From 668725ce6bab12f7d5130fd46d99d0dc6fefe733 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Alex Bennée Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2022 17:25:23 +0000 Subject: docs/devel: add a maintainers section to development process We don't currently have a clear place in the documentation to describe the roles and responsibilities of a maintainer. Lets create one so we can. I've moved a few small bits out of other files to try and keep everything in one place. Signed-off-by: Alex Bennée Reviewed-by: Stefan Hajnoczi Reviewed-by: Paolo Bonzini Reviewed-by: Philippe Mathieu-Daudé Message-Id: <20221117172532.538149-5-alex.bennee@linaro.org> --- docs/devel/code-of-conduct.rst | 2 + docs/devel/index-process.rst | 1 + docs/devel/maintainers.rst | 107 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ docs/devel/submitting-a-pull-request.rst | 12 ++-- 4 files changed, 114 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-) create mode 100644 docs/devel/maintainers.rst (limited to 'docs') diff --git a/docs/devel/code-of-conduct.rst b/docs/devel/code-of-conduct.rst index 195444d1b4..f734ed0317 100644 --- a/docs/devel/code-of-conduct.rst +++ b/docs/devel/code-of-conduct.rst @@ -1,3 +1,5 @@ +.. _code_of_conduct: + Code of Conduct =============== diff --git a/docs/devel/index-process.rst b/docs/devel/index-process.rst index d0d7a200fd..d50dd74c3e 100644 --- a/docs/devel/index-process.rst +++ b/docs/devel/index-process.rst @@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ Notes about how to interact with the community and how and where to submit patch code-of-conduct conflict-resolution + maintainers style submitting-a-patch trivial-patches diff --git a/docs/devel/maintainers.rst b/docs/devel/maintainers.rst new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..5c907d901c --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/devel/maintainers.rst @@ -0,0 +1,107 @@ +.. _maintainers: + +The Role of Maintainers +======================= + +Maintainers are a critical part of the project's contributor ecosystem. +They come from a wide range of backgrounds from unpaid hobbyists +working in their spare time to employees who work on the project as +part of their job. Maintainer activities include: + + - reviewing patches and suggesting changes + - collecting patches and preparing pull requests + - tending to the long term health of their area + - participating in other project activities + +They are also human and subject to the same pressures as everyone else +including overload and burnout. Like everyone else they are subject +to project's :ref:`code_of_conduct` and should also be exemplars of +excellent community collaborators. + +The MAINTAINERS file +-------------------- + +The `MAINTAINERS +`__ +file contains the canonical list of who is a maintainer. The file +is machine readable so an appropriately configured git (see +:ref:`cc_the_relevant_maintainer`) can automatically Cc them on +patches that touch their area of code. + +The file also describes the status of the area of code to give an idea +of how actively that section is maintained. + +.. list-table:: Meaning of support status in MAINTAINERS + :widths: 25 75 + :header-rows: 1 + + * - Status + - Meaning + * - Supported + - Someone is actually paid to look after this. + * - Maintained + - Someone actually looks after it. + * - Odd Fixes + - It has a maintainer but they don't have time to do + much other than throw the odd patch in. + * - Orphan + - No current maintainer. + * - Obsolete + - Old obsolete code, should use something else. + +Please bear in mind that even if someone is paid to support something +it does not mean they are paid to support you. This is open source and +the code comes with no warranty and the project makes no guarantees +about dealing with bugs or features requests. + + + +Becoming a reviewer +------------------- + +Most maintainers start by becoming subsystem reviewers. While anyone +is welcome to review code on the mailing list getting added to the +MAINTAINERS file with a line like:: + + R: Random Hacker + +marks you as a 'designated reviewer' - expected to provide regular +spontaneous feedback. This will ensure that patches touching a given +subsystem will automatically be CC'd to you. + +Becoming a maintainer +--------------------- + +Maintainers are volunteers who put themselves forward or have been +asked by others to keep an eye on an area of code. They have generally +demonstrated to the community, usually via contributions and code +reviews, that they have a good understanding of the subsystem. They +are also trusted to make a positive contribution to the project and +work well with the other contributors. + +The process is simple - simply send a patch to the list that updates +the ``MAINTAINERS`` file. Sometimes this is done as part of a larger +series when a new sub-system is being added to the code base. This can +also be done by a retiring maintainer who nominates their replacement +after discussion with other contributors. + +Once the patch is reviewed and merged the only other step is to make +sure your GPG key is signed. + +.. _maintainer_keys: + +Maintainer GPG Keys +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + +GPG is used to sign pull requests so they can be identified as really +coming from the maintainer. If your key is not already signed by +members of the QEMU community, you should make arrangements to attend +a `KeySigningParty `__ (for +example at KVM Forum) or make alternative arrangements to have your +key signed by an attendee. Key signing requires meeting another +community member **in person** [#]_ so please make appropriate +arrangements. + +.. [#] In recent pandemic times we have had to exercise some + flexibility here. Maintainers still need to sign their pull + requests though. diff --git a/docs/devel/submitting-a-pull-request.rst b/docs/devel/submitting-a-pull-request.rst index c9d1e8afd9..a4cd7ebbb6 100644 --- a/docs/devel/submitting-a-pull-request.rst +++ b/docs/devel/submitting-a-pull-request.rst @@ -53,14 +53,10 @@ series) and that "make check" passes before sending out the pull request. As a submaintainer you're one of QEMU's lines of defense against bad code, so double check the details. -**All pull requests must be signed**. If your key is not already signed -by members of the QEMU community, you should make arrangements to attend -a `KeySigningParty `__ (for -example at KVM Forum) or make alternative arrangements to have your key -signed by an attendee. Key signing requires meeting another community -member \*in person\* so please make appropriate arrangements. By -"signed" here we mean that the pullreq email should quote a tag which is -a GPG-signed tag (as created with 'gpg tag -s ...'). +**All pull requests must be signed**. By "signed" here we mean that +the pullreq email should quote a tag which is a GPG-signed tag (as +created with 'gpg tag -s ...'). See :ref:`maintainer_keys` for +details. **Pull requests not for master should say "not for master" and have "PULL SUBSYSTEM whatever" in the subject tag**. If your pull request is -- cgit v1.2.3-55-g7522