---
title: "Door43 Developer Documentation"
description: "Build applications with Door43's comprehensive Bible translation resources. This documentation provides everything you need to integrate unfoldingWord's ecosystem of aligned Bible texts, translation helps, and quality assurance tools."
---



**Built for the [Open Components Ecosystem](https://opencomponents.io/) community** - enabling interoperable Bible translation applications with shared, reusable components.

## 🎯 **New Here? Start with Getting Started**

**[Getting Started](./0-getting-started)** - Essential foundation for understanding the Door43 ecosystem

Understand why these resources exist. Learn how they help Bible translators worldwide. Do this before you start technical implementation. This foundation makes all the technical guides more meaningful. It helps you build better applications.

**⭐ Recommended first read**: [Why unfoldingWord Translation Resources](./1-why-unfoldingword-translation-resources) - Learn the mission and see real-world translation scenarios.

---

## 🎯 **Find What You Need**

### **By Resource Type**
| Resource | What It Contains | Format Guide |
|----------|------------------|--------------|
| **Bible Texts** | USFM Scripture (UHB, UGNT, ULT, UST) | [Bible Text Guide](./4-repository-formats/resource-container/bible-text-repositories-guide) |
| **Translation Notes** | Verse-level translation guidance | [Translation Notes Guide](./4-repository-formats/resource-container/translation-notes-repositories-guide) |
| **Translation Words** | Biblical term definitions | [Translation Words Guide](./4-repository-formats/resource-container/translation-words-repositories-guide) |
| **Translation Questions** | Quality assurance questions | [Translation Questions Guide](./4-repository-formats/resource-container/translation-questions-repositories-guide) |
| **Translation Academy** | Translation methodology training | [Translation Academy Guide](./4-repository-formats/resource-container/translation-academy-repositories-guide) |
| **Open Bible Stories** | 50 key Bible stories | [Open Bible Stories Guide](./4-repository-formats/resource-container/open-bible-stories-repositories-guide) |

### **By Technical Task**
| Task | Primary Guide | Supporting Guides |
|------|---------------|-------------------|
| **API Authentication** | [Door43 API Guide](./3-door43-api-developer-guide) | - |
| **Repository Discovery** | [Door43 API Guide](./3-door43-api-developer-guide) | [Repository Formats](./4-repository-formats/) |
| **Content Processing** | [Repository Format Guides](./4-repository-formats/) | [unfoldingWord Guide](./2-unfoldingword-developer-guide) |
| **Format Conversion** | [Migration Guides](./5-migration/) | [Repository Formats](./4-repository-formats/) |
| **Word-Level Alignment** | [unfoldingWord Guide](./2-unfoldingword-developer-guide) | [Bible Text Guide](./4-repository-formats/resource-container/bible-text-repositories-guide) |
| **Cross-Reference Linking** | [Translation Words Links Guide](./4-repository-formats/resource-container/translation-words-links-repositories-guide) | [Translation Words Guide](./4-repository-formats/resource-container/translation-words-repositories-guide) |

### **By Experience Level**
- **🟢 New to Door43**: Start with [Getting Started](./0-getting-started) → [Door43 API Guide](./3-door43-api-developer-guide)
- **🟡 Familiar with APIs**: Jump to [Repository Formats](./4-repository-formats/) for specific resource handling
- **🔴 Building Complex Apps**: Begin with [unfoldingWord Developer Guide](./2-unfoldingword-developer-guide) for complete architecture

---

## 🚀 **Quick Start by Use Case**

### **Building a Bible Reading App?**
```
1. Read: Why unfoldingWord Resources → Understand the ecosystem
2. Implement: Door43 API Guide → Get data from repositories  
3. Handle: Bible Text Format Guide → Display USFM content
4. Add: Translation Notes Guide → Show verse-level helps
```
**Time: ~4 hours** | **Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Intermediate**

### **Creating a Translation Editor?**
```
1. Study: unfoldingWord Developer Guide → Learn resource architecture
2. Implement: Door43 API Guide → CRUD operations for content
3. Handle: All Repository Formats → Support multiple resource types
4. Add: Migration Guides → Convert between formats
```
**Time: ~2-3 days** | **Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Advanced**

### **Converting Resource Formats?**
```
1. Identify: Repository Formats → Determine source format
2. Choose: Migration Guide → Find specific conversion guide
3. Convert: Follow step-by-step instructions
4. Validate: Test converted resources
```
**Time: ~4-8 hours** | **Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Intermediate**

### **Building Automation Tools?**
```
1. Learn: MCP Instructions → Understand automation patterns
2. Implement: API Reference for MCP → Optimize for batch operations
3. Deploy: Repository Analyzer → Automated content analysis
```
**Time: ~1-2 days** | **Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Advanced**

---

## 📚 **Documentation Sections**

### **[Getting Started](./0-getting-started)**
**Understand the ecosystem and mission**
- [Why unfoldingWord Resources](./1-why-unfoldingword-translation-resources) - Learn the basic concepts and mission
- Foundation concepts before diving into technical details

## 🛠️ **Developer Guides**

### **[unfoldingWord Developer Guide](./2-unfoldingword-developer-guide)**
**Complete technical specification of the resource ecosystem**
- Resource architecture and alignment system
- Cross-resource relationships and dependencies
- Integration patterns

### **[Door43 API Developer Guide](./3-door43-api-developer-guide)**
**Practical API implementation patterns**
- Authentication and repository access
- Common workflows and use cases
- Performance optimization strategies

### **[Repository Formats](./4-repository-formats/)**
**Handle specific resource types**
- **Resource Container** - Standard unfoldingWord formats (Bible texts, translation helps)
- **Scripture Burrito** - Alternative Bible resource format
- **Tool-Generated** - translationCore and translationStudio formats

### **[Migration & Conversion](./5-migration/)**
**Convert between formats**
- Resource Container → Scripture Burrito conversion guides
- Format-specific migration instructions

### **[Automation & MCP](./automation/)**
**Automated processing and analysis**
- MCP instructions for AI systems
- Batch processing and repository analysis

---

## ⚡ **Common Implementation Patterns**

### **Basic Resource Access**
```
1. Authenticate with Door43 API
2. Discover repositories by language/organization
3. Detect resource specification (RC/SB/Tool)
4. Process content according to format guide
```

### **Multi-Resource Applications**
```
1. Load Bible text as primary content
2. Overlay translation notes for verse guidance
3. Link translation words for term definitions
4. Add translation questions for quality checks
```

### **Format-Agnostic Processing**
```
1. Detect resource specification automatically
2. Route to appropriate format handler
3. Extract content using specification patterns
4. Present unified interface to application
```

---

## 🆘 **Need Help?**

### **Common Questions**
- **New to Bible translation resources?** → Start with [Getting Started](./0-getting-started)
- **Can't find a specific resource type?** → Browse [Repository Formats](./4-repository-formats/)
- **API not working as expected?** → Check [Door43 API Guide](./3-door43-api-developer-guide)
- **Need to convert formats?** → See [Migration Guides](./5-migration/)
- **Building automation?** → Explore [MCP Instructions](./automation/)

### **Recommended Learning Path**
**Most developers start here**: [Getting Started](./0-getting-started) → [Door43 API Developer Guide](./3-door43-api-developer-guide) - understand the mission, then learn practical implementation patterns.

---

## 🔗 **External Resources**

- **[Door43 Content Service](https://git.door43.org/)** - Live repository browser and content platform
- **[Door43 API Swagger](https://git.door43.org/api/swagger)** - Complete API reference documentation
- **[unfoldingWord.org](https://unfoldingword.org/)** - Organization mission and background
- **[Resource Container Spec](https://resource-container.readthedocs.io/)** - Official RC specification
- **[Open Components Ecosystem](https://opencomponents.io/)** - Interoperable Bible translation components