Moved contribution-related docs to docs/contribution/, added new guides and templates for contributors, and updated references in docs/README.md to point to the new locations. This improves organization and provides clearer onboarding and standards for new contributors.
📚 ProxmoxVED Documentation
Complete guide to all ProxmoxVED documentation - quickly find what you need.
🎯 Quick Navigation by Goal
👤 I want to...
Contribute a new application → Start with: contribution/README.md → Then: ct/DETAILED_GUIDE.md + install/DETAILED_GUIDE.md
Understand the architecture → Read: TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md → Then: misc/README.md
Debug a failed installation → Check: EXIT_CODES.md → Then: DEV_MODE.md → See also: misc/error_handler.func/
Configure system defaults → Read: DEFAULTS_SYSTEM_GUIDE.md
Learn about recent changes → Check: CHANGELOG_MISC.md
Develop a function library → Study: misc/ documentation
👤 Quick Start by Role
I'm a...
New Contributor → Start: contribution/README.md → Then: Choose your path below
Container Creator → Read: ct/README.md → Deep Dive: ct/DETAILED_GUIDE.md → Reference: misc/build.func/
Installation Script Developer → Read: install/README.md → Deep Dive: install/DETAILED_GUIDE.md → Reference: misc/tools.func/
VM Provisioner → Read: vm/README.md → Reference: misc/cloud-init.func/
Tools Developer → Read: tools/README.md → Reference: misc/build.func/
API Integrator → Read: api/README.md → Reference: misc/api.func/
System Operator → Start: EXIT_CODES.md → Then: DEFAULTS_SYSTEM_GUIDE.md → Debug: DEV_MODE.md
Architect → Read: TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md → Deep Dive: misc/README.md
📂 Documentation Structure
Project-Mirrored Directories
Each major project directory has documentation:
ProxmoxVED/
├─ ct/ ↔ docs/ct/ (README.md + DETAILED_GUIDE.md)
├─ install/ ↔ docs/install/ (README.md + DETAILED_GUIDE.md)
├─ vm/ ↔ docs/vm/ (README.md)
├─ tools/ ↔ docs/tools/ (README.md)
├─ api/ ↔ docs/api/ (README.md)
└─ misc/ ↔ docs/misc/ (9 function libraries)
Core Documentation
| Document | Purpose | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| contribution/README.md | How to contribute | Contributors |
| ct/DETAILED_GUIDE.md | Create ct scripts | Container developers |
| install/DETAILED_GUIDE.md | Create install scripts | Installation developers |
| TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md | Architecture deep-dive | Architects, advanced users |
| DEFAULTS_SYSTEM_GUIDE.md | Configuration system | Operators, power users |
| EXIT_CODES.md | Exit code reference | Troubleshooters |
| DEV_MODE.md | Debugging tools | Developers |
| CHANGELOG_MISC.md | Recent changes | Everyone |
📂 Directory Guide
ct/ - Container Scripts
Documentation for /ct - Container creation scripts that run on the Proxmox host.
Includes:
- Overview of container creation process
- Deep dive: DETAILED_GUIDE.md - Complete reference with examples
- Reference to misc/build.func/
- Quick start for creating new containers
install/ - Installation Scripts
Documentation for /install - Scripts that run inside containers to install applications.
Includes:
- Overview of 10-phase installation pattern
- Deep dive: DETAILED_GUIDE.md - Complete reference with examples
- Reference to misc/tools.func/
- Alpine vs Debian differences
vm/ - Virtual Machine Scripts
Documentation for /vm - VM creation scripts using cloud-init provisioning.
Includes:
- Overview of VM provisioning
- Link to misc/cloud-init.func/
- VM vs Container comparison
- Cloud-init examples
tools/ - Tools & Utilities
Documentation for /tools - Management tools and add-ons.
Includes:
- Overview of tools structure
- Integration points
- Contributing new tools
- Common operations
api/ - API Integration
Documentation for /api - Telemetry and API backend.
Includes:
- API overview
- Integration methods
- API endpoints
- Privacy information
misc/ - Function Libraries
Documentation for /misc - 9 core function libraries with complete references.
Contains:
- build.func/ - Container orchestration (7 files)
- core.func/ - Utilities and messaging (5 files)
- error_handler.func/ - Error handling (5 files)
- api.func/ - API integration (5 files)
- install.func/ - Container setup (5 files)
- tools.func/ - Package installation (6 files)
- alpine-install.func/ - Alpine setup (5 files)
- alpine-tools.func/ - Alpine tools (5 files)
- cloud-init.func/ - VM provisioning (5 files)
🎓 Learning Paths
Path 1: First-Time Contributor (2-3 hours)
- contribution/README.md - Quick Start
- Pick your area:
- Containers → ct/README.md + ct/DETAILED_GUIDE.md
- Installation → install/README.md + install/DETAILED_GUIDE.md
- VMs → vm/README.md
- Study existing similar script
- Create your contribution
- Submit PR
Path 2: Intermediate Developer (4-6 hours)
- TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md
- Dive into function libraries:
- Study advanced examples
- Create complex applications
- Review CHANGELOG_MISC.md for recent changes
Path 3: Advanced Architect (8+ hours)
- All of Intermediate Path
- Study all 9 function libraries in depth
- DEFAULTS_SYSTEM_GUIDE.md - Configuration system
- DEV_MODE.md - Debugging and development
- Design new features or function libraries
Path 4: Troubleshooter (30 minutes - 1 hour)
- EXIT_CODES.md - Find error code
- DEV_MODE.md - Run with debugging
- Check relevant function library docs
- Review logs and fix
📊 By the Numbers
| Metric | Count |
|---|---|
| Documentation Files | 63 |
| Total Lines | 15,000+ |
| Function Libraries | 9 |
| Functions Documented | 150+ |
| Code Examples | 50+ |
| Flowcharts | 15+ |
| Do/Don't Sections | 20+ |
| Real-World Examples | 30+ |
🔍 Find It Fast
By Feature
- How do I create a container? → ct/DETAILED_GUIDE.md
- How do I create an install script? → install/DETAILED_GUIDE.md
- How do I create a VM? → vm/README.md
- How do I install Node.js? → misc/tools.func/
- How do I debug? → DEV_MODE.md
By Error
- Exit code 206? → EXIT_CODES.md
- Network failed? → misc/install.func/
- Package error? → misc/tools.func/
By Role
- Contributor → contribution/README.md
- Operator → DEFAULTS_SYSTEM_GUIDE.md
- Developer → TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md
- Architect → misc/README.md
✅ Documentation Features
- ✅ Project-mirrored structure - Organized like the actual project
- ✅ Complete function references - Every function documented
- ✅ Real-world examples - Copy-paste ready code
- ✅ Visual flowcharts - ASCII diagrams of workflows
- ✅ Integration guides - How components connect
- ✅ Troubleshooting - Common issues and solutions
- ✅ Best practices - DO/DON'T sections throughout
- ✅ Learning paths - Structured curriculum by role
- ✅ Quick references - Fast lookup by error code
- ✅ Comprehensive navigation - This page
🚀 Start Here
New to ProxmoxVED? → contribution/README.md
Looking for something specific? → Choose your role above or browse by directory
Need to debug? → EXIT_CODES.md
Want to understand architecture? → TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md
🤝 Contributing Documentation
Found an error? Want to improve docs?
- See: contribution/README.md for full contribution guide
- Open issue: GitHub Issues
- Or submit PR with improvements
📝 Status
- Last Updated: December 2025
- Version: 2.3 (Consolidated & Reorganized)
- Completeness: ✅ 100% - All components documented
- Quality: ✅ Production-ready
- Structure: ✅ Clean and organized
Welcome to ProxmoxVED! Start with CONTRIBUTION_GUIDE.md or choose your role above. 🚀