========================== Git, Cloning and Patches ========================== .. contents:: Sections :local: GNU MediaGoblin uses git for all our version control and we have the repositories hosted on `Gitorious `_. We have two repositories: * MediaGoblin software: http://gitorious.org/mediagoblin/mediagoblin * MediaGoblin website: http://gitorious.org/mediagoblin/mediagoblin-website It's most likely you want to look at the software repository--not the website one. The rest of this chapter talks about using the software repository. How to clone the project ======================== Do:: git clone git://gitorious.org/mediagoblin/mediagoblin.git How to contribute changes ========================= Tie your changes to issues in the issue tracker ----------------------------------------------- All patches should be tied to issues in the `issue tracker `_. That makes it a lot easier for everyone to track proposed changes and make sure your hard work doesn't get dropped on the floor! If there isn't an issue for what you're working on, please create one. The better the description of what it is you're trying to fix/implement, the better everyone else is able to understand why you're doing what you're doing. Use bugfix branches to make changes ----------------------------------- The best way to isolate your changes is to create a branch based off of the MediaGoblin repository master branch, do the changes related to that one issue there, and then let us know how to get it. It's much easier on us if you isolate your changes to a branch focused on the issue. Then we don't have to sift through things. It's much easier on you if you isolate your changes to a branch focused on the issue. Then when we merge your changes in, you just have to do a ``git fetch`` and that's it. This is especially true if we reject some of your changes, but accept others or otherwise tweak your changes. Further, if you isolate your changes to a branch, then you can work on multiple issues at the same time and they don't conflict with one another. Properly document your changes ------------------------------ Include comments in the code. Write comprehensive commit messages. The better your commit message is at describing what you did and why, the easier it is for us to quickly accept your patch. Write comprehensive comments in the issue tracker about what you're doing and why. How to send us your changes --------------------------- There are three ways to let us know how to get it: 1. (preferred) **push changes to publicly available git clone and let us know where to find it** Push your feature/bugfix/issue branch to your publicly available git clone and add a comment to the issue with the url for your clone and the branch to look at. 2. **attaching the patch files to the issue** Run:: git format-patch -o patches /master Then tar up the newly created ``patches`` directory and attach the directory to the issue. Example workflow ================ Here's an example workflow. Contributing changes -------------------- Slartibartfast from the planet Magrathea far off in the universe has decided that he is bored with fjords and wants to fix issue 42 and send us the changes. Slartibartfast has cloned the MediaGoblin repository and his clone lives on gitorious. Slartibartfast works locally. The remote named ``origin`` points to his clone on gitorious. The remote named ``gmg`` points to the MediaGoblin repository. Slartibartfast does the following: 1. Fetches the latest from the MediaGoblin repository:: git fetch --all -p 2. Creates a branch from the tip of the MediaGoblin repository (the remote is named ``gmg``) master branch called ``issue_42``:: git checkout -b issue_42 gmg/master 3. Slartibartfast works hard on his changes in the ``issue_42`` branch. When done, he wants to notify us that he has made changes he wants us to see. 4. Slartibartfast pushes his changes to his clone (the remote is named ``origin``):: git push origin issue_42 5. Slartibartfast adds a comment to issue 42 with the url for his repository and the name of the branch he put the code in. He also explains what he did and why it addresses the issue. Updating a contribution ----------------------- Slartibartfast brushes his hands off with the sense of accomplishment that comes with the knowledge of a job well done. He stands, wanders over to get a cup of water, then realizes that he forgot to run the unit tests! He runs the unit tests and discovers there's a bug in the code! Then he does this: 1. He checks out the ``issue_42`` branch:: git checkout issue_42 2. He fixes the bug and checks it into the ``issue_42`` branch. 3. He pushes his changes to his clone (the remote is named ``origin``):: git push origin issue_42 4. He adds another comment to issue 42 explaining about the mistake and how he fixed it and that he's pushed the new change to the ``issue_42`` branch of his publicly available clone. What happens next ----------------- Slartibartfast is once again happy with his work. He finds issue 42 in the issue tracker and adds a comment saying he submitted a merge request with his changes and explains what they are. Later, someone checks out his code and finds a problem with it. He adds a comment to the issue tracker specifying the problem and asks Slartibartfast to fix it. Slartibartfst goes through the above steps again, fixes the issue, pushes it to his ``issue_42`` branch and adds another comment to the issue tracker about how he fixed it. Later, someone checks out his code and is happy with it. Someone pulls it into the master branch of the MediaGoblin repository and adds another comment to the issue and probably closes the issue out. Slartibartfast is notified of this. Slartibartfast does a:: git fetch --all The changes show up in the ``master`` branch of the ``gmg`` remote. Slartibartfast now deletes his ``issue_42`` branch because he doesn't need it anymore. How to learn git ================ Check out :ref:`hacking-howto-git`!