home
# Lithium _The lightweight, fast, flexible web framework for PHP 5.3 and up._ [wiki:about Read more about the features] ## Status Lithium is currently in **dev** release status, and is under active development on several fronts. To learn more about where we're headed, or to get the latest updates on our progress, you can **check the [wiki:blog blog] or the [wiki:about/roadmap roadmap].** ## Getting help Since Lithium is a brand new project, we're asking for peoples' patience as we get our support channels worked out. While you're waiting, you can [come chat with us](http://webchat.freenode.net/) any time on [ Freenode](irc://irc.freenode.net/) at [#li3](irc://irc.freenode.net/#li3) for general questions, or [#li3-core](irc://irc.freenode.net/#li3-core) if you're interested in developing Lithium's internals or core plugins. We're more than happy to help you get up and running, so please review our [wiki:community/guidelines community guidelines] and come join the fun. ## Contributing If you're interested in contributing to the development of Lithium by fixing bugs, pushing [wiki:about/roadmap roadmapped] features forward or extending the framework through the plugin API, we'd love to have you. We have a lot of work ahead of us, and every contribution helps. If you'd like to start helping out right away, here are a few good first steps: - If you're new to Git, get familiar with it by reading the [Git manual](http://www.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/user-manual.html) and/or [Pro Git](http://progit.org/book/). - [Clone the source code](http://rad-dev.org/lithium) and get cozy with the codebase. One good way to do this is with the [docs plugin](http://rad-dev.org/li3_docs), which gives you a live, browse-able API viewer. - Install [ Xdebug](http://xdebug.org) and write unit tests for uncovered sections of code by browsing to `http://host/path/to/lithium/test`, click on a test case or group and lastly, click on the "Code Coverage" link. - Fork and contribute to one of our [ example](http://rad-dev.org/lithium_bin) [ projects](http://rad-dev.org/lithium_anologue) Be sure to read up on our project [wiki:about/goals design goals], as well as our [wiki:standards coding standards & guidelines] and go to town. As always, all contributions are important, and we're very grateful for the help of all those who have gotten us this far. If you're interested in helping out, but feel you could use a little coaching, be sure to drop by [#li3-core](irc://irc.freenode.net/#li3-core) and introduce yourself -- we'd love to help you get started.