iiab/README.md

# Internet-in-a-Box (IIAB)

Welcome to the GitHub repository for [Internet-in-a-Box (IIAB)](http://internet-in-a-box.org).  IIAB is a small and inexpensive device which provides essential Internet resources (Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Khan Academy and others) *usable even when offline!*

Create the digital library needed by your school, your medical clinic, your region and/or your very own family — accessible with any nearby smartphone, tablet or laptop.

Internet-in-a-Box provides you the tools to DIY (download and customize) a local content hotspot or server, using the Internet's crown jewels and the very best of the World’s Free Knowledge.

Schools can also choose among [30 powerful educational apps](http://wiki.laptop.org/go/IIAB/FAQ#What_services_.28IIAB_apps.29_are_suggested_during_installation.3F) for teachers and students, optionally with a complete LMS (learning management system).

FYI this community product is enabled by professional volunteers working [side-by-side](http://wiki.laptop.org/go/IIAB/FAQ#What_are_the_best_places_for_community_support.3F) with schools, clinics and libraries around the world.  *Thank you for being a part of our grassroots technology movement!*

## Installation

Pre-releases of Internet-in-a-Box (IIAB) are available from http://download.iiab.io — click on the highest version number and then launch the 1-line installer.

Please see "What are the best places for community support?" at http://FAQ.IIAB.IO which has 40+ questions and answers to help you along the way, as you put together the digital knowledge hotspot most suitable for your own community.

The [Installation](https://github.com/iiab/iiab/wiki/IIAB-Installation) wiki page has more intricate details e.g. if you're trying to install Internet-in-a-Box (IIAB) on a [different platform](https://github.com/iiab/iiab/wiki/IIAB-Platforms) that has not yet been tried.

Then you [add content](https://github.com/iiab/iiab/wiki/IIAB-Installation#add-content), which can of course take time when downloading multi-gigabyte Content Packs!

Finally, you can [customize your Internet-in-a-Box home page](http://wiki.laptop.org/go/IIAB/FAQ#How_do_I_customize_my_Internet-in-a-Box_home_page.3F) (typically http://box or http://box.lan) using our drag-and-drop Admin Console (http://box/admin) — to arrange Content Packs and IIAB Apps (services) for your local community's needs.

#### Built with Ansible

FYI we use [Ansible](http://wiki.laptop.org/go/IIAB/FAQ#What_is_Ansible_and_what_version_should_I_use.3F) as the underlying technology to install, deploy, configure and manage the various software components.

## Contributing

We greatly welcome contributions from educators, librarians *and* IT/UX/QA people of all kinds!

Please see "[How can I help?](http://wiki.laptop.org/go/IIAB/FAQ#How_can_I_help.3F)" at: http://FAQ.IIAB.IO

Check out our [Contributors Guide](https://github.com/iiab/iiab/wiki/IIAB-Contributors-Guide) to learn more about contributing directly to Internet-in-a-Box (IIAB) software and its open community architecture for education.

*Thank you for helping us enable offline access to the Internet's open knowledge jewels, as well as "Sneakernet-of-Alexandria" distribution of local/indigenous content, when mass media channels do not serve grassroots voices.*

## Versions

Pre-releases of Internet-in-a-Box (IIAB) undergo continuous QA / continuous deployment and are strongly recommended.

Install our latest pre-release using the 1-line installer at: http://download.iiab.io

You can also consider the <!--latest Internet-in-a-Box (IIAB)--> official releases at: [github.com/iiab/iiab/releases](https://github.com/iiab/iiab/releases)

Finally, older versions are here: [github.com/xsce](http://github.com/xsce), [schoolserver.org](http://schoolserver.org)