Short Version

  • Make small logical changes.

  • Provide a meaningful commit message.

  • Check for coding errors with pylint

  • Make sure all code is under the Apache License, 2.0.

  • Publish your changes for review.

  • Make corrections if requested.

  • Verify your changes on gerrit so they can be submitted.

    git push https://gerrit-review.googlesource.com/git-repo HEAD:refs/for/master

Long Version

I wanted a file describing how to submit patches for repo, so I started with the one found in the core Git distribution (Documentation/SubmittingPatches), which itself was based on the patch submission guidelines for the Linux kernel.

However there are some differences, so please review and familiarize yourself with the following relevant bits.

Make separate commits for logically separate changes.

Unless your patch is really trivial, you should not be sending out a patch that was generated between your working tree and your commit head. Instead, always make a commit with complete commit message and generate a series of patches from your repository. It is a good discipline.

Describe the technical detail of the change(s).

If your description starts to get too long, that's a sign that you probably need to split up your commit to finer grained pieces.

Check for coding errors with pylint

Run pylint on changed modules using the provided configuration:

pylint --rcfile=.pylintrc file.py

Check the license

repo is licensed under the Apache License, 2.0.

Because of this licensing model every file within the project must list the license that covers it in the header of the file. Any new contributions to an existing file must be submitted under the current license of that file. Any new files must clearly indicate which license they are provided under in the file header.

Please verify that you are legally allowed and willing to submit your changes under the license covering each file prior to submitting your patch. It is virtually impossible to remove a patch once it has been applied and pushed out.

Sending your patches.

Do not email your patches to anyone.

Instead, login to the Gerrit Code Review tool at:

https://gerrit-review.googlesource.com/

Ensure you have completed one of the necessary contributor agreements, providing documentation to the project maintainers that they have right to redistribute your work under the Apache License:

https://gerrit-review.googlesource.com/#/settings/agreements

Ensure you have obtained an HTTP password to authenticate:

https://gerrit-review.googlesource.com/new-password

Ensure that you have the local commit hook installed to automatically add a ChangeId to your commits:

curl -Lo `git rev-parse --git-dir`/hooks/commit-msg https://gerrit-review.googlesource.com/tools/hooks/commit-msg
chmod +x `git rev-parse --git-dir`/hooks/commit-msg

If you have already committed your changes you will need to amend the commit to get the ChangeId added.

git commit --amend

Push your patches over HTTPS to the review server, possibly through a remembered remote to make this easier in the future:

git config remote.review.url https://gerrit-review.googlesource.com/git-repo
git config remote.review.push HEAD:refs/for/master

git push review

You will be automatically emailed a copy of your commits, and any comments made by the project maintainers.

Make changes if requested

The project maintainer who reviews your changes might request changes to your commit. If you make the requested changes you will need to amend your commit and push it to the review server again.

Verify your changes on gerrit

After you receive a Code-Review+2 from the maintainer, select the Verified button on the gerrit page for the change. This verifies that you have tested your changes and notifies the maintainer that they are ready to be submitted. The maintainer will then submit your changes to the repository.