Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- software:ros:getting-started [2013/04/18 08:09] – created bartelsg
+++ software:ros:getting-started [2013/04/18 08:53] – [More specific Tutorials] bartelsg
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== Getting Started with ROS ======
+Before following the instructions on this page, please complete section 'Install ROS core system' described [[software:ros:installation|here]].
+The ROS community has spent a lot of time setting up useful tutorials to get new users started with the software. These tutorials are a great and entertaining way of getting to know ROS. Most of them can be found on [[http://www.ros.org]].
+We also recommend new users to follow at least the basic tutorials. Afterwards, one can look at the more specific tutorials on a need or interest basis. And, as always, practicing in an own project improves learning. Have fun! :)
+===== Basic Tutorials =====
+The basic tutorials of ROS can be found [[http://www.ros.org/wiki/ROS/Tutorials|here]]. Before groovy, this was a (rather too) short list of pretty basic tutorials. Now, it has grown to a very respectable size. We recommend you cover
+  * all the 'beginners' tutorials
+  * all the 'intermediate' tutorials
+For first time users we recommend to stick with one combination of 'your favorite programming language' (C++ or python, where not all packages provide python-tutorials) and one build system (catkin or rosbuild, where catkin is the new ROS buildsystem of the future).
+Additionally, you should also familiarize yourself with:
+  * [[http://www.ros.org/wiki/actionlib_tutorials/Tutorials|actionlib]] (beginner tutorials)
+  * [[http://www.ros.org/wiki/rviz/Tutorials|rviz]] (tutorials 1 and 2)
+  * [[http://www.ros.org/wiki/tf/Tutorials|TF]] (section 'learning TF' and 'debugging TF')
+Afterwards, it is always a good idea to revisit the tutorials to also learn how to use 'your not-so-favorite programming language' and 'the other buildsystem'. ;)
+===== How to find ROS Tutorials =====
+The built-in search of ros.org helps you finding packages released in ROS. You can find it at the top right of the website.
+Let's say we are looking for the tutorials of our favorite simulator gazebo. Use the search to navigate to the gazebo package documentation page ([[http://www.ros.org/wiki/gazebo|gazebo]], for those who want to cheat).
+On this page you will find a blue box named 'Package Links'. These link to various useful resources about the package, such as the API an external website etc. There should also be a link to tutorials. Any well-documented package should have such a Tutorials link on its ros.org webpage.
+Click on it. Et voilà, you found the gazebo tutorials!
+===== More specific Tutorials =====
+Depending on the focus of your work you will likely want to look at tutorials covering very specific software packages.
+==== Motion Control ====
+  * Robot kinematics are modelled using the [[http://www.ros.org/wiki/urdf|URDF]] standard.
+  * The control architecture on the PR2 is nicely documented [[http://www.ros.org/wiki/pr2_mechanism|here]].