# Contributing to Open Free Books Thank you for helping grow free, open textbooks. This guide focuses on **curriculum, subjects, and chapters** — the most common contribution. **Prerequisites:** [Zola](https://www.getzola.org/), [Bun](https://bun.sh/). See [README.md](README.md) for dev setup. --- ## Quick reference | I want to… | Start here | |------------|------------| | Add a **planned** chapter (roadmap only) | [§ Planned chapter](#add-a-planned-chapter-roadmap) | | Publish a **live** chapter (readable page) | [§ Live chapter](#publish-a-live-chapter) | | Add a **branch** in the catalog map | [§ Chapter graph](#chapter-graph-branches) | | Add a new **subject** | [§ New subject](#add-a-new-subject) | | Add a **curriculum** filter (e.g. GCSE) | [§ New curriculum label](#add-a-curriculum-label) | **Browse the catalog locally:** `bun run build:js && zola serve` → [http://127.0.0.1:1111/catalog/](http://127.0.0.1:1111/catalog/) --- ## How the catalog fits together ```text data/catalog.json → subjects in the sidebar + filter chips (DSE, IB, …) data/{subject}-curriculum.json → strands, chapters, curriculum tags, optional graph content/{subject}/{slug}/ → actual chapter page (when status is "live") themes/.../partials/... → chapter HTML content (today) ``` - **Catalog** (`/catalog/`) is the place to browse everything. - **List** — numbered chapter cards; live chapters link to the whole card. - **Map** — strand columns on a pannable JSON Canvas graph; live chapters link from the **title only** (with `→` and a hover underline). - **`/math/`** redirects to `/catalog/?subject=math` — there is no separate math book homepage. - **Curriculum names** (DSE, IB, …) appear only in the catalog — not inside chapter text ([spec.md](spec.md)). - Every chapter needs a short **`description`** in curriculum JSON (shown in list and map; map clamps description to three lines). --- ## Add a planned chapter (roadmap) Use this when the chapter is not written yet but should appear in the catalog. 1. Open `data/{subject}-curriculum.json` (e.g. `data/math-curriculum.json`). 2. Find the right **strand** (topic group). 3. Add a chapter object: ```json { "slug": "your-chapter-slug", "title": "Human-readable title", "description": "One or two sentences for the catalog list and map card.", "status": "planned", "curriculums": ["DSE"] } ``` 4. Use a **kebab-case** `slug` (letters, numbers, hyphens only). 5. Set `curriculums` to every syllabus tag that applies. Tags must exist in `data/catalog.json` → `curriculums`. 6. Run `zola build` and check `/catalog/?subject=math` (or your subject). No `content/` files needed for planned chapters. --- ## Publish a live chapter A live chapter needs **catalog data** and a **page**. ### 1. Catalog entry In `data/{subject}-curriculum.json`, set `"status": "live"` and include a `description` for the chapter (see [planned chapter](#add-a-planned-chapter-roadmap)). ### 2. Zola section Create `content/{subject}/{slug}/_index.md`: ```md +++ title = "Your chapter title" description = "One sentence for search and previews — no curriculum names here." template = "math/chapter.html" weight = 10 [extra] chapter_id = "your-chapter-slug" +++ ``` - `slug` in the path must match `slug` in the JSON file. - `chapter_id` must match the slug (used by the template). - `weight` controls order within the section (lower = earlier). ### 3. Chapter HTML content Today, chapter bodies live as HTML partials under the theme, not Markdown: 1. Add `themes/openfreebooks/templates/partials/math/your-chapter-slug-content.html` with the lesson HTML. 2. In `themes/openfreebooks/templates/math/chapter.html`, include it when `chapter_id` matches: ```html {% if section.extra.chapter_id == "your-chapter-slug" %} {% include "partials/math/your-chapter-slug-content.html" %} {% endif %} ``` Use existing classes: `book-prose`, `book-prose__heading`, `book-callout`, etc. Copy from `quadratic-equations-content.html`. **Do not** mention DSE, IB, or other curriculum names in the chapter body. ### 4. Interactive widgets (optional) If the chapter needs a Solid widget (like the quadratic explorer): 1. Add a component under `frontend/src/components/`. 2. Mount it in `frontend/src/main.tsx` when a mount element exists. 3. Add `
` in the chapter template branch. Then run `bun run build:js`. ### 5. Check - `/catalog/?subject=math` — chapter appears; live chapters link correctly. - `/math/your-chapter-slug/` — page renders; breadcrumb goes to catalog. - `bun run build` completes without errors. --- ## Chapter graph (branches) The **Map** tab (`?view=tree`) shows chapters as a directed graph on a canvas (strand = column, arrows = prerequisites / sequence). - Chapters appear as cards with title, description, and curriculum badges. - **Live** chapters: click the **title** to open the chapter (not the whole card). - **Planned** chapters: shown with a “Coming soon” badge; no link. - By default, chapters in a strand link in **list order** (chapter 1 → chapter 2 → …). - For **branches** (one chapter leads to several next chapters), add `graph.edges`: ```json "graph": { "edges": [ { "from": "quadratic-equations", "to": "sequences" }, { "from": "quadratic-equations", "to": "functions-graphs" } ] } ``` Rules: - `from` and `to` are chapter **slugs**. - The graph must **not contain cycles** (no circular prerequisites). - Edges must reference slugs that exist in `strands`. Open `/catalog/?subject=math&view=tree` to verify layout. Scroll the page normally; use Ctrl/Cmd + wheel on the map to zoom. Pan by clicking the map first if the “click to interact” banner appears. If a map card looks **clipped** at the bottom (badges or description cut off), that is a layout bug — long titles and descriptions need enough node height. Report it or see [curriculum-data.md](.agents/skills/ofb/curriculum-data.md) for how heights are measured. --- ## Add a new subject Example: adding **Science**. 1. **`data/catalog.json`** — add to `subjects`: ```json { "id": "science", "name": "Science" } ``` 2. **`data/science-curriculum.json`** — create with `title`, `strands`, and chapters (copy structure from `math-curriculum.json`). 3. **`themes/openfreebooks/templates/catalog.html`** — today you must wire the new file into `#catalog-data` (see `math` block). *This step should get easier; see README contributor tasks.* 4. **`content/science/`** — add `_index.md` (redirect template like math) when you have a section. 5. **Homepage** — optional card in `themes/openfreebooks/templates/index.html`. 6. Build and test `/catalog/?subject=science`. --- ## Add a curriculum label Example: adding **GCSE**. 1. Add `"GCSE"` to `curriculums` in `data/catalog.json`. 2. Tag chapters with `"GCSE"` in their `curriculums` arrays. 3. Add a badge style in `themes/openfreebooks/sass/_catalog.scss` (copy `.catalog-badge--igcse` pattern). 4. Add a mapping in `frontend/src/lib/catalog-badge.ts` → `curriculumBadgeClass()` (or rely on the default style). --- ## Pull requests - Keep changes focused (one subject or a few chapters per PR is fine). - Run `bun run build` before opening the PR. - Do **not** commit `public/` or copied HTML under `themes/openfreebooks/static/`. - **Do** commit Vite output under `themes/openfreebooks/static/js/` (`bundle.js` and hashed chunks such as `catalog-app-*.js`, `catalog-canvas-view-*.js`) after `bun run build:js`. - Describe what you added in the PR: subject, chapters, live vs planned, and which curricula apply. Questions? Open a [GitHub discussion](https://github.com/hananoshikayomaru/openfreebooks) or issue. --- ## For maintainers & agents Machine-oriented detail: [.agents/skills/ofb/SKILL.md](.agents/skills/ofb/SKILL.md) and [.agents/skills/ofb/curriculum-data.md](.agents/skills/ofb/curriculum-data.md).