User:Triciaburmeister/Sandbox/Tool maintainer overview

TODO: Determine if the following content would be better on https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Tools or https://wikitech.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Toolforge/Developing_successful_tools so that this page on Wikitech can serve only/primarily as navigation to the major tool-related product/service docs.

Overview of the tool development process

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(Optional) Use PAWS to experiment and prototype in your browser.
Set up tool/bot accounts.
Build and test your code on your local machine, or (if applicable) in a browser-based tool like PAWS, Quarry, or Wikidata Query Service.
(Optional but recommended; required for heavy-duty queries or scheduled jobs) Deploy and host your tool on Toolforge, Wikimedia's cloud hosting platform.
Document, publish, and share your tool.
Improve and continuously maintain your tool, or deprecate it.

Developing tools that support Wikimedia projects provides the following benefits to technical contributors:

Help wiki communities and support the open-source and free knowledge movements.
Access free cloud hosting, storage, and other services to support your development work.
Gain experience and showcase your technical skills. See: m:Coolest_Tool_Award.
Meet and collaborate with people around the world. See: mw:Hackathons.
Get technical and community support. See Help:Cloud_Services_communication.

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