title: SilverStripe Documentation
introduction: Welcome to the SilverStripe Developer Documentation. This website is aimed at website developers looking to learn how to build and manage web applications with the SilverStripe Framework.

## Getting Started with SilverStripe

Before you start developing your first web application, you'll need to install the latest version of SilverStripe onto 
a web server. The [Getting Started](/getting_started) section will show you what 
[server requirements](/getting_started/server_requirements) you will need to meet and how to 
[download and install SilverStripe](/getting_started/installation).

To check out the features that SilverStripe offers without installing it, read the [Feature Overview](http://www.silverstripe.org/software/) 
and play with the interactive [demo website](http://demo.silverstripe.org/).

##  Getting support

SilverStripe has an wide range of options for getting support:

* Join our [forum](https://forum.silverstripe.org)
* Ask technical questions on [Stack Overflow](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/silverstripe) 
* Get help on our [Slack channel](https://www.silverstripe.org/community/slack-signup/)
* Read the technical reference in our [API Documentation](http://api.silverstripe.org/)
* Get a user-focused overview of the CMS features in our [User Help](http://userhelp.silverstripe.com)
* Discuss new features, API changes and the development [roadmap](http://www.silverstripe.org/software/roadmap/)
  on [UserVoice](http://silverstripe.uservoice.com/forums/251266-new-features)


## Building your first SilverStripe Web application

Once you have completed the [Getting Started](/getting_started) guide and have got SilverStripe
installed and running, the following [Tutorials](http://silverstripe.org/learn/lessons) will lead through the basics and core concepts of 
SilverStripe.

Make sure you know the basic concepts of PHP5 before attempting to follow the tutorials. If you have not programmed with PHP5 be sure to read the [Introduction to PHP5 (zend.com)](http://devzone.zend.com/6/php-101--php-for-the-absolute-beginner).


## SilverStripe Concepts

The [Developer Guides](/developer_guides) contain more detailed documentation on certain SilverStripe topics, 'how to'
examples and reference documentation.

[CHILDREN Folder=02_Developer_Guides]

## Contributing to SilverStripe

The SilverStripe Framework, Content Management System and related websites are open source and welcome community 
contributions.

[CHILDREN Folder=05_Contributing]