docs/devel: simplify the minimal checklist

The bullet points are quite long and contain process tips. Move those
bits of the bullet to the relevant sections and link to them. Use a
table for nicer formatting of the checklist.

Signed-off-by: Alex Bennée <alex.bennee@linaro.org>
Reviewed-by: Stefan Hajnoczi <stefanha@redhat.com>
Reviewed-by: Paolo Bonzini <pbonzini@redhat.com>
Reviewed-by: Philippe Mathieu-Daudé <philmd@linaro.org>
Message-Id: <20221117172532.538149-7-alex.bennee@linaro.org>

1 files changed, 49 insertions, 26 deletions

diff --git a/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst b/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst
index 1319dfd3c2..b2a162ff4c 100644
--- a/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst
+++ b/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst
@@ -12,25 +12,18 @@ likely to be accepted and committed faster.
 This page seems very long, so if you are only trying to post a quick
 one-shot fix, the bare minimum we ask is that:
 
--  You **must** provide a Signed-off-by: line (this is a hard
-   requirement because it's how you say "I'm legally okay to contribute
-   this and happy for it to go into QEMU", modeled after the `Linux kernel
-   <http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/Documentation/SubmittingPatches?id=f6f94e2ab1b33f0082ac22d71f66385a60d8157f#n297>`__
-   policy.) ``git commit -s`` or ``git format-patch -s`` will add one.
--  All contributions to QEMU must be **sent as patches** to the
-   qemu-devel `mailing list <https://wiki.qemu.org/Contribute/MailingLists>`__.
-   Patch contributions should not be posted on the bug tracker, posted on
-   forums, or externally hosted and linked to. (We have other mailing lists too,
-   but all patches must go to qemu-devel, possibly with a Cc: to another
-   list.) ``git send-email`` (`step-by-step setup
-   guide <https://git-send-email.io/>`__ and `hints and
-   tips <https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/latest/source/Documentation/process/email-clients.rst>`__)
-   works best for delivering the patch without mangling it, but
-   attachments can be used as a last resort on a first-time submission.
--  You must read replies to your message, and be willing to act on them.
-   Note, however, that maintainers are often willing to manually fix up
-   first-time contributions, since there is a learning curve involved in
-   making an ideal patch submission.
+.. list-table:: Minimal Checklist for Patches
+   :widths: 35 65
+   :header-rows: 1
+
+   * - Check
+     - Reason
+   * - Patches contain Signed-off-by: Real Name <author@email>
+     - States you are legally able to contribute the code. See :ref:`patch_emails_must_include_a_signed_off_by_line`
+   * - Sent as patch emails to ``qemu-devel@nongnu.org``
+     - The project uses an email list based workflow. See :ref:`submitting_your_patches`
+   * - Be prepared to respond to review comments
+     - Code that doesn't pass review will not get merged. See :ref:`participating_in_code_review`
 
 You do not have to subscribe to post (list policy is to reply-to-all to
 preserve CCs and keep non-subscribers in the loop on the threads they
@@ -229,6 +222,19 @@ bisection doesn't land on a known-broken state.
 Submitting your Patches
 -----------------------
 
+The QEMU project uses a public email based workflow for reviewing and
+merging patches. As a result all contributions to QEMU must be **sent
+as patches** to the qemu-devel `mailing list
+<https://wiki.qemu.org/Contribute/MailingLists>`__. Patch
+contributions should not be posted on the bug tracker, posted on
+forums, or externally hosted and linked to. (We have other mailing
+lists too, but all patches must go to qemu-devel, possibly with a Cc:
+to another list.) ``git send-email`` (`step-by-step setup guide
+<https://git-send-email.io/>`__ and `hints and tips
+<https://elixir.bootlin.com/linux/latest/source/Documentation/process/email-clients.rst>`__)
+works best for delivering the patch without mangling it, but
+attachments can be used as a last resort on a first-time submission.
+
 .. _if_you_cannot_send_patch_emails:
 
 If you cannot send patch emails
@@ -314,10 +320,12 @@ git repository to fetch the original commit.
 Patch emails must include a ``Signed-off-by:`` line
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
-For more information see `SubmittingPatches 1.12
-<http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/Documentation/SubmittingPatches?id=f6f94e2ab1b33f0082ac22d71f66385a60d8157f#n297>`__.
-This is vital or we will not be able to apply your patch! Please use
-your real name to sign a patch (not an alias or acronym).
+Your patches **must** include a Signed-off-by: line. This is a hard
+requirement because it's how you say "I'm legally okay to contribute
+this and happy for it to go into QEMU". The process is modelled after
+the `Linux kernel
+<http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/Documentation/SubmittingPatches?id=f6f94e2ab1b33f0082ac22d71f66385a60d8157f#n297>`__
+policy.
 
 If you wrote the patch, make sure your "From:" and "Signed-off-by:"
 lines use the same spelling. It's okay if you subscribe or contribute to
@@ -327,6 +335,11 @@ include a "From:" line in the body of the email (different from your
 envelope From:) that will give credit to the correct author; but again,
 that author's Signed-off-by: line is mandatory, with the same spelling.
 
+There are various tooling options for automatically adding these tags
+include using ``git commit -s`` or ``git format-patch -s``. For more
+information see `SubmittingPatches 1.12
+<http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/Documentation/SubmittingPatches?id=f6f94e2ab1b33f0082ac22d71f66385a60d8157f#n297>`__.
+
 .. _include_a_meaningful_cover_letter:
 
 Include a meaningful cover letter
@@ -397,9 +410,19 @@ Participating in Code Review
 ----------------------------
 
 All patches submitted to the QEMU project go through a code review
-process before they are accepted. Some areas of code that are well
-maintained may review patches quickly, lesser-loved areas of code may
-have a longer delay.
+process before they are accepted. This will often mean a series will
+go through a number of iterations before being picked up by
+:ref:`maintainers<maintainers>`. You therefore should be prepared to
+read replies to your messages and be willing to act on them.
+
+Maintainers are often willing to manually fix up first-time
+contributions, since there is a learning curve involved in making an
+ideal patch submission. However for the best results you should
+proactively respond to suggestions with changes or justifications for
+your current approach.
+
+Some areas of code that are well maintained may review patches
+quickly, lesser-loved areas of code may have a longer delay.
 
 .. _stay_around_to_fix_problems_raised_in_code_review: