How to Contribute to or Get Help with Schism Tracker

Schism Tracker is a free and open-source reimplementation of Impulse Tracker, and its development is open to anyone. You can contribute code through the GitHub repository, report bugs or request features on the issue tracker, and get help from other users via IRC or Discord. The sections below cover each path, including the exact commands and channels listed on the project site.

Getting the Source Code

The bleeding-edge current source is available via Git. Clone it with:

git clone https://github.com/schismtracker/schismtracker

If you just want to look around before building anything, you can point a web browser at the repository to browse the source tree, change logs, and other development information.

Building from Source

Build notes are provided separately for each major platform:

• Windows — build notes for Windows
• OS X — build notes for OS X
• Linux — build notes for Linux

These notes are the starting point for anyone who wants to compile Schism Tracker themselves or work on the code. The project states that Schism will most likely build on any architecture supported by GCC (for example alpha, m68k, or arm), though it will probably not be as well-optimized on many of those systems.

Reporting Bugs and Requesting Features

If you find a bug or have a feature request, post it on the issue tracker. This is the project's designated channel for tracking problems and proposed changes, so it's the right place to check before assuming something is broken or missing.

Getting Community Help

Two community channels are listed on the site:

For quick questions, either channel works. The Discord server is described as the de facto community channel, while the IRC channel remains available for those who prefer IRC clients.

What You Can Do Without Building Anything

Contributing doesn't require compiling the tracker. You can:

• Browse the source tree and change logs in a web browser to understand how the project evolves.
• File issues for bugs or feature ideas on the issue tracker.
• Help other users in the IRC or Discord channels.

A Practical Starting Point

If your goal is to fix a bug, the usual path is: clone the repository, read the build notes for your platform, build the tracker, reproduce the issue, then submit a report or patch through the issue tracker. If your goal is simply to get help using Schism Tracker, skip the build steps and ask in #schism on Libera.Chat or #schismtracker on TARC — those channels exist precisely for that kind of question.