# Orientation

There are a number of classes of HELICS users:

- **New users** that have little to no experience with HELICS and co-simulation in general
  - Start with [**Installation**](./installation/index.md)
  - Read the [**Fundamental Topics**](./fundamental_topics/fundamental_topics_index.md)
  - Try the [**Examples**](./examples/examples_index.md)
- **Intermediate users (Modelers)** that have run co-simulations with HELICS using simulators in which somebody else has done the simulator integration with HELICS.
  - Review [**Fundamental Topics**](./fundamental_topics/fundamental_topics_index.md) as needed
  - Look over the [**Advanced Topics**](./advanced_topics/advanced_topics_index.md) to see which features of HELICS may be most useful for your analysis.
    - [Multi-Source Inputs](./advanced_topics/multiSourceInputs.md) ([example](./examples/advanced_examples/advanced_multi_input.md))
    - [Broker Hierarchies](./advanced_topics/broker_hierarchies.md) ([example](./examples/advanced_examples/advanced_brokers_hierarchies.md))
    - [HELICS Core Types](./advanced_topics/CoreTypes.md) ([example](./examples/advanced_examples/advanced_brokers_multibroker.md))
    - [Queries](./advanced_topics/queries.md) ([example](./examples/advanced_examples/advanced_query.md))
    - [Simultaneous Co-simulation](./advanced_topics/simultaneous_cosimulations.md) ([example](./examples/advanced_examples/advanced_brokers_simultaneous.md))
    - [Multiple Co-simulation Orchestration](./advanced_topics/orchestration.md) ([example](./examples/advanced_examples/advanced_orchestration.md))
    - [Encrypted Communication](./advanced_topics/encrypted_communication.md)
- **Experienced users (Integrators)** that are incorporating a new simulator and need to know how to use specific features in the HELICS API
  - Look in the [**Configurations Options Reference**](../references/configuration_options_reference.md) or jump straight to the API references
    - [C++](https://docs.helics.org/en/latest/doxygen/index.html)
    - C++98
    - [C](../references/api-reference/C_API.md)
    - [Python](https://python.helics.org/api/)
    - [Julia](https://julia.helics.org/latest/api/)
    - [nim](https://github.com/GMLC-TDC/helics.nim)
- **Developers** of HELICS who are improving HELICS functionality and contributing to the code base
  - See the [**Developer Guide**](../developer-guide/index.md)