FAQ or help thread for users new to AROS & Amiga-like systems?: AROS FORUMS

FAQ or help thread for users new to AROS & Amiga-like systems?

Last updated on 1 month ago

deadwoodAROS Dev

Posted 1 month ago

Sure. In this post you will find links to some resources you can use to learn: https://arosworld.org/infusions/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=1201&pid=10891#post_10891

1 user reacted to this post

Argo

OctavoNewbie

Posted 1 month ago

#19

deadwood wrote:

@deadwood - Check out this thread https://arosworld.org/infusions/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=1933&rowstart=0

Right, OK, but what if I don’t want to learn how to use an AI agent and would rather write programmes with a proper understanding of what I’m doing? Is there a thread on this topic on the forum?

deadwoodAROS Dev

Posted 1 month ago

#18

Check out this thread

https://arosworld.org/infusions/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=1933&rowstart=0

1 user reacted to this post

Octavo

OctavoNewbie

Posted 1 month ago

#17

I really like this topic

Thanks for the interesting discussion; I’ve learnt a lot so far...

In the meantime, I’ve started learning to programme in C under AROS with ChatGPT. Is there a thread on the forum about creating Amiga programmes for complete beginners? If so, could you please post a link

1 user reacted to this post

Argo

miker1264Software Dev

Posted 2 months ago

#16

@OlafSch

That's a good idea about the Shell Commands & DOS. I intended to include Amiga-like OS Terminology.

The user manual will include how to use Wanderer, how to open a shell, and even how to use a file requester. Those things seem so basic for average users, not easy for newbies. Also, locations & customizations will be included. Locations of all system tools, utilities, commodities & Prefs.

I divided it into 3 parts: AROS User Guide, Hardware Configuration, Magellan User Guide for simplicity.

When finished I'll provide the PDF to AROS users, and the Word Doc for Distro maintainers. Put your logo on top and edit the user guide to fit with your version of AROS. It's a start. :-)

3 users reacted to this post

Argo, ami-elvis, Octavo

OlafSchSenior Member

Posted 2 months ago

#15

miker1264 wrote:

@miker1264 - @ntromans

This is the network part that I have. See my PM for more information.

I'll try to provide better screenshots when I add the information in the manual. These are collected from various places.

At this point since I still have more to add to it the PDF Manual will be over 100 pages with the Dopus Magellan information. That's my estimate. That includes a couple pages at the end for links for further information. I may need to cut it down some to not go over maximum upload size! I'll make the Magellan User Guide a separate PDF file.

I think it's better to split the information into three parts so new users won't get overwhelmed. It will consist of:

AROS Desktop User Guide,
AROS Hardware Configuration,
Dopus Magellan User Guide.

There have been so many new additions and updates, new features added to AROS, especially in the last few months. :-)

Thanx

additionally you also need special manuals for specific distributions

and general basic knowledge about Shell and DOS, description of words people not know without prior using amiga and so on... integrating external new users is a real challenge

there were reasons why there were beginner courses in the magazines in the old days, who became less later when there were no new users anymore

Edited by OlafSch on 03-09-2026 05:02, 2 months ago

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Argo

miker1264Software Dev

Posted 2 months ago

#14

@ntromans

This is the network part that I have. See my PM for more information.

I'll try to provide better screenshots when I add the information in the manual. These are collected from various places.

At this point since I still have more to add to it the PDF Manual will be over 100 pages with the Dopus Magellan information. That's my estimate. That includes a couple pages at the end for links for further information. I may need to cut it down some to not go over maximum upload size! I'll make the Magellan User Guide a separate PDF file.

I think it's better to split the information into three parts so new users won't get overwhelmed. It will consist of:

AROS Desktop User Guide,
AROS Hardware Configuration,
Dopus Magellan User Guide.

There have been so many new additions and updates, new features added to AROS, especially in the last few months. :-)

Edited by miker1264 on 02-09-2026 18:51, 2 months ago

miker1264 attached the following file:

aros_desktop_manual_network_settings.zip [2.45MB / 54 Downloads]

miker1264Software Dev

Posted 2 months ago

#13

As well as an AROS User Guide maybe it would be nice to have a PDF version of a hardware config and compatibility guide?

miker1264Software Dev

Posted 2 months ago

#12

On the main blog there is a misprint.

The first paragraph is repeated twice. I just noticed it while reading.

miker1264 attached the following image:

Jeff1138Member

Posted 2 months ago

#11

Hi,

As a first step this section could be improved?

https://en.wikibo...onfiguring

but we must not ignore an on the distribution manual on the desktop, ready to click and read

Not sure if we need separate hardware setup guide and a how to use the Aros system

Edited by Jeff1138 on 30-08-2026 09:03, 2 months ago

2 users reacted to this post

Argo, miker1264

amigamiaAdmin

Posted 2 months ago

#10

@ntromans

Quote

Would this be a better option than having to fight with the articles functionality here?

Absolutely! A Wiki is already designed for collaboration and documentation. The articles on this CMS are not the best but if used properly they do work.

It works this way: A standard members can submit articles, which then go into a publishing queue waiting for a designated articles administrator (admins are managed by me or anotehr super-admin), who can review the articles, make the necessary review, and correction, and approve it for publishing to either publich (everyone) or just members or just admins, or whichever other group.

As you can see it's built on the process of editor, reviewers, publisher, etc. which can be benefecial to maintain quality of the content.

You can see an example of the published article by matteo. It was originally posted with no images but just links not hyperlinked. Made some additional edits to formatting to make it more appealing.

https://arosworld.org/infusions/articles/articles.php?article_id=3

The only part missing in the articles section of this site is a list of articles administrators, which I can easily create and show how to manage them from the admin panel. Please note, the admin permissions for articles is just to that and that alone. Other sections can be added to the permissions (i.e. FAQs, News, etc.etc)

Edited by amigamia on 30-08-2026 08:50, 2 months ago

1 user reacted to this post

Argo

deadwoodAROS Dev

Posted 2 months ago

Just wanted to say I support everyone's efforts on onboarding material. When it comes to new users, especially people from outside current active Amiga world, such materials are might make a difference between staying longer or leaving.

3 users reacted to this post

Argo, ntromans, Octavo

ntromansVeteran Member

Posted 2 months ago

Argo wrote:

@Argo - There is a Wiki on Wikibooks and Documentation on AROS.org
Both accessable from https://arosnews....

The Wiki ( https://en.wikibo.../wiki/Aros ) was last edited on August 11th and last December It could use more contributions and work
Then there is the documentation on AROS.org - http://www.aros.o...mentation/

I like a wiki Maybe it can be linked to from here I'd have to see a duplication of efforts

I had a look at the Wiki and it did look a bit dated and was missing some of the basic instructions we've been dicussiong. However, It could be an alternative to hosting articles here with maybe a 'new users start here' type link in a prominent pace on the site.

@amigamia Would this be a better option than having to fight with the articles functionality here?

@OlafSch You mentioned on the Customising AROS thread you'd started on a user manual; would any of that be relevant to AROS more widely and would you be willing to share it (with reciprocation of course from othres here adding articles?)

@AMIGASYSTEM Would it be possible to use parts of the AROSOne manual for this? Only if you were happy with that of course, and again obviosuly

Cheers,
Nigel.

2 users reacted to this post

Argo, Octavo

ArgoMember

Posted 2 months ago

There is a Wiki on Wikibooks and Documentation on AROS.org
Both accessable from https://arosnews....

The Wiki ( https://en.wikibo.../wiki/Aros ) was last edited on August 11th and last December It could use more contributions and work
Then there is the documentation on AROS.org - http://www.aros.o...mentation/

I like a wiki Maybe it can be linked to from here I'd have to see a duplication of efforts

3 users reacted to this post

deadwood, aha, Octavo

amigamiaAdmin

Posted 2 months ago

ntromans wrote:

@ntromans - So we have FAQ, the idea of a user-guide included in the download and (once tweaked) articles. To allow for consistency and avoid duplication of effort, I'd suggest having the FAQs giving basic information and pointing to an article for a more detailed explanation, and a copy of the articles making up the download's userguide.

Sound OK?

Cheers,
Nigel.

P.S. @amigamia is there any way to make articles collaborative? I'm thinking it would be good if other a number of people could access them to update as necessary. Might need some form of access control though, as we don't want the Wikipaedia experience where some joker comes in and deleted a page or replaces the text with 'I am a fish' 200 times over...

Unfortunately, articles do not have a collaborative option but I think I can designate members to be Article managers where they will have the ability to make edits. However, I'll research to see if there is a better way. Will keep you posted once I figure out why they look unformatted as you see the one just posted.

2 users reacted to this post

ntromans, Octavo

miker1264Software Dev

Posted 2 months ago

That's a really good framework to start with. A online user guide that links to articles such as explaining that AROS has some networking capabilities including wifi & a wifi manager then link to an article how to set up SMB networking & another one how to use the wifi manager.

I'll contribute some articles also.

2 users reacted to this post

ntromans, Octavo

ntromansVeteran Member

Posted 2 months ago

So we have FAQ, the idea of a user-guide included in the download and (once tweaked) articles. To allow for consistency and avoid duplication of effort, I'd suggest having the FAQs giving basic information and pointing to an article for a more detailed explanation, and a copy of the articles making up the download's userguide.

Sound OK?

Cheers,
Nigel.

P.S. @amigamia is there any way to make articles collaborative? I'm thinking it would be good if other a number of people could access them to update as necessary. Might need some form of access control though, as we don't want the Wikipaedia experience where some joker comes in and deleted a page or replaces the text with 'I am a fish' 200 times over...

amigamiaAdmin

Posted 2 months ago

matteo wrote:

@matteo - article submitted

Thanks Matteo, I published your article, but I see where the problem is. Let me see what's going on and in the mean time, hold off on poting new ones.

arosbeginnerMember

Posted 2 months ago

article submitted

ntromansVeteran Member

Posted 2 months ago

amigamia wrote:

@amigamia - Done. "Using AROS" category is there in FAQ and Articles.

As for the Articales they do work. There seemed to be an issue in the field where users type in the article. The Editor was missing the tools for customzing the text. However, I do not see the same with my admin account.

Please test submitting a new article and let me know.

Many thanks! I'd better write get on with an article then...

Cheers,
Nigel.

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Users who participated in discussion: amigamia, deadwood, Argo, AMIGASYSTEM, ntromans, retrofaza, Amiwell79, cdimauro, miker1264, OlafSch, Jeff1138, arosbeginner, sonountaleban, Octavo

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FAQ or help thread for users new to AROS & Amiga-like systems?