Merge pull request #988 from marcelklehr/update/reorganize-readme

Improve and reorganize the README
This commit is contained in:
John McLear 2012-09-10 08:35:57 -07:00
commit 3cb9efb865
1 changed files with 68 additions and 72 deletions

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README.md
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# Our goal is to make collaborative editing the standard on the web
# Making collaborative editing the standard on the web
# About
Etherpad lite is a really-real time collaborative editor spawned from the Hell fire of Etherpad.
@ -7,24 +7,7 @@ is based on node.js ergo is much lighter and more stable than the original Ether
is that this will encourage more users to use and install a realtime collaborative editor. A smaller, manageable and well
documented codebase makes it easier for developers to improve the code and contribute towards the project.
Etherpad Lite is optimized to be easy embeddable. It provides a [HTTP API](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/HTTP-API)
that allows your web application to manage pads, users and groups.
There are several clients in for this API:
* [PHP](https://github.com/TomNomNom/etherpad-lite-client), thx to [TomNomNom](https://github.com/TomNomNom)
* [.Net](https://github.com/ja-jo/EtherpadLiteDotNet), thx to [ja-jo](https://github.com/ja-jo)
* [Node.js](https://github.com/tomassedovic/etherpad-lite-client-js), thx to [tomassedovic](https://github.com/tomassedovic)
* [Ruby](https://github.com/jhollinger/ruby-etherpad-lite), thx to [jhollinger](https://github.com/jhollinger)
* [Python](https://github.com/devjones/PyEtherpadLite), thx to [devjones](https://github.com/devjones)
There is also a [jQuery plugin](https://github.com/johnyma22/etherpad-lite-jquery-plugin) that helps you to embed Pads into your website
**Online demo**<br>
Visit <http://beta.etherpad.org> to test it live
Here is the **[FAQ](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/FAQ)**
# Etherpad vs Etherpad Lite
**Etherpad vs Etherpad lite**
<table>
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;</td><td><b>Etherpad</b></td><td><b>Etherpad Lite</b></td>
@ -43,78 +26,91 @@ Here is the **[FAQ](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/FAQ)**
</tr>
</table>
Etherpad Lite is designed to be easily embeddable and provides a [HTTP API](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/HTTP-API)
that allows your web application to manage pads, users and groups. It is recommended to use the client implementations available for this API, listed on [this wiki page](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/HTTP-API-client-libraries).
There is also a [jQuery plugin](https://github.com/johnyma22/etherpad-lite-jquery-plugin) that helps you to embed Pads into your website
**Visit [beta.etherpad.org](http://beta.etherpad.org) to test it live**
Also, check out the **[FAQ](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/FAQ)**, really!
# Installation
## Windows
1. Download <http://etherpad.org/etherpad-lite-win.zip>
2. Extract the file
3. Open the extracted folder and double click `start.bat`
4. Open your web browser and browse to <http://localhost:9001>. You like it? Look at the 'Next Steps' section below
### Prebuilt windows package
This package works out of the box on any windows machine, but it's not very useful for developing purposes...
1. Download the windows package <https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/downloads>
2. Extract the folder
Now, run `start.bat` and open <http://localhost:9001> in your browser. You like it? [Next steps](#next-steps).
### Fancy install
You'll need [node.js](http://nodejs.org) and (optionally, though recommended) git.
1. Grab the source, either
- download <https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/zipball/master>
- or `git clone https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite.git` (for this you need git, obviously)
2. start `bin\installOnWindows.bat`
Now, run `start.bat` and open <http://localhost:9001> in your browser.
Update to the latest version with `git pull origin`, then run `bin\installOnWindows.bat`, again.
[Next steps](#next-steps).
## Linux
You'll need gzip, git, curl, libssl develop libraries, python and gcc.
*For Debian/Ubuntu*: `apt-get install gzip git-core curl python libssl-dev pkg-config build-essential`
*For Fedora/CentOS*: `yum install gzip git-core curl python openssl-devel && yum groupinstall "Development Tools"`
**As root:**
<ol>
<li>Install the dependencies. We need gzip, git, curl, libssl develop libraries, python and gcc. <br><i>For Debian/Ubuntu</i> <code>apt-get install gzip git-core curl python libssl-dev pkg-config build-essential</code><br>
<i>For Fedora/CentOS</i> <code>yum install gzip git-core curl python openssl-devel && yum groupinstall "Development Tools"</code>
</li><br>
<li>Install node.js
<ol type="a">
<li>Download the latest <b>0.6.x</b> node.js release from <a href="http://nodejs.org/#download">http://nodejs.org/#download</a></li>
<li>Extract it with <code>tar xf node-v0.6*</code></li>
<li>Move into the node folder <code>cd node-v0.6*</code> and build node with <code>./configure && make && make install</code></li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
Additionally, you'll need [node.js](http://nodejs.org).
**As any user (we recommend creating a separate user called etherpad-lite):**
<ol start="3">
<li>Move to a folder where you want to install Etherpad Lite. Clone the git repository <code>git clone 'git://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite.git'</code><br></li>
<li>Change into the directory containing the Etherpad Lite source code clone with <code>cd etherpad-lite</code><br></li>
<li>Start it with <code>bin/run.sh</code><br>&nbsp;</li>
<li>Open your web browser and visit <a href="http://localhost:9001">http://localhost:9001</a>. You like it? Look at the 'Next Steps' section below</li>
</ol>
1. Move to a folder where you want to install Etherpad Lite. Clone the git repository `git clone git://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite.git`
2. Change into the new directory containing the cloned source code `cd etherpad-lite`
## Next Steps
You can modify the settings in the file `settings.json`
Now, run `bin\run.sh` and open <http://127.0.0.1:9001> in your browser.
If you have multiple settings files, you may pass one to `bin/run.sh` using the `-s|--settings` option. This allows you to run multiple Etherpad Lite instances from the same installation.
Update to the latest version with `git pull origin`. The next start with bin/run.sh will update the dependencies.
You should use a dedicated database such as "mysql" if you are planning on using etherpad-lite in a production environment, the "dirty" database driver is only for testing and/or development purposes.
You like it? [Next steps](#next-steps).
You can update to the latest version with `git pull origin`. The next start with bin/run.sh will update the dependencies
# Next Steps
Look at this wiki pages:
## Tweak the settings
You can modify the settings in `settings.json`. (If you need to handle multiple settings files, you can pass the path to a settings file to `bin/run.sh` using the `-s|--settings` option. This allows you to run multiple Etherpad Lite instances from the same installation.)
* [How to deploy Etherpad Lite as a service](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/How-to-deploy-Etherpad-Lite-as-a-service)
* [How to put Etherpad Lite behind a reverse Proxy](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/How-to-put-Etherpad-Lite-behind-a-reverse-Proxy)
* [How to customize your Etherpad Lite installation](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/How-to-customize-your-Etherpad-Lite-installation)
* [How to use Etherpad-Lite with jQuery](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/How-to-use-Etherpad-Lite-with-jQuery)
* [How to use Etherpad Lite with MySQL](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/How-to-use-Etherpad-Lite-with-MySQL)
* [Sites that run Etherpad Lite](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/Sites-that-run-Etherpad-Lite)
* [How to migrate the database from Etherpad to Etherpad Lite](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/How-to-migrate-the-database-from-Etherpad-to-Etherpad-Lite)
You should use a dedicated database such as "mysql", if you are planning on using etherpad-lite in a production environment, since the "dirtyDB" database driver is only for testing and/or development purposes.
You can find more information in the [wiki](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki). Feel free to improve these wiki pages
## Helpful resources
The [wiki](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki) is your one-stop resource for Tutorials and How-to's, really check it out! Also, feel free to improve these wiki pages.
# Develop
If you're new to git and github, start by watching [this video](http://youtu.be/67-Q26YH97E) then read this [git guide](http://learn.github.com/p/intro.html).
Documentation can be found in `docs/`.
If you're new to node.js, start with this video <http://youtu.be/jo_B4LTHi3I>.
# Development
You can debug with `bin/debugRun.sh`
## Things you should know
Read this [git guide](http://learn.github.com/p/intro.html) and watch this [video on getting started with Etherpad Lite Development](http://youtu.be/67-Q26YH97E).
If you want to find out how Etherpads Easysync works (the library that makes it really realtime), start with this [PDF](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/raw/master/doc/easysync/easysync-full-description.pdf) (complex, but worth reading).
If you're new to node.js, start with Ryan Dahl's [Introduction to Node.js](http://youtu.be/jo_B4LTHi3I).
You know all this and just want to know how you can help? Look at the [TODO list](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/TODO).
You can join the [mailinglist](http://groups.google.com/group/etherpad-lite-dev) or go to the freenode irc channel [#etherpad-lite-dev](http://webchat.freenode.net?channels=#etherpad-lite-dev)
You can debug Etherpad lite using `bin/debugRun.sh`.
You also help the project, if you only host a Etherpad Lite instance and share your experience with us.
If you want to find out how Etherpad's `Easysync` works (the library that makes it really realtime), start with this [PDF](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/raw/master/doc/easysync/easysync-full-description.pdf) (complex, but worth reading).
Please consider using [jshint](http://www.jshint.com/about/) if you plan to
contribute to Etherpad Lite.
## Getting started
You know all this and just want to know how you can help?
Look at the [TODO list](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/TODO) and our [Issue tracker](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/issues). (Please consider using [jshint](http://www.jshint.com/about/), if you plan to contribute code.)
Also, and most importantly, read our [**Developer Guidelines**](https://github.com/Pita/etherpad-lite/wiki/Developer-Guidelines), really!
# Get in touch
Join the [mailinglist](http://groups.google.com/group/etherpad-lite-dev) and make some noise on our freenode irc channel [#etherpad-lite-dev](http://webchat.freenode.net?channels=#etherpad-lite-dev)!
# Modules created for this project
@ -122,9 +118,9 @@ contribute to Etherpad Lite.
* [channels](https://github.com/Pita/channels) "Event channels in node.js" - ensures that ueberDB operations are atomic and in series for each key
* [async-stacktrace](https://github.com/Pita/async-stacktrace) "Improves node.js stacktraces and makes it easier to handle errors"
# Donations
* [Etherpad Foundation Flattr] (http://flattr.com/thing/71378/Etherpad-Foundation)
* [Paypal] (http://etherpad.org) <-- Click the donate button
# Donate!
* [Flattr] (http://flattr.com/thing/71378/Etherpad-Foundation)
* Paypal - Press the donate button on [etherpad.org](http://etherpad.org)
# License
[Apache License v2](http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html)