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- _ _ ____ _
- ___| | | | _ \| |
- / __| | | | |_) | |
- | (__| |_| | _ <| |___
- \___|\___/|_| \_\_____|
+# Contributing to the curl project
- When Contributing Source Code
-
- This document is intended to offer guidelines that can be useful to keep in
- mind when you decide to contribute to the project. This concerns new features
- as well as corrections to existing flaws or bugs.
-
- 1. Learning cURL
- 1.1 Join the Community
- 1.2 License
- 1.3 What To Read
-
- 2. Write a good patch
- 2.1 Follow code style
- 2.2 Non-clobbering All Over
- 2.3 Write Separate Patches
- 2.4 Patch Against Recent Sources
- 2.5 Document
- 2.6 Test Cases
-
- 3. Sharing Your Changes
- 3.1 How to get your changes into the main sources
- 3.2 About pull requests
- 3.3 Making quality patches
- 3.5 Write good commit messages
- 3.6 Write Access to git Repository
- 3.7 How To Make a Patch with git
- 3.8 How To Make a Patch without git
-
-==============================================================================
-
-1. Learning cURL
+This document is intended to offer guidelines on how to best contribute to the
+curl project. This concerns new features as well as corrections to existing
+flaws or bugs.
-1.1 Join the Community
-
- Skip over to https://curl.haxx.se/mail/ and join the appropriate mailing
- list(s). Read up on details before you post questions. Read this file before
- you start sending patches! We prefer patches and discussions being held on
- the mailing list(s), not sent to individuals.
-
- Before posting to one of the curl mailing lists, please read up on the mailing
- list etiquette: https://curl.haxx.se/mail/etiquette.html
-
- We also hang out on IRC in #curl on irc.freenode.net
-
- If you're at all interested in the code side of things, consider clicking
- 'watch' on the curl repo at github to get notified on pull requests and new
- issues posted there.
+## Learning cURL
-1.2. License
+### Join the Community
- When contributing with code, you agree to put your changes and new code under
- the same license curl and libcurl is already using unless stated and agreed
- otherwise.
-
- If you add a larger piece of code, you can opt to make that file or set of
- files to use a different license as long as they don't enforce any changes to
- the rest of the package and they make sense. Such "separate parts" can not be
- GPL licensed (as we don't want copyleft to affect users of libcurl) but they
- must use "GPL compatible" licenses (as we want to allow users to use libcurl
- properly in GPL licensed environments).
+Skip over to [https://curl.haxx.se/mail/](https://curl.haxx.se/mail/) and join
+the appropriate mailing list(s). Read up on details before you post
+questions. Read this file before you start sending patches! We prefer
+questions sent to and discussions being held on the mailing list(s), not sent
+to individuals.
- When changing existing source code, you do not alter the copyright of the
- original file(s). The copyright will still be owned by the original
- creator(s) or those who have been assigned copyright by the original
- author(s).
+Before posting to one of the curl mailing lists, please read up on the
+[mailing list etiquette](https://curl.haxx.se/mail/etiquette.html).
- By submitting a patch to the curl project, you are assumed to have the right
- to the code and to be allowed by your employer or whatever to hand over that
- patch/code to us. We will credit you for your changes as far as possible, to
- give credit but also to keep a trace back to who made what changes. Please
- always provide us with your full real name when contributing!
+We also hang out on IRC in #curl on irc.freenode.net
-1.3 What To Read
+If you're at all interested in the code side of things, consider clicking
+'watch' on the [curl repo on github](https://github.com/curl/curl) to get
+notified on pull requests and new issues posted there.
- Source code, the man pages, the INTERNALS document, TODO, KNOWN_BUGS and the
- most recent changes in the git log. Just lurking on the curl-library mailing
- list is gonna give you a lot of insights on what's going on right now. Asking
- there is a good idea too.
+### License and copyright
-2. Write a good patch
+When contributing with code, you agree to put your changes and new code under
+the same license curl and libcurl is already using unless stated and agreed
+otherwise.
-2.1 Follow code style
+If you add a larger piece of code, you can opt to make that file or set of
+files to use a different license as long as they don't enforce any changes to
+the rest of the package and they make sense. Such "separate parts" can not be
+GPL licensed (as we don't want copyleft to affect users of libcurl) but they
+must use "GPL compatible" licenses (as we want to allow users to use libcurl
+properly in GPL licensed environments).
- When writing C code, follow the CODE_STYLE already established in the
- project. Consistent style makes code easier to read and mistakes less likely
- to happen. Run 'make checksrc' before you submit anything, to make sure you
- follow the basic style. That script doesn't verify everything, but if it
- complains you know you have work to do.
+When changing existing source code, you do not alter the copyright of the
+original file(s). The copyright will still be owned by the original creator(s)
+or those who have been assigned copyright by the original author(s).
-2.2 Non-clobbering All Over
+By submitting a patch to the curl project, you are assumed to have the right
+to the code and to be allowed by your employer or whatever to hand over that
+patch/code to us. We will credit you for your changes as far as possible, to
+give credit but also to keep a trace back to who made what changes. Please
+always provide us with your full real name when contributing!
- When you write new functionality or fix bugs, it is important that you don't
- fiddle all over the source files and functions. Remember that it is likely
- that other people have done changes in the same source files as you have and
- possibly even in the same functions. If you bring completely new
- functionality, try writing it in a new source file. If you fix bugs, try to
- fix one bug at a time and send them as separate patches.
+### What To Read
-2.3 Write Separate Patches
+Source code, the man pages, the [INTERNALS
+document](https://curl.haxx.se/dev/internals.html),
+[TODO](https://curl.haxx.se/docs/todo.html),
+[KNOWN_BUGS](https://curl.haxx.se/docs/knownbugs.html) and the [most recent
+changes](https://curl.haxx.se/dev/sourceactivity.html) in git. Just lurking on
+the [curl-library mailing
+list](https://curl.haxx.se/mail/list.cgi?list=curl-library) will give you a
+lot of insights on what's going on right now. Asking there is a good idea too.
- It is annoying when you get a huge patch from someone that is said to fix 511
- odd problems, but discussions and opinions don't agree with 510 of them - or
- 509 of them were already fixed in a different way. Then the patcher needs to
- extract the single interesting patch from somewhere within the huge pile of
- source, and that gives a lot of extra work. Preferably, all fixes that
- correct different problems should be in their own patch with an attached
- description exactly what they correct so that all patches can be selectively
- applied by the maintainer or other interested parties.
+## Write a good patch
- Also, separate patches enable bisecting much better when we track problems in
- the future.
+### Follow code style
-2.4 Patch Against Recent Sources
+When writing C code, follow the
+[CODE_STYLE](https://curl.haxx.se/dev/code-style.html) already established in
+the project. Consistent style makes code easier to read and mistakes less
+likely to happen. Run `make checksrc` before you submit anything, to make sure
+you follow the basic style. That script doesn't verify everything, but if it
+complains you know you have work to do.
- Please try to get the latest available sources to make your patches
- against. It makes the life of the developers so much easier. The very best is
- if you get the most up-to-date sources from the git repository, but the
- latest release archive is quite OK as well!
+### Non-clobbering All Over
-2.5 Document
+When you write new functionality or fix bugs, it is important that you don't
+fiddle all over the source files and functions. Remember that it is likely
+that other people have done changes in the same source files as you have and
+possibly even in the same functions. If you bring completely new
+functionality, try writing it in a new source file. If you fix bugs, try to
+fix one bug at a time and send them as separate patches.
- Writing docs is dead boring and one of the big problems with many open source
- projects. Someone's gotta do it. It makes it a lot easier if you submit a
- small description of your fix or your new features with every contribution so
- that it can be swiftly added to the package documentation.
+### Write Separate Changes
- The documentation is always made in man pages (nroff formatted) or plain
- ASCII files. All HTML files on the web site and in the release archives are
- generated from the nroff/ASCII versions.
+It is annoying when you get a huge patch from someone that is said to fix 511
+odd problems, but discussions and opinions don't agree with 510 of them - or
+509 of them were already fixed in a different way. Then the person merging
+this change needs to extract the single interesting patch from somewhere
+within the huge pile of source, and that gives a lot of extra work.
-2.6 Test Cases
+Preferably, each fix that correct a problem should be in its own patch/commit
+with its own description/commit message stating exactly what they correct so
+that all changes can be selectively applied by the maintainer or other
+interested parties.
- Since the introduction of the test suite, we can quickly verify that the main
- features are working as they're supposed to. To maintain this situation and
- improve it, all new features and functions that are added need to be tested
- in the test suite. Every feature that is added should get at least one valid
- test case that verifies that it works as documented. If every submitter also
- posts a few test cases, it won't end up as a heavy burden on a single person!
+Also, separate changes enable bisecting much better when we track problems
+and regression in the future.
- If you don't have test cases or perhaps you have done something that is very
- hard to write tests for, do explain exactly how you have otherwise tested and
- verified your changes.
+### Patch Against Recent Sources
-3. Sharing Your Changes
+Please try to get the latest available sources to make your patches against.
+It makes the lives of the developers so much easier. The very best is if you
+get the most up-to-date sources from the git repository, but the latest
+release archive is quite OK as well!
-3.1 How to get your changes into the main sources
+### Documentation
- Ideally you file a pull request on github, but you can also send your plain
- patch to the curl-library mailing list.
+Writing docs is dead boring and one of the big problems with many open source
+projects. Someone's gotta do it. It makes it a lot easier if you submit a
+small description of your fix or your new features with every contribution so
+that it can be swiftly added to the package documentation.
- Either way, your change will be reviewed and discussed there and you will be
- expected to correct flaws pointed out and update accordingly, or the change
- risk stalling and eventually just get deleted without action. As a submitter
- of a change, you are the owner of that change until it has been merged.
+The documentation is always made in man pages (nroff formatted) or plain
+ASCII files. All HTML files on the web site and in the release archives are
+generated from the nroff/ASCII versions.
- Respond on the list or on github about the change and answer questions and/or
- fix nits/flaws. This is very important. We will take lack of replies as a
- sign that you're not very anxious to get your patch accepted and we tend to
- simply drop such changes.
+### Test Cases
-3.2 About pull requests
+Since the introduction of the test suite, we can quickly verify that the main
+features are working as they're supposed to. To maintain this situation and
+improve it, all new features and functions that are added need to be tested
+in the test suite. Every feature that is added should get at least one valid
+test case that verifies that it works as documented. If every submitter also
+posts a few test cases, it won't end up as a heavy burden on a single person!
- With github it is easy to send a pull request to the curl project to have
- changes merged this way instead of mailing patches to the curl-library
- mailing list. See https://github.com/curl/curl/pulls
+If you don't have test cases or perhaps you have done something that is very
+hard to write tests for, do explain exactly how you have otherwise tested and
+verified your changes.
- We prefer pull requests as it makes it a proper git commit that is easy to
- merge and they are easy to track and not that easy to loose in a flood of
- many emails, like they sometimes do on the mailing lists.
+## Sharing Your Changes
- When you ajust your pull requests after review, consider squashing the
- commits so that we can review the full updated version more easily.
+### How to get your changes into the main sources
-3.3 Making quality patches
+Ideally you file a [pull request on
+github](https://github.com/curl/curl/pulls), but you can also send your plain
+patch to [the curl-library mailing
+list](https://curl.haxx.se/mail/list.cgi?list=curl-library).
- Make the patch against as recent sources as possible.
+Either way, your change will be reviewed and discussed there and you will be
+expected to correct flaws pointed out and update accordingly, or the change
+risk stalling and eventually just get deleted without action. As a submitter
+of a change, you are the owner of that change until it has been merged.
- If you've followed the tips in this document and your patch still hasn't been
- incorporated or responded to after some weeks, consider resubmitting it to
- the list or better yet: change it to a pull request.
+Respond on the list or on github about the change and answer questions and/or
+fix nits/flaws. This is very important. We will take lack of replies as a
+sign that you're not very anxious to get your patch accepted and we tend to
+simply drop such changes.
-3.5 Write good commit messages
+### About pull requests
- A short guide to how to do fine commit messages in the curl project.
+With github it is easy to send a [pull
+request](https://github.com/curl/curl/pulls) to the curl project to have
+changes merged.
- ---- start ----
- [area]: [short line describing the main effect]
+We prefer pull requests to mailed patches, as it makes it a proper git commit
+that is easy to merge and they are easy to track and not that easy to loose
+in a flood of many emails, like they sometimes do on the mailing lists.
- [separate the above single line from the rest with an empty line]
+When you ajust your pull requests after review, consider squashing the
+commits so that we can review the full updated version more easily.
- [full description, no wider than 72 columns that describe as much as
- possible as to why this change is made, and possibly what things
- it fixes and everything else that is related]
+### Making quality patches
- [Bug: link to source of the report or more related discussion]
- [Reported-by: John Doe - credit the reporter]
- [whatever-else-by: credit all helpers, finders, doers]
- ---- stop ----
+Make the patch against as recent sources as possible.
- Don't forget to use commit --author="" if you commit someone else's work,
- and make sure that you have your own user and email setup correctly in git
- before you commit
+If you've followed the tips in this document and your patch still hasn't been
+incorporated or responded to after some weeks, consider resubmitting it to
+the list or better yet: change it to a pull request.
-3.6 Write Access to git Repository
+### Write good commit messages
- If you are a very frequent contributor, you may be given push access to the
- git repository and then you'll be able to push your changes straight into the
- git repo instead of sending changes as pull requests or by mail as patches.
+A short guide to how to write commit messages in the curl project.
- Just ask if this is what you'd want. You will be required to have posted
- several high quality patches first, before you can be granted push access.
+ ---- start ----
+ [area]: [short line describing the main effect]
+ -- empty line --
+ [full description, no wider than 72 columns that describe as much as
+ possible as to why this change is made, and possibly what things
+ it fixes and everything else that is related]
+ -- empty line --
+ [Bug: URL to source of the report or more related discussion]
+ [Reported-by: John Doe - credit the reporter]
+ [whatever-else-by: credit all helpers, finders, doers]
+ ---- stop ----
-3.7 How To Make a Patch with git
+Don't forget to use commit --author="" if you commit someone else's work,
+and make sure that you have your own user and email setup correctly in git
+before you commit
- You need to first checkout the repository:
+### Write Access to git Repository
- git clone https://github.com/curl/curl.git
+If you are a very frequent contributor, you may be given push access to the
+git repository and then you'll be able to push your changes straight into the
+git repo instead of sending changes as pull requests or by mail as patches.
- You then proceed and edit all the files you like and you commit them to your
- local repository:
+Just ask if this is what you'd want. You will be required to have posted
+several high quality patches first, before you can be granted push access.
- git commit [file]
+### How To Make a Patch with git
- As usual, group your commits so that you commit all changes that at once that
- constitutes a logical change. See also section "3.5 Write good commit
- messages".
+You need to first checkout the repository:
- Once you have done all your commits and you're happy with what you see, you
- can make patches out of your changes that are suitable for mailing:
+ git clone https://github.com/curl/curl.git
- git format-patch remotes/origin/master
+You then proceed and edit all the files you like and you commit them to your
+local repository:
- This creates files in your local directory named NNNN-[name].patch for each
- commit.
+ git commit [file]
- Now send those patches off to the curl-library list. You can of course opt to
- do that with the 'git send-email' command.
+As usual, group your commits so that you commit all changes that at once that
+constitutes a logical change.
-3.8 How To Make a Patch without git
+Once you have done all your commits and you're happy with what you see, you
+can make patches out of your changes that are suitable for mailing:
- Keep a copy of the unmodified curl sources. Make your changes in a separate
- source tree. When you think you have something that you want to offer the
- curl community, use GNU diff to generate patches.
+ git format-patch remotes/origin/master
- If you have modified a single file, try something like:
+This creates files in your local directory named NNNN-[name].patch for each
+commit.
- diff -u unmodified-file.c my-changed-one.c > my-fixes.diff
+Now send those patches off to the curl-library list. You can of course opt to
+do that with the 'git send-email' command.
- If you have modified several files, possibly in different directories, you
- can use diff recursively:
+### How To Make a Patch without git
- diff -ur curl-original-dir curl-modified-sources-dir > my-fixes.diff
+Keep a copy of the unmodified curl sources. Make your changes in a separate
+source tree. When you think you have something that you want to offer the
+curl community, use GNU diff to generate patches.
- The GNU diff and GNU patch tools exist for virtually all platforms, including
- all kinds of Unixes and Windows:
+If you have modified a single file, try something like:
- For unix-like operating systems:
+ diff -u unmodified-file.c my-changed-one.c > my-fixes.diff
- https://savannah.gnu.org/projects/patch/
- https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/
+If you have modified several files, possibly in different directories, you
+can use diff recursively:
- For Windows:
+ diff -ur curl-original-dir curl-modified-sources-dir > my-fixes.diff
- http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/patch.htm
- http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/diffutils.htm
+The GNU diff and GNU patch tools exist for virtually all platforms, including
+all kinds of Unixes and Windows:
+
+For unix-like operating systems:
+
+ - [https://savannah.gnu.org/projects/patch/](https://savannah.gnu.org/projects/patch/)
+ - [https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/](https://www.gnu.org/software/diffutils/)
+
+For Windows:
+
+ - [http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/patch.htm](http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/patch.htm)
+ - [http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/diffutils.htm](http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/diffutils.htm)