How to submit patches

Obtaining the source code

The CRIU sources are tracked by Git SCM at http://git.criu.org repository. You either could download packed sources or use git tool itself.

For example to clone crtools one need to type

       git clone git://git.criu.org/crtools.git

Changing the source code

When you change the source code keep in mind -- we prefer tabs and indentations to be 8 characters width.

Other "rules" could be learned from the source code -- just make your code to look similar.

Producing a patch

There are at least two ways to make it right.

1) git format-patch

You might need to read documentation on Git SCM how to prepare patch for mail submission. Take a look on http://book.git-scm.com/ and/or http://git-scm.com/documentation for details. It should not be hard at all.

2) Use "diff -up"

Use diff -up or diff -uprN to create patches.

Signing your work

To improve tracking of who did what we've introduced a "sign-off" procedure on patches that are being emailed around.

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:

   Developer's Certificate of Origin 1.1
   
   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 <random at developer.example.org>

using your real name (please, no pseudonyms or anonymous contributions if it possible)

An example of patch message

From: Random J Developer <random at developer.example.org>
Subject: [PATCH] Short patch description

Long patch description (could be skipped if patch
is trivial enough)

Signed-off-by: Random J Developer <random at developer.example.org>
---
Patch body here

Mailing patches

The patches should be sent to CRIU development mailing list which is located at https://openvz.org/mailman/listinfo/criu

Please make sure the email client you're using doesn't screw your patch (line wrapping and so on).

Wait for response

Be patient. Most CRIU developers are pretty busy people so if there is no immediate response on your patch -- don't be surprised, sometimes a patch may fly around a week(s) before it get reviewed. But definitely the patches will not go to /dev/null.