The LAMMPS categories on MatSci.org are the primary way to get help with installing, running, programming the [LAMMPS Molecular Dynamics software package](https://www.lammps.org/) and to facilitate exchange between LAMMPS users and developers. The main motivation of using a forum is that this allows *anybody* to join a discussion and try to provide assistance, even those with limited experience. As the LAMMPS community is growing, this allows that the pool of people that can potentially help others is growing. Keep in mind that users are often better equipped to explain how to use software effectively to other users than the developers.

Please always keep in mind that people here are volunteering their time. So please be respectful to anybody that makes the effort to respond to your posts.

Below are several guidelines to assist with using the forum effectively and to avoid wasting anybody's time. Thus please read them carefully. You can click on the triangles to see more detailed explanations for the individual guidelines.

[details="Choose the correct category"]
The MatSci.org server hosts discussion forums for multiple materials science related topics and thus to have your post show up in the LAMMPS related area where other LAMMPS users and enthusiasts can see and respond to it. Do *not* use the default.
To organize discussions within the LAMMPS category there are sub-categories, please always choose the most appropriate one:

- LAMMPS Beginners: for people that are not very experienced with using LAMMPS. People will be more forgiving if you make mistakes, but don't be offended when you get explanations for what you already know
- LAMMPS Development: for discussions about programming LAMMPS, using the library interface or python module or possible bugs
- LAMMPS Installation: for questions about compiling or installing LAMMPS
- LAMMPS General Discussion: for all other topics. This assumes that you know the science, so responses may just point you to a source of information. Don't be offended when not all details are explained
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[details="Always report your LAMMPS version and platform"]
The behavior of LAMMPS changes over time. New features are added, obsolete ones removed, syntax changed and more. Mentioning the exact version of LAMMPS being used (it Is printed as the first line of output or at the top of `lmp -h`) can be crucial information for anybody trying to provide an answer. Please do not use terms like "the latest version" or "the stable version". Those can be very different depending on how you obtain LAMMPS and they will change over time.
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[details="Be concise and specific; do not make any assumptions about what people know"]
The quality of any assistance you can get, crucially depends on how well you describe your problem, what solutions you have tried, and how easy it is to reproduce your issue. Most users of the forum are not likely experts in your specific area of research. Thus avoid domain specific slang terms, explain all details relevant for a non-expert, and try to simplify your input to focus on the problem at hand.

The **worst** you could do is to attach your input and say "it doesn't work". Competent and helpful responses require context. This kind of post has none.
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[details="Be sure to research your problem before posting"]

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