First tip for new contributors: Create a project with Music Blocks

[pikurasa]

Many new contributors ask what's a good way to get started.

We typically recommend that you create a project with Music Blocks. You can try it at: https://musicblocks.sugarlabs.org/

Even if you already "know a lot about programming", you can still learn a lot by creating a project with Music Blocks. If you have questions, please ask on the Music Blocks users channel: https://matrix.to/#/#music-blocks:matrix.org

Basically, by creating a project that you really enjoy, you will learn a lot about what Music Blocks is all about. Getting into the codebase is great, of course, but it's very, very important to experience creating a fun project yourself. To give a music education analogy: working on the codebase without having used Music Blocks is kind of like playing Coltrane without having actually listened to Coltrane.

By the way, here's a recording of Coltrane's "Giant Steps": https://vid.lilay.dev/watch?v=KwIC6B_dvW4

And if you need some inspiration, please try one of the lesson plans: https://mapflc.com/lesson-plans/ and https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17dWeTTlA4Sv-KdQ4__9d2W6H0_3cu8EQ?usp=drive_link

Plus, you have a 100% chance of having fun!

[walterbender]

The MB Guide is a useful resource as well.