doc: Write about patch submission and packaging guidelines.

* HACKING: Update the command names from `guix-build' to `guix build' & co.
  (Submitting Patches, Packaging Guidelines): New sections.
* doc/guix.texi (Contributing): New section.
This commit is contained in:
Ludovic Courtès 2013-06-04 10:29:57 +02:00
parent ae3b6bb0f4
commit 9bf3c1a77d
2 changed files with 62 additions and 33 deletions

80
HACKING
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@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Copyright © 2012, 2013 Ludovic Courtès <ludo@gnu.org>
Command-line tools can be used even if you have not run "make install".
To do that, prefix each command with ./pre-inst-env, as in:
./pre-inst-env guix-build --help
./pre-inst-env guix build --help
Similarly, for a Guile session using the Guix modules:
@ -40,6 +40,16 @@ addition to that, you must not miss [[http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/ParEdit][Pa
directly operate on the syntax tree, such as raising an s-expression or
wrapping it, swallowing or rejecting the following s-expression, etc.
* Packaging Guidelines
The GNU distribution is about respecting the freedom of users. Consequently,
it contains only free software as defined at
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html .
In addition, we follow the [[http://www.gnu.org/distros/free-system-distribution-guidelines.html][free software distribution guidelines]]. Among other
things, this means that the distribution tries hard not to steer users towards
obtaining information about non-free software.
* Adding new packages
Package recipes in Guix look like this:
@ -68,22 +78,55 @@ Package recipes in Guix look like this:
#+END_SRC
Such a recipe can be written by hand, and then tested by running
./pre-inst-env guix-build nettle.
./pre-inst-env guix build nettle.
When writing the recipe, the base32-encoded SHA256 hash of the source
code tarball, which can be seen in the example above, can be obtained by
running:
guix-download http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/nettle/nettle-2.5.tar.gz
guix download http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/nettle/nettle-2.5.tar.gz
Alternatively, it is possible to semi-automatically import recipes from
the [[http://nixos.org/nixpkgs/][Nixpkgs]] software distribution using this command:
guix-import /path/to/nixpkgs/checkout nettle
guix import /path/to/nixpkgs/checkout nettle
The command automatically fetches and converts to Guix the “Nix
expression” of Nettle.
* Submitting Patches
Development is done using the Git distributed version control system. Thus,
access to the repository is not strictly necessary. We welcome contributions
in the form of patches as produced by git format-patch sent to
bug-guix@gnu.org. Please write commit logs in the [[http://www.gnu.org/prep/standards/html_node/Change-Logs.html#Change-Logs][GNU ChangeLog format]].
As you become a regular contributor, you may find it convenient to have write
access to the repository (see below.)
* Commit Access
For frequent contributors, having write access to the repository is
convenient. When you deem it necessary, feel free to ask for it on the
mailing list. When you get commit access, please make sure to follow the
policy below (discussions of the policy can take place on bug-guix@gnu.org.)
Non-trivial patches should always be posted to bug-guix@gnu.org (trivial
patches include fixing typos, etc.)
For patches that just add a new package, and a simple one, its OK to commit,
if youre confident (which means you successfully built it in a chroot setup.)
Likewise for package upgrades. We have a mailing list for commit
notifications (guix-commits@gnu.org), so people can notice. Before pushing
your changes, make sure to run git pull --rebase.
For anything else, please post to bug-guix@gnu.org and leave time for a
review, without committing anything. If you didnt receive any reply
after two weeks, and if youre confident, its OK to commit.
That last part is subject to being adjusted, allowing individuals to commit
directly on non-controversial changes on parts theyre familiar with.
* Porting the Guix distro on a new platform
** Introduction
@ -137,7 +180,7 @@ GCC, libc, etc. need to be built. To that end, run the following
commands:
#+BEGIN_SRC sh
./pre-inst-env guix-build -K \
./pre-inst-env guix build -K \
-e '(@ (gnu packages make-bootstrap) %bootstrap-tarballs)' \
--system=i686-linux
@ -174,30 +217,3 @@ shown above. For example, all the binaries (except for glibc) must be
statically-linked; the bootstrap Guile must be relocatable (see patch in
the Guix distro); the static-binaries tarball must contain the same
programs (Coreutils, Grep, sed, Awk, etc.); and so on.
* Commit Access
Development is done using the Git distributed version control system. Thus,
access to the repository is not strictly necessary. We welcome contributions
in the form of patches as produced by git format-patch sent to
bug-guix@gnu.org.
However, for frequent contributors, having write access to the repository is
convenient. When you get commit access, please make sure to follow the policy
below (discussions of the policy can take place on bug-guix@gnu.org.)
Non-trivial patches should always be posted to bug-guix@gnu.org (trivial
patches include fixing typos, etc.)
For patches that just add a new package, and a simple one, its OK to commit,
if youre confident (which means you successfully built it in a chroot setup.)
Likewise for package upgrades. We have a mailing list for commit
notifications (guix-commits@gnu.org), so people can notice. Before pushing
your changes, make sure to run git pull --rebase.
For anything else, please post to bug-guix@gnu.org and leave time for a
review, without committing anything. If you didnt receive any reply
after two weeks, and if youre confident, its OK to commit.
That last part is subject to being adjusted, allowing individuals to commit
directly on non-controversial changes on parts theyre familiar with.

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@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ Documentation License.''
* Programming Interface:: Using Guix in Scheme.
* Utilities:: Package management commands.
* GNU Distribution:: Software for your friendly GNU system.
* Contributing:: Your help needed!
* Acknowledgments:: Thanks!
* GNU Free Documentation License:: The license of this manual.
@ -1439,10 +1440,22 @@ tight integration of GNU components, and an emphasis on programs and
tools that help users exert that freedom.
Building this distribution is a cooperative effort, and you are invited
to join! Please get in touch with us on @email{bug-guix@@gnu.org}. We
to join! @ref{Contributing}, for information about how you can help.
@c *********************************************************************
@node Contributing
@chapter Contributing
This project is a cooperative effort, and we need your help to make it
grow! Please get in touch with us on @email{bug-guix@@gnu.org}. We
welcome ideas, bug reports, patches, and anything that may be helpful to
the project.
Please see the
@url{http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/guix.git/tree/HACKING,
@file{HACKING} file} that comes with the Guix source code for practical
details about contributions.
@c *********************************************************************
@node Acknowledgments