1 @c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*-
3 @include included/helpus.itexi
5 @node Introduction to contributing
6 @chapter Introduction to contributing
8 This chapter presents a quick overview of ways that people can
13 * Overview of work flow::
29 @node Overview of work flow
30 @section Overview of work flow
33 @strong{Ultra-short summary for Unix developers}: source code is at
34 @code{git://git.sv.gnu.org/lilypond.git}. Documentation is built
35 with Texinfo, after pre-processing with @code{lilypond-book}.
36 Send well-formed patches to @email{lilypond-devel@@gnu.org}.
39 Git is a @emph{version control system} that tracks the history of
40 a program's source code. The LilyPond source code is maintained
41 as a Git repository, which contains:
45 all of the source files needed to build LilyPond, and
48 a record of the entire history of every change made to every file
49 since the program was born.
52 The @q{official} LilyPond Git repository is hosted by the GNU
53 Savannah software forge at @uref{http://git.sv.gnu.org}.
54 Although, since Git uses a @emph{distributed} model, technically
55 there is no central repository. Instead, each contributor keeps a
56 complete copy of the entire repository (about 116M).
58 Changes made within one contributor's copy of the repository can
59 be shared with other contributors using @emph{patches}. A patch
60 is a simple text file generated by the @command{git} program that
61 indicates what changes have been made (using a special format).
62 If a contributor's patch is approved for inclusion (usually
63 through the mailing list), someone on the current development team
64 will @emph{push} the patch to the official repository.
66 The Savannah software forge provides two separate interfaces for
67 viewing the LilyPond Git repository online: @emph{cgit} and
68 @emph{gitweb}. The cgit interface should work faster than gitweb
69 in most situations, but only gitweb allows you to search through
70 the source code using @command{grep}, which you may find useful.
71 The cgit interface is at
72 @uref{http://git.sv.gnu.org/cgit/lilypond.git/} and the gitweb
74 @uref{http://git.sv.gnu.org/gitweb/?p=lilypond.git}.
76 Git is a complex and powerful tool, but tends to be confusing at
77 first, particularly for users not familiar with the command line
78 and/or version control systems. Contributors who don't want to
79 deal with Git directly are encouraged to use the
80 @command{lily-git} graphical user interface instead.
82 @emph{Compiling} (@q{building}) LilyPond allows developers to see
83 how changes to the source code affect the program itself.
84 Compiling is also needed to package the program for specific
85 operating systems or distributions. LilyPond can be compiled from
86 a local Git repository (for developers), or from a downloaded
87 tarball (for packagers). Compiling LilyPond is a rather involved
88 process, and most contributor tasks do not require it.
90 Contributors can contact the developers through the
91 @q{lilypond-devel} mailing list. The mailing list archive is
93 @uref{http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/lilypond-devel/}. If you
94 have a question for the developers, search the archives first to
95 see if the issue has already been discussed. Otherwise, send an
96 email to @email{lilypond-devel@@gnu.org}. You can subscribe to
97 the developers' mailing list here:
98 @uref{http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/lilypond-devel}.
100 @warning{Contributors on Windows or MacOS X wishing to compile
101 code or documentation are strongly advised to use @ref{Lilybuntu}
102 instead of trying to install all software dependencies
109 It is not possible to compile LilyPond on Windows, and extremely
110 difficulty to compile it on MacOS X. We have therefore made a
111 @q{remix} of Ubuntu which includes all necessary dependencies to
112 compile both LilyPond and the documentation. This can be run
113 inside a virtual machine without disturbing your main operating
118 Install some virtualization software.
120 Any virtualization tool can be used, but we recommend VirtualBox:
123 @uref{http://@/www.virtualbox.org/@/wiki/@/Downloads}
126 In virtualization terminology, your main operating system is the
130 Download the @file{lilybuntu2.iso} disk image:
133 @uref{http://files.lilynet.net/lilybuntu2.iso}
136 @advanced{There is a md5sum available:
137 @uref{http://files.lilynet.net/lilybuntu2.iso.md5}}
140 Install @file{lilybuntu2.iso} as the @qq{guest} operating system
141 on your virtualized system.
146 If possible, use at least 700 MB of RAM (1GB would be better) for
147 the virtual machine, and use @qq{dynamically expanding storage}
148 for the virtual hard drive. A complete compile of everything
149 (code, docs, regression tests) can reach 10 GB.
152 When @file{lilybuntu2.iso} boots, it shows an ISOLINUX
153 @code{boot:} prompt. Type:
160 At the @qq{Prepare disk space} stage, do not be afraid to select
161 @qq{Erase and use the entire disk}, since this refers to your
162 @emph{virtual disk}, not your machine's actual hard drive.
165 When prompted to remove the installation CD, go to
166 @clicksequence{Devices @click{} CD/DVD Devices} and de-select
167 @file{lilybuntu2.iso}.
172 The latest version of lilybuntu is based on Ubuntu 10.04.1; if you
173 encounter any difficulties installing it, search for one of the
174 many tutorials for installing that particular version of Ubuntu as
175 a guest operating system.
179 Do any extra configuration for your virtualization software.
181 VirtualBox has extra @qq{guest additions} which can make the
182 virtualization easier to use (full-screen, easy file sharing
183 between host and guest operating systems, shared clipboards, etc).
188 In @emph{VirtualBox}, select @clicksequence{Devices @click{}
189 Install Guest Additions...}.
192 In @emph{Ubuntu}, select @clicksequence{Places @click{}
193 VBOXADDITIONS_}. A file-system window will open.
196 Double-click on the @file{autorun.sh} file, then select @qq{Run in
197 Terminal}, and enter your password when prompted.
200 Once the script is finished, restart Ubuntu to complete the
204 Set up any additional features, such as @q{Shared Folders} between
205 your main operating system and ubuntu. Consult external
206 documentation for this step.
208 @advanced{If you do any kernel upgrades, you may need to re-run
209 these VBOXADDITIONS instructions.}
213 If you use other virtualization software, then follow the normal
214 procedures for your virtualization software with Ubuntu as the
217 @advanced{not all hardware is supported in all virtualization
218 tools. In particular, some contributors have reported problems
219 with USB devices. If you would like to investigate further, then
220 look for help for your virtualization tool using your normal OS as
221 the @qq{host} and Ubuntu as the @qq{client}.}
225 If you are not familiar with Linux, it may be beneficial to read a
226 couple of @qq{introduction to Ubuntu} webpages.
230 One particular change from Windows and MacOS X is that most
231 software should be installed with your @qq{package manager}; this
232 vastly simplifies the process of installing and configuring
233 software. Go to @clicksequence{System @click{} Administration
234 @click{} Synaptic Package Manager}.
237 The rest of this manual assumes that you are using the
238 command-line; go to @clicksequence{Applications @click{}
239 Accessories @click{} Terminal}.
243 You should now progress to @ref{Using lily-git}.
249 We have a semi-formal system of mentorship, similar to the
250 medieval @qq{journeyman/master} training system. New contributors
251 will have a dedicated mentor to help them @qq{learn the ropes}.
253 @warning{This is subject to the availability of mentors; certain
254 jobs have more potential mentors than others.}
256 @subheading Contributor responsibilities
261 Ask your mentor which sections of the CG you should read.
264 If you get stuck for longer than 10 minutes, ask your mentor.
265 They might not be able to help you with all problems, but we find
266 that new contributors often get stuck with something that could be
267 solved/explained with 2 or 3 sentences from a mentor.
270 Send patches to your mentor for initial comments.
273 Inform your mentor if you're going to be away for a month, or if
274 you leave entirely. Contributing to lilypond isn't for everybody;
275 just let your mentor know so that we can reassign that work to
279 Inform your mentor if you're willing to do more work -- we always
280 have way more work than we have helpers available. We try to
281 avoid overwhelming new contributors, so you'll be given less work
282 than we think you can handle.
287 @subheading Mentor responsibilities
292 Respond to questions from your contributor(s) promptly, even if
293 the response is just @qq{sorry, I don't know} or @qq{sorry, I'm
294 very busy for the next 3 days; I'll get back to you then}. Make
295 sure they feel valued.
298 Inform your contributor(s) about the expected turnaround for your
299 emails -- do you work on lilypond every day, or every weekend, or
300 what? Also, if you'll be unavailable for longer than usual (say,
301 if you normally reply within 24 hours, but you'll be at a
302 conference for a week), let your contributors know. Again, make
303 sure they feel valued, and that your silence (if they ask a
304 question during that period) isn't their fault.
307 Inform your contributor(s) if they need to do anything unusual for
308 the builds, such as doing a @qq{make clean / doc-clean} or
309 switching git branches (not expected, but just in case...)
312 You don't need to be able to completely approve patches. Make
313 sure the patch meets whatever you know of the guidelines (for doc
314 style, code indentation, whatever), and then send it on to the
315 frog list or -devel for more comments. If you feel confident
316 about the patch, you can push it directly (this is mainly intended
317 for docs and translations; code patches should almost always go to
318 -devel before being pushed).
321 Keep track of patches from your contributor. If you've sent a
322 patch to -devel, it's your responsibility to pester people to get
323 comments for it, or at very least add it to the google tracker.