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Volunteer: Difference between revisions
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{{Volunteer Intro}} | {{Volunteer Intro}} | ||
== Media == | == Media == | ||
=== Screenshots === | === Screenshots === | ||
Another easy way for getting started contributing is to create nice FlightGear screenshots. You can upload these to the wiki where they can then be used to illustrate articles and to highlight articles via the [[:Category:Picture of the week|picture of the week]] on the main page. | Another easy way for getting started contributing is to create nice FlightGear screenshots. You can upload these to the wiki where they can then be used to illustrate articles and to highlight articles via the [[:Category:Picture of the week|picture of the week]] on the main page. | ||
[[Howto: Make nice screenshots]] provides some tips on how to create stunning shots. | [[Howto: Make nice screenshots]] provides some tips on how to create stunning shots, while [[Help:Upload]] discusses how to upload screenshots to the wiki. | ||
=== Videos === | === Videos === | ||
Many users like to capture their flights in FlightGear as a video, YouTube | Many users like to capture their flights in FlightGear as a video, YouTube for example is an excellent way for sharing such videos with fellow FlightGear users. YouTube videos can also be directly embedded in forum postings and wiki articles. | ||
=== Screencasts (video tutorials) === | === Screencasts (video tutorials) === | ||
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=== Maintaining the wiki === | === Maintaining the wiki === | ||
You can easily [ | You can easily [[Special:UserLogin|register an account]] and help [[Portal:Wiki|improve the wiki]], and provide your help in reviewing articles, fixing their look and readability, updating them and adding what you think is missing, for example many articles could be greatly improved just by adding a handful of relevant screenshots for illustration purposes. Proof reading of existing articles is also greatly appreciated. | ||
Registering takes less than 10 seconds. After registration, you'll have to confirm your registration by clicking on the link sent to you by email. | Registering takes less than 10 seconds. After registration, you'll have to confirm your registration by clicking on the link sent to you by email. | ||
=== Translating the wiki and FlightGear === | === Translating the wiki and FlightGear === | ||
You can also help localize the | You can also help localize the wiki by [[Help:Translate|translating]] important articles into different languages. Please see the [[translation requests]]. | ||
Also, FlightGear itself can be easily translated by updating the files in [[$FG_ROOT]]/Translations. For details please see [[Howto: Translate FlightGear|Translating FlightGear]]. | Also, FlightGear itself can be easily translated by updating the files in [[$FG_ROOT]]/Translations. For details please see [[Howto: Translate FlightGear|Translating FlightGear]]. | ||
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As an "article writer" you should be able to document your own experiences with FlightGear in a clear and concise style, so that others can easily follow your instructions in order to make use of the less known features of FlightGear. These articles don't need to be very comprehensive, they shall only provide users with easy to follow instructions on how to achieve something, and possibly some caveats and hints. | As an "article writer" you should be able to document your own experiences with FlightGear in a clear and concise style, so that others can easily follow your instructions in order to make use of the less known features of FlightGear. These articles don't need to be very comprehensive, they shall only provide users with easy to follow instructions on how to achieve something, and possibly some caveats and hints. | ||
=== Contributing to "The Manual" === | === Contributing to "The Manual" === | ||
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* We need people to start modelling identifiable human-made landmarks like bridges, stadiums, and major buildings. Around the San Francisco Bay area, bridges are especially important. Once you have identified some buildings or objects you would like to have (Aircraft carriers, fuel bowsers, cars, towers, ...) you will need to check out the tools for creating and placing these objects. | * We need people to start modelling identifiable human-made landmarks like bridges, stadiums, and major buildings. Around the San Francisco Bay area, bridges are especially important. Once you have identified some buildings or objects you would like to have (Aircraft carriers, fuel bowsers, cars, towers, ...) you will need to check out the tools for creating and placing these objects. | ||
It would be helpful if people would model the area they are interested in. Generally contributions are going to be from | It would be helpful if people would model the area they are interested in. Generally contributions are going to be from FlightGear users who find scenery lacking in some area and choose to improve it. You are encouraged to research your own area for airport, navaid and scenery information, to contribute the data or dive right in to airport and scenery design. | ||
=== Making airports === | === Making airports === | ||
Sometimes you'd like to populate your favourite airport with objects, but you find it has a wrong layout or that it doesn't exist at all! So, you'll want to [[Howto: | Sometimes you'd like to populate your favourite airport with objects, but you find it has a wrong layout or that it doesn't exist at all! So, you'll want to [[Howto:Make an airport|make or improve that layout]], which can be done with [[WED]]. Remember that we're maintaining an open (GPL) airport database in common with X-Plane simulator. | ||
Other than just fix the look, you might want to add interactive details like [[Interactive traffic|traffic]] and maybe update navaids and comm frequencies. We need people to go over paper lists and airport diagrams for countries that don't publish air navigation data free online (i.e. almost everyone but the U.S.) and fill in the blanks in our navaid and airport databases (''note: especially for the last part, see the website of the current maintainer: [http://data.x-plane.com/ data.x-plane.com]''.) | Other than just fix the look, you might want to add interactive details like [[Interactive traffic|traffic]] and maybe update navaids and comm frequencies. We need people to go over paper lists and airport diagrams for countries that don't publish air navigation data free online (i.e. almost everyone but the U.S.) and fill in the blanks in our navaid and airport databases (''note: especially for the last part, see the website of the current maintainer: [http://data.x-plane.com/ data.x-plane.com]''.) | ||
To be sure the airport you're interested in is not already being worked on, check the [[Airports under construction]] article. Also, note that since we switched to a newer format for the airport database, there are many airports that need to be converted from the older (810) format to the newer (850). All the info is in [[Howto: | To be sure the airport you're interested in is not already being worked on, check the [[Airports under construction]] article. Also, note that since we switched to a newer format for the airport database, there are many airports that need to be converted from the older (810) format to the newer (850). All the info is in [[Howto:Make an airport]]. | ||
=== Contributing to the scenery terrain === | === Contributing to the scenery terrain === | ||
We need people to collect geodata to give us more accurate roads, rivers, etc., especially outside the U.S. and Europe. Note that since we're now allowed to use OpenStreetMap data for this, you might consider contributing to that project too. With time, more and more features will be imported from OSM, beginning with roads and rails, | We need people to collect geodata to give us more accurate roads, rivers, etc., especially outside the U.S. and Europe. Note that since we're now allowed to use OpenStreetMap data for this, you might consider contributing to that project too. With time, more and more features will be imported from OSM, beginning with roads and rails, and going on with power lines and antennas and whatnot. | ||
The first step into this is learning how to [[Using TerraGear|use TerraGear]]. Remember that all the data you plan to use must be GPL compatible. You might also consider editing some of that source data and contribute it to the Scenery Project that would make good use of it! | The first step into this is learning how to [[Using TerraGear|use TerraGear]]. Remember that all the data you plan to use must be GPL compatible. You might also consider editing some of that source data and contribute it to the Scenery Project that would make good use of it! | ||
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FlightGear itself would not be possible without the contribution of various types of artwork: | FlightGear itself would not be possible without the contribution of various types of artwork: | ||
* Aircraft developers need photographs, images and sounds to realistically model a particular aircraft. | * Aircraft developers need photographs, images and sounds to realistically model a particular aircraft. | ||
* The splash screen displayed when loading the simulator can be personalized, and you can [[Howto: Create custom splash screens|create one for your | * The splash screen displayed when loading the simulator can be personalized, and you can [[Howto: Create custom splash screens|create one for your favourite aircraft]]. | ||
* Sound recordings of aircraft are also very valuable - particularly engine sounds for unusual aircraft. | * Sound recordings of aircraft are also very valuable - particularly engine sounds for unusual aircraft. | ||