How to write a HOWTO

If you are reading this, it probably means you are interested in contributing a Howto or Tutorial to Alpine Linux Wiki. This is great! Just follow those simple steps and you will end up with a great howto in no time.

Prerequisite

• Refer to Help:Editing to understand the Text Formatting Rules. Lookup Cheatsheet for quick reference.
• Follow Help:Style guidelines at all times.
• Learn to format Wiki text.
  • By clicking the Edit page button on Alpine Linux Wiki articles to read the source. Do not accidentally modify them.
  • By experimenting in Sandbox.

Steps for creating a HOWTO

1. Login to Alpine Linux Wiki. If you have never logged in, click the Log in / create account on the top-right, and then click the Create an account link.
2. Pay proper attention to name your page. Changing the name of pages in Wiki is not trivial. If you are new to Wiki editing, use a subpage of your User namespace like Username/Learning to Use Wiki or use Sandbox to create a Temporary page first.
3. Paste the Sample_page_layout into your new Temporary page.
4. Follow the instructions in the template.
5. Finally move your temporary page or create a properly named HOWTO page as explained in Help:Editing and paste your content from the temporary page. Moving a page captures the change log from the original page.

Guidelines for creating a HOWTO

1. Pay attention while creating Heading/subheading, as they can be linked within the page and from other wiki pages.
2. Try as much as possible to refer existing wiki content for standard tasks like installation, partitioning, formatting, user management, managing repositories etc.. instead of repeating the same in your page. This avoids confusing users and prevents content fragmentation.
3. Always update existing wiki pages so that information with existing wiki links also gets benefited. New pages must be created sparingly, i.e only if it is absoultely needed.

Quicktips for an effective HOWTO

1. Know your readers and what you are trying to tell them to do and
2. Write the summary
3. Write the background info/prerequisites readers need.
4. Answer the following three questions, at least in your head.
   1. What do I explain how to do?
   2. How do I do that?
   3. What do HOWTO readers already know about doing that?
5. Write up the steps to do it.
6. Clean up your work.
7. Revise, revise, revise.

Sample page layout

A sample page with sections headings is given below as recommendation for all wiki pages including Howto's as per Help:Style guidelines:

Introductory section containing a concise summary of the page so readers can decide quickly 
whether to read it. This section appears right below the page title.

== Prerequisite ==

If there are any Prerequisites, they must be listed here. Readers might need to get ready before they can do the work, so explain those prerequisites first.

== Installation ==

The Installation section must appear early in the page. This section must contain information on packages needed to complete the task.

== Configuration ==

The Configuration section must follow with detailed sub-headings to handle all subtopics. Write the steps of how to do something in this section. Show  file contents and commands involved. Always include complete path  in the steps. Break this procedure into separate sections to avoid more than about 7-9  steps per section. Refer above for sample steps. 

== Troubleshooting ==

Troubleshooting section must include common errors that may be encountered by the users.

== See also ==

Point your readers to related information they may refer further, as every information may not fit here. Add both internal wikilinks and external references relevant to this page in this section.

Every page should be assigned at least one category. So add one of the relevant category to your page.

See also

• Help:Editing
• Cheatsheet for Alpine Linux Wiki
• Wiki etiquette