improve and simplify getting started page

Author: Chemaclass

README.md

@@ -31,4 +31,4 @@ zola serve # build & serve
 
 ```bash
 zola build # build & publish
-```
+```

content/_index.md

@@ -1,84 +1,218 @@
 +++
-title = "Phel: A Functional Lisp Dialect for PHP Developers"
+title = "Getting Started & Developer Experience"
+weight = 1
 +++
 
-**Phel** is a functional programming language that compiles down to PHP. It's a modern Lisp dialect inspired by [Clojure](https://clojure.org/) and [Janet](https://janet-lang.org/), tailored to bring functional elegance and expressive code to the world of PHP development.
+## Requirements
 
-<p align="center">
-    <img src="/images/logo_phel.svg" width="350" alt="Phel language logo"/>
-</p>
+Phel requires PHP 8.2 or higher and [Composer](https://getcomposer.org/).
 
-## Join the Phel Developer Community
+---
 
-Got questions? Want to chat about macros, tail recursion, or why parentheses are awesome?  
-Swing by the [Phel Gitter channel](https://gitter.im/phel-lang/community)—we're friendly, nerdy, and always happy to talk code.
+## Quick Start with a Scaffolding Template
 
-## Key Features of Phel
+You can create a new Phel commandline project via Composer’s `create-project` command:
 
-Why code in Phel? Here's what makes it click:
+```bash
+composer create-project --stability dev phel-lang/cli-skeleton example-app
+cd example-app
+composer repl
+```
+
+> Alternatively, use [phel-lang/web-skeleton](https://github.com/phel-lang/web-skeleton) for a web project. More details in the [README](https://packagist.org/packages/phel-lang/cli-skeleton).
+
+---
+
+## Manual Setup with Composer
+
+1. Initialize a new project:
+
+```bash
+mkdir hello-world
+cd hello-world
+composer init
+```
+
+2. Require Phel:
+
+```bash
+composer require phel-lang/phel-lang
+```
+
+> Optionally create `phel-config.php`:
+> ```php
+> <?php
+> return (new \Phel\Config\PhelConfig())->setSrcDirs(['src']);
+> ```
+> See all [configuration options](/documentation/configuration).
+
+3. Create the source directory and a file:
+
+```bash
+mkdir src
+```
+
+4. Write your first Phel program:
+
+```phel
+;; src/main.phel
+(ns hello-world\main)
+(println "Hello, World!")
+```
+
+---
+
+## Running the Code
+
+### From the Command Line
+
+```bash
+vendor/bin/phel run src/main.phel
+# or
+vendor/bin/phel run hello-world\\main
+# or
+vendor/bin/phel run "hello-world\main"
+```
+
+Output:
+
+```
+Hello, World!
+```
+
+### With a PHP Server
+
+```php
+// src/index.php
+<?php
+
+use Phel\Phel;
+
+$projectRootDir = __DIR__ . '/../';
+
+require $projectRootDir . 'vendor/autoload.php';
+
+Phel::run($projectRootDir, 'hello-world\\main');
+```
+
+Start the server:
+
+```bash
+php -S localhost:8000 ./src/index.php
+```
 
-- ✅ Runs on the rock-solid PHP ecosystem
-- 🧠 Helpful and human-readable error messages
-- 📚 Built-in persistent data structures: Lists, Vectors, Maps, Sets
-- 🧩 Macro system for advanced metaprogramming
-- 🔁 Tail-recursive function support
-- ✨ Minimal, readable Lisp syntax
-- 💬 Interactive REPL for tinkering and prototyping
+Visit [http://localhost:8000](http://localhost:8000) to see the output.
 
-## Why Choose Phel for Functional Programming in PHP?
+> Consider using `phel build` for performance. See [Build the project](/documentation/cli-commands/#build-the-project).
 
-Phel started as an [experiment in writing functional PHP](/blog/functional-programming-in-php) and quickly turned into its own thing.
+---
 
-It exists because we wanted:
+## Launch the REPL
 
-- A Lisp-inspired functional language
-- That runs on affordable PHP hosting
-- That's expressive, debug-friendly, and easy to pick up
+Start an interactive REPL in any project with Phel installed:
 
-If you've ever wished PHP was a bit more... functional, Phel is for you.
+```bash
+./vendor/bin/phel repl
+```
 
-## See Phel in Action — Sample Code
+You can evaluate Phel expressions:
 
 ```phel
-# Define a namespace
-(ns my\example)
+phel:1> (def name "World")
+phel:2> (println "Hello" name)
+Hello World
+```
+
+The REPL understands multi-line expressions and supports `doc`, `require` and `use` helpers.
+
+> More in the [REPL documentation](/documentation/repl).
+
+---
+
+## Debugging Helpers
+
+Use PHP debugging tools:
+
+```phel
+(def result (+ 40 2))
+(php/dump result)
+```
+
+Enable temporary PHP files for inspection:
+
+```php
+// phel-config-local.php
+return (require __DIR__ . '/phel-config.php')
+    ->setKeepGeneratedTempFiles(true);
+```
 
-# Create a variable
-(def my-name "world")
+> Learn more on the [Debug page](/documentation/debug).
 
-# Define a function
-(defn print-name [your-name]
-  (print "hello" your-name))
+---
 
-# Call the function
-(print-name my-name)
+## Building and Deploying
+
+Run directly:
+
+```bash
+vendor/bin/phel run src/main.phel
+```
+
+Build for production:
+
+```bash
+php phel build
+php out/index.php
 ```
 
-If you know Lisp or Clojure, you'll feel right at home. If you don't—this is a great place to start.
+> More in the [CLI commands](/documentation/cli-commands/#run-a-script).
+
+---
 
-## Try Phel Instantly with Docker
+## Testing
 
-No setup? No problem. You can run Phel's REPL right away:
+Run Phel tests:
 
 ```bash
-docker run -it --rm phellang/repl
+vendor/bin/phel test --filter foo
 ```
 
-![Try Phel animation](/try-phel.gif "Try Phel Animation")
+Run PHP-based tests:
+
+```bash
+composer test
+```
+
+> More in the [Testing section](/documentation/testing).
+
+---
+
+## Handy Macros
+
+Example:
+
+```phel
+(when condition
+  (println "only printed when condition is true"))
+
+(-> {:name "Phel"}
+    (:name)
+    (str "Lang"))
+```
 
-## Get Started with Phel in Minutes
+These macros keep code concise and readable. Explore the rest of the library for more utilities.
 
-All you need is [PHP >=8.2](https://www.php.net/) and [Composer](https://getcomposer.org/). 
+> See the [Macros page](/documentation/macros) for more.
 
-> Follow our [Getting Started Guide](/documentation/getting-started) to build and run your first Phel program today.
+---
 
-## Development Status & How to Contribute
+## Editor Support
 
-Phel is approaching its 1.0 release, but we're still actively refining the language —and yes, breaking changes may happen.
+Phel supports:
 
-We're building this in the open. That means:
-- Found a bug? File an issue.
-- Got a cool idea? Open a pull request.
-- Want to shape the language's future? Let's talk.
+- [VSCode extension](https://github.com/phel-lang/phel-vs-code-extension)
+- [PhpStorm syntax plugin](https://github.com/phel-lang/phel-phpstorm-syntax)
+- [Emacs interactive mode](https://codeberg.org/mmontone/interactive-lang-tools/src/branch/master/backends/phel)
+- [Vim plugin (in progress)](https://github.com/danirod/phel.vim)
 
-Your feedback, ideas, and code help Phel grow into something great.
+> Details also in the [Editor Support](/documentation/getting-started/#editor-support) section.