FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY

The information in this wiki hasn't been maintained for a good while. Some of the projects described have since been deprecated.

In particular, the "Ushahidi Platform v3.x" section contains information that is often misleading. Many details about this version of Platform have changed since.

This website is an extraction of the original Ushahidi wiki into a static form. Because of that, functions like logging in, commenting or searching will not work.

For more documentation, please refer to https://docs.ushahidi.com

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Follow these guidelines to ensure your documentation is clear, comprehensible and easy to translate:

Grammar and Usage

  • write with the reader in mind
  • write self-descriptive topic headings that clearly identify the topic
  • use short, simple sentences and words
  • start with the most important idea
  • be consistent in terminology and spelling: do not call the same thing by different names, and do not call more than one thing by the same name
  • use active voice: for example: Use the Save command to save the file, not The Save command is used to save the file.
  • use graphics and diagrams where possible
  • avoid text in graphics
  • avoid double-negatives
  • avoid acronyms, but if you must use them, expand the acronym on its first use
  • avoid idioms, colloquialisms, and slang
  • write each sentence in chronological order
  • avoid contractions
  • have one idea per sentence
  • have one topic per paragraph
  • start the paragraph with a topic (introductory) sentence
  • use proper grammar
  • avoid starting a sentence with a conjunction
  • avoid sentence fragments
  • be sensitive to other cultures and countries
  • avoid gender-specific language (he, she)
  • avoid abstract nouns, for example, using capability to indicate you can
  • consider generic placement of graphics
  • write with accessibility in mind: use tooltips on graphics, font size, alternate text
  • avoid deadwood words: for example: Pick a valid code should be Pick a code
  • do not write as if things were people, for example, The computer remembers.
  • avoid long adjective strings - use prepositions between strings
  • if possible, identify which country the topic applies to

Documentation structure

  • start with a summary paragraph
  • avoid long text blocks
  • use bullets, lists, tables and numbering where appropriate
  • avoid long paragraphs and sentences
  • use headings and white space
  • use a glossary to define each terms