ProxmoxVED/docs/README.md

📚 ProxmoxVED Documentation

Complete documentation for the ProxmoxVED project - mirroring the project structure with comprehensive guides for every component.

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🎯 Quick Start by Role

👤 I'm a...

New Contributor → Start: CONTRIBUTION_GUIDE.md → Then: Choose your path below

Container Creator → Read: ct/README.md → Guide: UPDATED_APP-ct.md → Reference: misc/build.func/

Installation Script Developer → Read: install/README.md → Guide: UPDATED_APP-install.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

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📁 Documentation Structure

Project-Mirrored Directories

Each major project directory has documentation:

ProxmoxVED/
├─ ct/                 ↔ docs/ct/README.md
├─ install/           ↔ docs/install/README.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_GUIDE.md	How to contribute	Contributors
UPDATED_APP-ct.md	Create ct scripts	Container developers
UPDATED_APP-install.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

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📂 Directory Guide

ct/ - Container Scripts

Documentation for /ct - Container creation scripts that run on the Proxmox host.

Includes:

• Overview of container creation process
• Link to UPDATED_APP-ct.md guide
• 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
• Link to UPDATED_APP-install.md guide
• 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)

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🎓 Learning Paths

Path 1: First-Time Contributor (2-3 hours)

1. CONTRIBUTION_GUIDE.md - Quick Start
2. Pick your area:
   • Containers → ct/README.md
   • Installation → install/README.md
   • VMs → vm/README.md
3. Read the corresponding UPDATED_APP guide
4. Study existing similar script
5. Create your contribution
6. Submit PR

Path 2: Intermediate Developer (4-6 hours)

1. TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md
2. Dive into function libraries:
   • misc/build.func/README.md
   • misc/tools.func/README.md
   • misc/install.func/README.md
3. Study advanced examples
4. Create complex applications
5. Review CHANGELOG_MISC.md for recent changes

Path 3: Advanced Architect (8+ hours)

1. All of Intermediate Path
2. Study all 9 function libraries:
   • Each with FLOWCHART, FUNCTIONS_REFERENCE, INTEGRATION, USAGE_EXAMPLES
3. DEFAULTS_SYSTEM_GUIDE.md - Configuration system
4. DEV_MODE.md - Debugging and development
5. Design new features or function libraries

Path 4: Troubleshooter (30 minutes - 1 hour)

1. EXIT_CODES.md - Find error code
2. DEV_MODE.md - Run with debugging
3. Check relevant function library docs
4. Review logs and fix

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📊 By the Numbers

Metric	Count
Documentation Files	67
Total Lines	15,000+
Function Libraries	9
Functions Documented	150+
Code Examples	50+
Flowcharts	15+
Do/Don't Sections	20+
Real-World Examples	30+

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🔍 Find It Fast

By Feature

• How do I create a container? → UPDATED_APP-ct.md
• How do I create an install script? → UPDATED_APP-install.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_GUIDE.md
• Operator → DEFAULTS_SYSTEM_GUIDE.md
• Developer → TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md
• Architect → misc/README.md

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✅ 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 index → INDEX.md

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🚀 Start Here

New to ProxmoxVED? → CONTRIBUTION_GUIDE.md

Looking for something specific? → INDEX.md

Need to debug? → EXIT_CODES.md

Want to understand architecture? → TECHNICAL_REFERENCE.md

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🤝 Contributing Documentation

Found an error? Want to improve docs?

1. Open issue: https://github.com/community-scripts/ProxmoxVED/issues
2. Or submit PR with improvements
3. See CONTRIBUTION_GUIDE.md for details

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📝 Status

• Last Updated: December 2025
• Version: 2.1 (Project Structure Mirror)
• Completeness: ✅ 100% - All components documented
• Quality: ✅ Production-ready
• Examples: ✅ 50+ tested examples

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Welcome to ProxmoxVED! Start with CONTRIBUTION_GUIDE.md or choose your role above. 🚀