open source

This is a rundown of resources where you might find a solution to a problem you have when using Drupal or developing for it.

These techniques can probably be applied to any open source project.

The order is the order I use to find an answer.

• Do a find on the code. It's open source, people, so let the source be with you! By looking at the code you can find how things are done, what is possible with a certain module, what arguments a function is expecting and what it's going to do with them.
  Looking for your answer in the source code is the best solution in my opinion. It might sometimes take more time to lead you to the right answer, but while searching and skimming the code, you are learning a lot. You learn how things are done, you adopt good programming techniques, you get to know what the programming standards in your language/system are and it gives you a lot more insight about what stuff is doing.
  Tip: In Textmate I open the whole Drupal folder (root) as a project and use Command + Shift + F to find what I'm looking for.
• Browse the API.
• Browse the documentation, manual. In Drupal this is the Drupal handbook.
• Browse your books. In Drupal the answer is probably in "Pro Drupal Development" if you are developing a module or theming, "Drupal 5 themes" if you are theming or "Drupal, Creating Blogs, Forums, Portals", and
  Community Websites" if you are doing Drupal administration or using Drupal.
• Use google (or any other search engine - I've heard they exist).