wrote index for the Packages directory

courses/Packages/index.md

@@ -2,3 +2,56 @@
 title: Package Directory
 sidebar_position: 10
 ---
+
+:::tip
+If you would like to share your Rascal library or tool with the community, please [open a pull request](https://github.com/usethesource/rascal/pulls) to add your project to the pom.xml. Currently we require to make a "fork" to help
+with authentication/authorization for publication on the Maven repository and jumping through minor hoops like running the automated tests and documentation generation. The community's values and guidelines can be found [here](https://www.usethesource.io/about).
+:::
+
+### What is the Rascal Package Directory?
+
+The Package Directory provides an overview of libraries, tools and frameworks written in Rascal (and other languages) which are:
+* contributed by the community
+* useful for the community
+* excluding the core language implementation (interpreter, compiler, repl, IDE extensions)
+
+Each package is encapsulated in a `jar` file, is deployed in the UseTheSource Maven repository, and comes with:
+* License information.
+* Funding information.
+* Release notes.
+* Maven dependency example.
+* API documentation, generated from the sources.
+* Optional manual(s) generated using rascal-tutor.
+
+The release and deployment mechanisms that are in place guarantee that:
+* Each package' latest release version is documented here.
+* Each package is tested before release.
+* Each package documents the rascal version it dependend on at the time of release.
+
+:::info
+If a package was not released (yet) after a major or minor release of `rascal`, then it may still work with the newest release, but this is not guaranteed. Packages owners are reminded to upgrade and release by the UseTheSource community.
+:::
+
+The currently available packages are grouped in two categories: language support, and generic libraries.
+
+### Language Support
+
+| Language name | Package | Note |
+| ------------- | ------- | ----- |
+| C and C++     | [clair](/docs/Packages/Clair) | |
+| Java          | [rascal](/docs/Rascal) | To be factored out of the standard library soon |
+| PHP           | [php-analysis](/docs/Packages/PhpAnalysis) | |
+| Python        | [python-air](/docs/Packages/PythonAir) | |
+| JVM bytecode  | [flybytes](/docs/Packages/Flybytes) | Forward and Reverse | 
+
+### Generic Libraries
+
+| Library Name | Package | Note |
+| ------------ | ------- | ----- |
+| Dr Ambiguity | [drambiguity](/docs/Packages/DrAmbiguity) | Interactive UI based on Salix for detection, diagnostics and fixing of ambiguity context-free grammars. |
+| Salix        | [salix-core](/docs/Packages/SalixCore) | User interface framework for Rascal |
+| Salix Contrib | [salix-contrib](/docs/Packages/SalixContrib) | Useful extensions for Salix |
+| Rascal GIT   | [rascal-git](/docs/Packages/RascalGit) | Accessing GIT from Rascal |
+| Rascal LSP   | [rascal-lsp](/docs/Packages/RascalLsp) | LSP for Rascal and LSP generator for DSLs in Rascal |
+| Typepal      | [typepal](/docs/Packages/Typepal) | Generic name and type analysis framework; to be factored in to the standard library soon |
+| Rascal Tutor | [rascal-tutor](/docs/Packages/RascalTutor) | Rascal source code documenter and manual authoring tool; to be factored into the standard library soon |