpenTraceView improvements: - Performance optimizations - Usability enhancements - New visualization features - Accessibility improvements Design principles: - Keep interfaces intuitive - Maintain consistency with existing UI - Consider accessibility requirements - Test with real users

Documentation

High-impact areas: - Getting started tutorials - Protocol-specific guides - Troubleshooting documentation - API reference improvements Documentation standards: - Write for your audience (beginner vs expert) - Include practical examples - Use screenshots and diagrams - Keep content up-to-date

Community Guidelines

Communication

Be respectful and inclusive: - Welcome newcomers and help them get started - Provide constructive feedback - Assume good intentions - Follow our Code of Conduct Effective communication: - Ask questions when unclear - Provide context for issues - Share knowledge and resources - Celebrate others' contributions

Getting Help

Stuck on something? - Check existing documentation and issues - Ask in GitHub Discussions - Join community chat channels - Reach out to maintainers Mentorship: - New contributors can request mentorship - Experienced contributors encouraged to mentor - Pair programming sessions available - Regular community calls for discussion

Recognition

Contributor Recognition

We recognize contributions through: - Contributor lists in repositories - Release notes acknowledgments - Community highlights - Conference presentations Types of recognition: - Code contributors - Documentation writers - Bug reporters - Community helpers - Hardware testers

Maintainer Path

Becoming a maintainer: 1. Consistent contributions - Regular, quality contributions 2. Community involvement - Help others and participate in discussions 3. Technical expertise - Deep knowledge of project areas 4. Leadership skills - Guide project direction and mentor others Maintainer responsibilities: - Review and merge pull requests - Triage issues and bugs - Guide project roadmap - Mentor new contributors

Licensing

All contributions must be compatible with: - GPL-3.0-or-later for code - CC-BY-SA 4.0 for documentation By contributing, you agree to: - License your contributions under project licenses - Grant necessary rights for project use - Ensure you have rights to contribute the code

Copyright assignment: - Contributors retain copyright to their contributions - Grant project rights to use and distribute - Include appropriate copyright notices

Resources

Development Resources

Community Resources

Questions?

Need help getting started? - Create a GitHub Discussion - Use the "Report Issue" button for documentation questions - Join our community chat - Email maintainers directly Want to propose a major change? - Start with a GitHub Discussion - Create a design document - Get community feedback - Submit implementation plan Thank you for contributing to OpenTraceLab! Together, we're making digital signal analysis accessible to everyone. 🚀