.. toctree::
   :hidden:

   online_editing.rst
   local_editing/index.rst

###################
  Getting Started
###################

Welcome! This section guides you through contributing to the Blender manual.

Blender's manual is written in `reStructuredText (RST) <https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/restructuredtext/basics.html>`__,
a straightforward markup language ideal for technical documentation.
You can edit the manual either directly online or by using your local text editor.

All contributions are managed through a collaborative workflow on Blender's development platform,
`projects.blender.org <https://projects.blender.org/>`__.

You have two options for editing the manual:


:doc:`Online Editing </contribute/manual/getting_started/online_editing>`
=========================================================================

Contribute directly from your browser using Blender's online editor.
This is the simplest and fastest method, ideal for quick edits and corrections.


:doc:`Local Editing </contribute/manual/getting_started/local_editing/index>`
=============================================================================

Edit manual files on your computer using a plain text editor.
Files are synchronized with the online version through a repository, ensuring your local edits remain up-to-date.

Local editing also lets you build and preview your changes before submitting.

.. tip::

   Local editing is recommended for larger contributions, major rewrites,
   or when you need to preview your changes before submitting them.
