Help:Getting Started
| Welcome to RetroTechCollection Wiki! |
|---|
| Your journey into preserving vintage technology history starts here |
New to wikis? Don't worry! This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start contributing to our vintage technology knowledge base. Take it step by step, and you'll be editing like a pro in no time.
🚀 Quick Start Checklist
[edit source]| ✓ | Task | Why It's Important |
|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Create an account | Lets you edit pages and build your reputation |
| ☐ | Set up your user page | Introduce yourself to the community |
| ☐ | Read our mission | Understand what content belongs here |
| ☐ | Learn core policies | Know the basic rules before editing |
| ☐ | Make your first edit | Start with something small and simple |
| ☐ | Join the community | Connect with other vintage tech enthusiasts |
📝 Creating Your Account
[edit source]Why Create an Account?
[edit source]While you can browse the wiki without an account, registered users can:
- Edit and create articles
- Upload images and documents
- Participate in discussions
- Create a user page
- Build a contribution history
- Access additional tools
- Receive notifications about topics you follow
How to Register
[edit source]- Click Create account in the top right corner
- Choose a username that:
- Is easy to remember
- Doesn't impersonate anyone
- Follows our username policy
- Will represent you well in the community
- Enter a valid email address (required for:)
- Password recovery
- Important notifications
- Confirming your account
- Create a strong password
- Complete the CAPTCHA to prove you're human
- Read and accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
- Click "Create your account"
- Check your email and click the confirmation link
⚠️ Age Requirement: You must be at least 13 years old to create an account on RetroTechCollection Wiki.
👤 Setting Up Your User Page
[edit source]Your user page is your home on the wiki. It's where you can introduce yourself and share your interests in vintage technology.
Creating Your User Page
[edit source]- Once logged in, click on your username (top right)
- Click "Create" to start your user page
- Add some basic information:
{{User infobox
|image =
|name = YourUsername
|joined = {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}
|interests = [[Apple II]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Vintage Gaming]]
|expertise = Hardware repair, ROM dumping
|location = United Kingdom
}}
== About Me ==
Hello! I'm passionate about preserving vintage technology...
== My Collection ==
* [[Apple IIe]] with DuoDisk
* [[ZX Spectrum]] 48K
* [[Atari 2600]] with 50+ cartridges
== Current Projects ==
* Restoring a [[Commodore PET]] 2001
* Documenting [[TRS-80]] software
== Contact ==
* Feel free to leave a message on my [[User talk:YourUsername|talk page]]
User Page Best Practices
[edit source]- Keep it relevant to vintage technology
- Don't share too much personal information
- Update it as your interests evolve
- Link to articles you've significantly contributed to
- Be welcoming and approachable
🎯 Understanding Our Mission
[edit source]What We Document
[edit source]RetroTechCollection Wiki focuses on:
| Category | Examples | Time Period |
|---|---|---|
| Computers | Personal computers, mainframes, minicomputers | Pre-2000 primarily |
| Gaming Systems | Consoles, handhelds, arcade machines | 1970s-1990s |
| Software | Operating systems, applications, games | Historical versions |
| Peripherals | Monitors, printers, storage devices | Vintage models |
| Companies | Manufacturers, developers, key figures | Historical focus |
| Culture | Magazines, user groups, BBS systems | Computing history |
What Makes a Good Article
[edit source]- Factual: Based on verifiable information
- Neutral: Presenting all viewpoints fairly
- Comprehensive: Covering all important aspects
- Well-sourced: Citations for claims
- Illustrated: Images where possible
- Organized: Clear structure and sections
📚 Core Policies Overview
[edit source]Before editing, understand these five pillars:
1. 📊 Neutral Point of View (NPOV)
[edit source]- Present facts, not opinions
- Include all significant viewpoints
- Don't advocate or advertise
- Let readers form their own opinions
Example:
- ❌ "The Amiga was the best computer of the 1980s"
- ✅ "The Amiga was noted for its advanced graphics and sound capabilities"
2. ✅ Verifiability
[edit source]- Information must be verifiable from reliable sources
- Add citations for factual claims
- Use reputable sources (books, magazines, manuals)
- No original research or personal theories
How to cite: The Apple II sold over 6 million units.<ref>{{cite book |title=Apple Confidential 2.0 |author=Linzmayer, Owen |year=2004 |page=45}}</ref>
3. 🚫 Moderated Original Research
[edit source]- When you publish your own discoveries, these edits will be verified.
- Don't synthesize information to reach new conclusions
- Stick to what sources explicitly state
- Personal experiences belong on talk pages, not articles
4. 📝 Free Content
[edit source]- All contributions are released under Creative Commons
- Only upload images you own or that are freely licensed
- Respect copyright at all times
- Fair use is limited and must be justified
5. 🤝 Civility
[edit source]- Treat everyone with respect
- Assume good faith in others' actions
- Discuss content, not contributors
- Resolve disputes calmly
✏️ Making Your First Edit
[edit source]Finding Something to Edit
[edit source]Start small with these beginner-friendly tasks:
- Fix typos and grammar
- Browse articles about systems you know
- Look for obvious spelling errors
- Improve awkward phrasing
- Add missing information
- Technical specifications
- Release dates
- Model variations
- Compatible peripherals
- Improve formatting
- Add section headers
- Create lists where appropriate
- Fix broken links
- Add citations
- Find sources for uncited claims
- Use books, manuals, or magazines you own
How to Edit
[edit source]- Navigate to any article
- Click the "Edit" tab at the top
- Make your changes in the text editor
- Preview your changes (always do this!)
- Write an edit summary explaining what you did
- Click "Save changes"
Basic Wiki Markup
[edit source]| What you want | What you type | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Bold text | '''bold text''' | bold text |
| Italic text | ''italic text'' | italic text |
| Internal link | [[Commodore 64]] | Commodore 64 |
| External link | [https://example.com Example] | Example |
| Section header | == Header == | (Creates a section) |
| Bullet list | * Item one * Item two |
• Item one • Item two |
| Numbered list | # First # Second |
1. First 2. Second |
Your First Edit Checklist
[edit source]Before saving:
- ✓ Is my information accurate?
- ✓ Is it written neutrally?
- ✓ Did I preview my changes?
- ✓ Did I write a clear edit summary?
- ✓ Am I improving the article?
🖼️ Working with Images
[edit source]Uploading Images
[edit source]- Use Special:Upload
- Ensure you have rights to the image:
- Photos you took yourself
- Images with free licenses
- Public domain material
- Fair use (with justification)
- Choose a descriptive filename
- Fill out the information template:
{{Information
|description = Front view of Apple IIe computer
|source = Own work
|date = 2024-01-15
|author = [[User:YourUsername]]
|permission =
|other_versions =
}}
Image Best Practices
[edit source]- Quality: High resolution but reasonable file size
- Relevance: Directly related to article content
- Captions: Always add descriptive captions
- Galleries: Use for multiple related images
- Fair use: Only when necessary, with full rationale
📖 Creating New Articles
[edit source]Before You Start
[edit source]Ask yourself:
- Is this topic notable enough?
- Can I find reliable sources?
- Does an article already exist?
- Is it within our scope?
Notability Guidelines
[edit source]A topic is notable if it has:
- Significant coverage in reliable sources
- Historical importance to computing
- Lasting impact on technology
- Multiple independent sources discussing it
Creating Your Article
[edit source]- Search first to ensure it doesn't exist
- Click the red link or use the search box
- Start with this basic structure:
{{Infobox computer
|name = Computer Name
|image =
|manufacturer = [[Company Name]]
|type = Personal computer
|release date = 1985
|discontinued = 1990
|processor = CPU details
|memory = RAM amount
|storage = Storage type
}}
The '''Computer Name''' was a personal computer manufactured by [[Company Name]] from 1985 to 1990.
== History ==
Development began in...
== Technical specifications ==
* '''Processor:'''
* '''Memory:'''
* '''Storage:'''
* '''Display:'''
== Software ==
The system ran...
== Reception ==
Contemporary reviews...
== Legacy ==
The Computer Name influenced...
== See also ==
* [[Related Computer]]
* [[Competing System]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://example.com Official documentation]
[[Category:Personal computers]]
[[Category:1985 in computing]]
🤝 Getting Help
[edit source]Where to Ask Questions
[edit source]- Help pages - Comprehensive documentation
- Village Pump - General discussion
- Help desk - New user questions
- User talk pages - Message experienced editors
- Recent changes - See what others are doing
Finding Mentors
[edit source]Look for:
- Editors with "Mentor" userboxes
- Active administrators
- Editors working on similar topics
- Members of relevant WikiProjects
Common New User Mistakes
[edit source]| Mistake | Why It's Wrong | Better Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Adding opinions | Violates NPOV | Stick to facts with sources |
| Copying from websites | Copyright violation | Write in your own words |
| Creating autobiographies | Conflict of interest | Focus on notable topics |
| Edit warring | Disrupts the wiki | Discuss on talk pages |
| Promotional content | Not encyclopedic | Write neutrally |
🛠️ Useful Tools and Features
[edit source]Editor Tools
[edit source]- Watchlist - Monitor articles you care about
- Contributions - Track your edit history
- Preferences - Customize your experience
- Sandbox - Practice editing safely
Advanced Features
[edit source]As you gain experience:
- Learn templates for consistency
- Use categories to organize articles
- Create redirects for alternate names
- Participate in deletion discussions
- Join WikiProjects in your interest areas
🎓 Next Steps
[edit source]Beginner Goals
[edit source]- Week 1: Make 5 small edits
- Week 2: Add your first citation
- Week 3: Significantly expand a section
- Month 1: Create your first article
Intermediate Goals
[edit source]- Adopt an article to improve
- Join a WikiProject
- Participate in community discussions
- Help other new users
- Work toward autoconfirmed status
Advanced Goals
[edit source]- Become a subject matter expert
- Create featured content
- Mentor new users
- Consider administrator nomination
- Develop wiki tools or templates
📋 Quick Reference
[edit source]Essential Pages
[edit source]- Recent changes - What's happening now
- Random article - Discover new topics
- Wanted pages - Articles that need creating
- Short pages - Articles needing expansion
- RetroTechCollection Community - Get involved
Keyboard Shortcuts
[edit source]- Alt+Shift+E - Edit page
- Alt+Shift+V - View history
- Alt+Shift+T - Talk page
- Alt+Shift+M - Move page
- Alt+Shift+W - Watch page
🎉 Welcome to the Community!
[edit source]Remember:
- Be bold in editing, but not reckless
- Everyone was new once - don't be afraid to ask
- Mistakes are okay - they can be fixed
- Have fun - this is a hobby for most of us
- Quality over quantity - better to do one thing well
Ready to make your first edit?
Start with a random article or wanted pages and look for something to improve or create! You can use the RTC Article Wizard to help you create your first page!
Still have questions? Visit the RTC Forum, the RTC Discord Server, or leave a message on the talk page.