---
layout: default
title: Support
permalink: /support/
menu: true
---

If you need help using Octave, you have many options, from reading
the Octave manual, asking for help on the mailing lists, chatting
online with other Octave users, or paying for commercial support.


## Support Expectations

The Octave community is a loosely organized association of
volunteers.  Your interactions with the community will be better
if you have the <a href="support-expectations.html">right
expectations about the support options</a> available to you.


## Commercial Support

Community support can be great, and with the Octave community it
often is, but sometimes you need to know that your question will
be answered.  We maintain a <a href="commercial-support.html">list
of people and organizations who offer commercial support
contracts</a> for Octave.  This list is available as a service to
the community and the support providers.  The Octave project does
not provide endorsements or recommendations.


## User Community

There is an active user community centered around Octave.
<a href="support-expectations">Please understand</a>
that the people answering your question on the mailing list or IRC
channel, or helping to fix the bug you reported are doing so as
volunteers.


## Documentation

- __Reference Manual__:
  Octave is fully documented by a comprehensive 800 page manual.

  The on-line <a href="doc/interpreter/index.html">HTML</a>
  and <a href="octave.pdf">PDF</a> versions of the manual are
  generated directly from the Texinfo source files that are
  distributed along with every copy of the Octave source code.  The
  complete text of the manual is also available at the Octave prompt
  using the `doc` command.

  A printed version of the Octave manual may be ordered from
  <a href="http://www.network-theory.co.uk/octave/manual">Network Theory,
  Ltd.</a>.  Any money raised from the sale of this book will
  support the development of free software.  For each copy sold $1
  will be donated to the GNU Octave Development Fund.

- __Frequently Asked Questions__:
  If you are new to Octave, you may have some
  <a href="http://www.octave.org/wiki/FAQ">questions
  that have been asked (and answered) a few times before.</a>

- __Wiki__:
  The <a href="http://wiki.octave.org">Octave Wiki</a> is a great
  place to look for information about things that are not covered in
  the manual, or other transient topics (Google Summer of Code,
  Octave Conferences, etc.).


## Contacting Other Users for Help

- __Mailing List__:
  If your question isn't answered in the FAQ, the manual, or the Wiki,
  the <a href="mailto:help@octave.org">help@octave.org</a> mailing
  list is a good resource.

  <div id="search-form">
    <table>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <form action="http://octave.1599824.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp"><input type="hidden" name="macro" value="search_page" />
            <input type="hidden" name="node" value="1599825" />
            <input id="query" name="query" size="25" />
            <select name="days">
              <option value="0" selected>all dates</option>
              <option value="1">past 24 hours</option>
              <option value="7">past week</option>
              <option value="30">past month</option>
              <option value="90">past 3 months</option>
              <option value="180">past 6 months</option>
              <option value="365">past year</option>
            </select>
            <input type="submit" value="Search" />
          </form>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="http://octave.1599824.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=adv_search_page&amp;node=1599825">Advanced Search</a>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>
          <a href="https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/help-octave">List
  Info Page</a> (subscribe here)
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
  </div>

- __Chat__:
  Too impatient for email? You can find Octave developers and users on the
  <a href="http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=octave&amp;uio=MT1mYWxzZSYyPXRydWUmMTI9dHJ1ZQda"><code>#octave</code>
  channel</a>
  at <a href="http://freenode.net"><code>irc.freenode.net</code></a>.
  The atmosphere is relaxed and chat isn't restricted to matters
  strictly pertaining to Octave.