# 👋 Welcome \| README

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![](.gitbook/assets/oss-welcome-banner%20%281%29.png)

## What is Ushahidi?

Ushahidi is an open source web application for information collection, visualization and interactive mapping. It helps you to collect info from: SMS, Twitter, RSS feeds, Email. It helps you to process that information, categorize it, geo-locate it and publish it on a map.

## Required reading: Code of Conduct.

We love having you here. To ensure everyone has a good experience, we ask **everyone** that interacts with our community and staff to read our code of conduct.

{% page-ref page="code-of-conduct/" %}

![](.gitbook/assets/oss-ushahidi-project%20%281%29.png)

If you are not a developer, or just don't want to set it up yourself, you can start a hosted deployment [here](https://www.ushahidi.com/pricing).

If you want to install and host the Ushahidi Platform yourself, check out one of our Setup Guides

{% page-ref page="development-and-code/setup\_alternatives/" %}

If you are a developer and want to install and customise the code, read through the Development & Code and Front-End Development sections:

{% page-ref page="development-and-code/getting-started.md" %}

{% page-ref page="front-end-development/changing-ui-styles-introduction-to-the-pattern-library/" %}

### A note for grassroots organizations

If you are starting a deployment for a grassroots organization, you can apply for a free social-impact responder account [here](https://www.ushahidi.com/pricing/apply-for-free) after verifying that you meet the criteria.

## Getting Involved

Check out how you can get involved and contribute to our work:

{% page-ref page="contributing-or-getting-involved/" %}

## Useful Links

* [User Documentation](https://www.ushahidi.com/support)
* [Ushahidi.com](https://www.ushahidi.com)
* [Ushahidi Platform v2](https://github.com/ushahidi/Ushahidi_Web)
* [Ushahidi on Github](https://github.com/ushahidi)