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diff --git a/Documentation/SubmittingPatches b/Documentation/SubmittingPatches new file mode 100644 index 000000000..6121e902a --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/SubmittingPatches @@ -0,0 +1,130 @@ +I started reading over the SubmittingPatches document for Linux +kernel, primarily because I wanted to have a document similar to +it for the core GIT to make sure people understand what they are +doing when they write "Signed-off-by" line. + +But the patch submission requirements are a lot more relaxed +here, because the core GIT is thousand times smaller ;-). So +here is only the relevant bits. + + +(1) Make separate commits for logically separate changes. + +Unless your patch is really trivial, you should not be sending +out a patch that was generated between your working tree and +your commit head. Instead, always make a commit with complete +commit message and generate a series of patches from your +repository. It is a good discipline. + +Describe the technical detail of the change(s). + +If your description starts to get long, that's a sign that you +probably need to split up your commit to finer grained pieces. + + +(2) Generate your patch using git/cogito out of your commits. + +git diff tools generate unidiff which is the preferred format. +You do not have to be afraid to use -M option to "git diff" or +"git format-patch", if your patch involves file renames. The +receiving end can handle them just fine. + +Please make sure your patch does not include any extra files +which do not belong in a patch submission. Make sure to review +your patch after generating it, to ensure accuracy. Before +sending out, please make sure it cleanly applies to the "master" +branch head. + + +(3) Sending your patches. + +People on the git mailing list needs to be able to read and +comment on the changes you are submitting. It is important for +a developer to be able to "quote" your changes, using standard +e-mail tools, so that they may comment on specific portions of +your code. For this reason, all patches should be submitting +e-mail "inline". WARNING: Be wary of your MUAs word-wrap +corrupting your patch. Do not cut-n-paste your patch. + +It is common convention to prefix your subject line with +[PATCH]. This lets people easily distinguish patches from other +e-mail discussions. + +"git format-patch" command follows the best current practice to +format the body of an e-mail message. At the beginning of the +patch should come your commit message, ending with the +Signed-off-by: lines, and a line that consists of three dashes, +followed by the diffstat information and the patch itself. If +you are forwarding a patch from somebody else, optionally, at +the beginning of the e-mail message just before the commit +message starts, you can put a "From: " line to name that person. + +You often want to add additional explanation about the patch, +other than the commit message itself. Place such "cover letter" +material between the three dash lines and the diffstat. + +Do not attach the patch as a MIME attachment, compressed or not. +Do not let your e-mail client send quoted-printable. Many +popular e-mail applications will not always transmit a MIME +attachment as plain text, making it impossible to comment on +your code. A MIME attachment also takes a bit more time to +process. This does not decrease the likelihood of your +MIME-attached change being accepted, but it makes it more likely +that it will be postponed. + +Exception: If your mailer is mangling patches then someone may ask +you to re-send them using MIME. + +Note that your maintainer does not subscribe to the git mailing +list (he reads it via mail-to-news gateway). If your patch is +for discussion first, send it "To:" the mailing list, and +optoinally "cc:" him. If it is trivially correct or after list +discussion reached consensus, send it "To:" the maintainer and +optionally "cc:" the list. + + +(6) Sign your work + +To improve tracking of who did what, we've borrowed the +"sign-off" procedure from the Linux kernel project on patches +that are being emailed around. Although core GIT is a lot +smaller project it is a good discipline to follow it. + +The sign-off is a simple line at the end of the explanation for +the patch, which certifies that you wrote it or otherwise have +the right to pass it on as a open-source patch. The rules are +pretty simple: if you can certify the below: + + Developer's Certificate of Origin 1.1 + + By making a contribution to this project, I certify that: + + (a) The contribution was created in whole or in part by me and I + have the right to submit it under the open source license + indicated in the file; or + + (b) The contribution is based upon previous work that, to the best + of my knowledge, is covered under an appropriate open source + license and I have the right under that license to submit that + work with modifications, whether created in whole or in part + by me, under the same open source license (unless I am + permitted to submit under a different license), as indicated + in the file; or + + (c) The contribution was provided directly to me by some other + person who certified (a), (b) or (c) and I have not modified + it. + + (d) I understand and agree that this project and the contribution + are public and that a record of the contribution (including all + personal information I submit with it, including my sign-off) is + maintained indefinitely and may be redistributed consistent with + this project or the open source license(s) involved. + +then you just add a line saying + + Signed-off-by: Random J Developer <random@developer.example.org> + +Some people also put extra tags at the end. They'll just be ignored for +now, but you can do this to mark internal company procedures or just +point out some special detail about the sign-off. |