Patches * send your patches to the mailing list or to the upstream maintainer (see the AUTHORS and README files) * diff -u * don't include generated (autotools) stuff to your patches (hint: use git clean -Xd) * neutrality; The stuff in util-linux should be rather distribution-neutral. No RPMs/DEBs/... are provided - get yours from your distributor. * patches are delivered via email only. Downloading them from internet servers is a pain. * one patch per email, with the changelog in the body of the email. * many small patches are favoured over one big. Break down is done on basis of logical functionality; for example #endif mark ups, compiler warning and exit codes fixes all should be individual small patches. * Subject: [PATCH] subsystem: description * if someone else wrote the patch, they should be credited (and blamed) for it. To communicate this, add a line: From: John Doe * add a Signed-off-by line (hint: use "git commit -s") 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: 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 using your real name (sorry, no pseudonyms or anonymous contributions.) * for more details see: The perfect patch http://userweb.kernel.org/~akpm/stuff/tpp.txt Before sending a patch * make sure that after patching source files will compile without errors. * test that previously existed program behaviour is not unintentionally alterred. If you alter the behaviour tell about in commit message. Coding style * the preferred coding style is based on the linux kernel Documentation/CodingStyle. For more details see: http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=blob_plain;f=Documentation/CodingStyle * Use `FIXME:' and a good description if want to inform others something is not quite right, and you are unwilling to fix the issue.