gettingstarted

Getting started refers to introductory materials and activities designed to help new users begin using a product, service, or topic. The goal is to reduce initial friction, build basic competence, and provide a clear path to productive use.

A typical getting started guide covers prerequisites, installation or acquisition, setup and configuration, and the first steps required to complete a simple, representative task. It often includes a quick-start tutorial, example workflows, and references to more advanced topics.

The content is common across domains, including software applications and libraries, hardware devices, online services, and educational resources. Effective guides focus on essential concepts first, then progressively introduce features as confidence grows.

Key design principles include explicit objectives, minimal setup requirements, step-by-step instructions, concise language, and visual aids or demonstrations. Clear error handling, troubleshooting tips, and real-world examples help users recover from common mistakes.

Maintenance involves keeping instructions up to date with product changes, collecting user feedback, and tagging versions. Getting started materials should be easy to locate, searchable, and localized where applicable to serve diverse audiences.