Experienced TYPO3 developers consult the API Documentation on a daily basis. As a courtesy, we've provided links to the core documentation below.

• div: general purpose functions (frontend and backend)
• extmgm: extension management functions
• befunc: class containing standard backend functions
• db: database abstraction layer (frontend and backend)
• template: backend templating path
• lang: backend localization class
• pibase: base class for frontend plugins
• content: class containing the main TypoScript rendering functionality
• TSREF: in-depth TypoScript documentation

Learning how to develop sites using TYPO3 can be challenging, although the TYPO3 Association has made great progress in lowering the time it takes to learn the basics by increasing access to documentation and improving the backend interface. For a quick introduction to TYPO3, we recommend the following documents.

Getting Started

The Getting Started guide is the official starting point for TYPO3 newcomers. This document will give you a good grasp on how to do most common backend tasks, including how to create and edit pages, content, and frontend user accounts. If you're just starting, this is the place to begin.

Templating

Once you've learned the basics of the backend, you're going to want to move on to learning about templating. There are, in our experience, two popular approaches to setting up your template. The first (and older) approach is to use an extension called Template Auto Parser to parse an HTML template and add TYPO3 content. To learn this approach, we advise you to take a look at Modern Template Building Part 1.

TemplaVoila

The second, more recent approach to templating is to use the TYPO3 extension called TemplaVoila and the CSS Styled Content extension. This combination can do just about everything that the Modern Template Building approach is capable of, and then some. To learn how to use the TemplaVoila approach, we recommend that you read Futuristic Template Building, the first part of which focuses on templating. The second part focuses on creating "flexible content elements." If you're just starting out, the first part is the place to start.

TypoScript

While you're working through TYPO3, you're going to have to use the system's unique scripting language called TypoScript. TyposScript can be pretty intimidating for beginners. If you get stuck, you can always call on the Cast Iron Coding team for consulting and training. We suggest that you begin learning TypoScript by consulting two documents on the subject. The first document is called Typoscript By Example, and it is useful because it provides working examples of how to use typoscript.

The authoritative document on nearly everything that can be accomplished using TypoScript is the "TSREF ,"which is short for "Typoscript Reference." It's not exactly fascinating reading, but once you learn your way around this document you'll have a much easier time solving problems in TYPO3. While you're at it, you may want to brush up on your TypoScript syntax by referring to this in-depth study of typoscript syntax.

Mediatech.net offers easy to install and customizable TYPO3 templates and hosts a discussion board where users can talk about TYPO3 extensions, typoscript, and templates. Best of all, they offer a free template which can be a great starting point for newcomers to TYPO3.