5 How to Contribute

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Logicytics Contributors

Contributors are essential to the growth and success of open-source projects like Logicytics. They come in various forms, each contributing uniquely to enhance the tool's capabilities and user experience.

Types of Contributors

1. Functionality Adders

These contributors introduce new features and functionalities to Logicytics. Their contributions often require:

• Deep understanding of the project's architecture
• Innovative thinking to expand software capabilities
• Usually, Collaboration with existing team members to integrate new features seamlessly

Examples of contributions from Functionality Adders might include:

• Implementing new data collection modules
• Developing advanced analysis tools
• Integrating Logicytics with other popular forensic software
• Adding MODS to the project

2. Code Cleaners

Code cleaners focus on improving the existing Logicytics codebase. Their contributions typically involve:

• Refactoring complex code structures
• Optimizing performance-critical sections
• Ensuring adherence to Python best practices and coding standards

Code Cleaners play a crucial role in maintaining Logicytics' efficiency and maintainability over time.

3. QoL Enhancers

Quality of Life (QoL) enhancers focus on improving the usability and enjoyment of Logicytics without necessarily adding new features. Their contributions might include:

• Basic Improvements to enhance user experience
• Streamlining workflows within the application
• Maintaining a clean and intuitive GitHub repository

QoL Enhancers contribute significantly to making Logicytics more accessible and effective for its users.

4. Bug Fixers

Bug fixers focus on identifying and resolving issues within the Logicytics codebase. Their contributions are crucial for:

• Maintaining stability and reliability of the tool
• Improving overall user experience by eliminating frustrating errors
• Ensuring compatibility across different Windows versions (mostly 10 and 11) and hardware configurations
• Fixes that significantly impact overall performance or stability

5. Documentation Specialists

Documentation specialists focus on creating and updating comprehensive documentation for Logicytics. Their contributions include:

• Writing clear, concise user guides
• Updating the project's README and wiki pages on every major or minor release
• Maintaining up-to-date release notes and changelogs

Good documentation is essential for onboarding new users and facilitating collaboration among contributors.

6. Community Supporters

Community supporters contribute by engaging with other users and potential contributors. Their activities might include:

• Answering questions on GitHub issues or forums.
• Providing support through issues.

Community supporters help build and sustain interest in the project, attracting new contributors and users.

Note

Contributors may fall into multiple categories based on their contributions, they also may not fall into any.

Contribution Tips

Logicytics welcomes contributions from individuals with various skill levels and backgrounds. To contribute:

1. Fork the repository on GitHub
2. Choose an area you'd like to contribute to (new feature, bug fix, etc.)
3. Make your changes and commit them
4. Open a pull request describing your contribution
5. Engage with the review process and address any feedback

Remember to follow the project's contributing guidelines and code of conduct when making contributions.

Contributors who wish to register their contributions properly should use the --dev flag when running Logicytics. This ensures proper attribution and tracking of contributions within the project's ecosystem. Then just follow the instructions below to get more specific details.

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How to Contribute

Contributing to open-source projects is a rewarding way to give back to the community while enhancing your skills. Here's how you can get started:

1. Fork the Repository: Visit the project's GitHub page and click on the 'Fork' button in the top right corner. This creates a copy of the repository in your GitHub account.

2. Clone the Repository: Clone the forked repository to your local machine using Git. Open your terminal or command prompt and run:

   git clone https://github.com/DefinetlyNotAI/Logicytics.git

3. Create a New Branch: It's good practice to create a new branch for your changes. This keeps the main branch clean and makes merging easier. Run:

   git checkout -b feature/your-feature-description

   Replace your-feature-description with your feature description.

4. Make Your Changes: Navigate through the files and make your contributions. Remember to adhere to the project's coding standards and practices outlined below.

5. Commit Your Changes: After making your changes, stage them for commit. Then, commit with a meaningful message:

   git add.
   git commit -m "Your descriptive commit message"

6. Push Your Changes: Push your committed changes to your forked repository on GitHub:

   git push origin feature/your-feature-description

7. Open a Pull Request (PR): Go to your forked repository on GitHub, switch to your feature branch, and click 'New pull request'. Fill out the form, describing your changes and why they should be included. Submit the PR for review.

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