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[PATCH v3 1/3] SubmittingPatches: write problem statement in the log in the present tense

From
Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Date
Jan 27, 2022, 19:02 UTC
Message-ID
<20220127190259.2470753-2-gitster@pobox.com>
In-Reply-To
<20220126234205.2923388-1-gitster@pobox.com>

We give a guidance for proposed log message to write problem statement first, followed by the reasoning behind, and recipe for, the solution. Clarify that we describe the situation _before_ the proposed patch is applied in the present tense (not in the past tense e.g. "we used to do X, but thanks to this commit we now do Y") for consistency.

Signed-off-by: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
---
 Documentation/SubmittingPatches | 7 +++++++
 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+)
diff --git a/Documentation/SubmittingPatches b/Documentation/SubmittingPatches
index 92b80d94d4..7225a0fb52 100644
--- a/Documentation/SubmittingPatches
+++ b/Documentation/SubmittingPatches
@@ -142,6 +142,13 @@ The body should provide a meaningful commit message, which:
 
 . alternate solutions considered but discarded, if any.
 
+[[present-tense]]
+The problem statement that describes the status quo is written in the
+present tense.  Write "The code does X when it is given input Y",
+instead of "The code used to do Y when given input X".  You do not
+have to say "Currently"---the status quo in the problem statement is
+about the code _without_ your change, by project convention.
+
 [[imperative-mood]]
 Describe your changes in imperative mood, e.g. "make xyzzy do frotz"
 instead of "[This patch] makes xyzzy do frotz" or "[I] changed xyzzy
-- 
2.35.0-177-g7d269f5170
Previous: Emily ShafferNext: Emily Shaffer
Message 12 of 28 in “[RFC] Contributor doc: more on the proposed log message”
  1. Junio C HamanoJan 23, 2022
  2. brian m. carlsonJan 23, 2022
  3. Kaartic SivaraamJan 26, 2022
  4. 0/3 contributor doc update around log messagesJunio C Hamano, Jan 26, 2022
  5. 1/3 SubmittingPatches: write problem statement in the log in the present tenseJunio C Hamano, Jan 26, 2022
  6. 2/3 CodingGuidelines: hint why we value clearly written log messagesJunio C Hamano, Jan 26, 2022
  7. Eric SunshineJan 27, 2022
  8. Junio C HamanoJan 27, 2022
  9. 3/3 SubmittingPatches: explain why we care about log messagesJunio C Hamano, Jan 26, 2022
  10. 0/3 contributor doc update around log messagesJunio C Hamano, Jan 27, 2022
  11. Emily ShafferMar 4, 2022
  12. 1/3 SubmittingPatches: write problem statement in the log in the present tenseJunio C Hamano, Jan 27, 2022
  13. Emily ShafferMar 3, 2022
  14. Junio C HamanoMar 4, 2022
  15. Emily ShafferMar 4, 2022
  16. 2/3 CodingGuidelines: hint why we value clearly written log messagesJunio C Hamano, Jan 27, 2022
  17. Emily ShafferMar 4, 2022
  18. Junio C HamanoMar 4, 2022
  19. Junio C HamanoApr 14, 2022
  20. Ævar Arnfjörð BjarmasonApr 14, 2022
  21. Emily ShafferApr 19, 2022
  22. Junio C HamanoApr 20, 2022
  23. 3/3 SubmittingPatches: explain why we care about log messagesJunio C Hamano, Jan 27, 2022
  24. Emily ShafferMar 4, 2022
  25. Junio C HamanoMar 4, 2022
  26. log messages > comments (was: [PATCH v3 3/3] SubmittingPatches: explain why we care about log messages)Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason, Mar 4, 2022
  27. Junio C HamanoMar 4, 2022
  28. Junio C HamanoMar 4, 2022

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