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[PATCH 0/6] Update Contributor Guides

From
Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Date
Jul 11, 2026, 19:26 UTC
Message-ID
<20260711192650.2417665-1-gitster@pobox.com>

I have been tracking the rules I follow while updating the "What's cooking" draft, which guides my daily work, and noticed a few gaps in our contributor documentation.

* We often tell contributors how commit log messages should look on
  the mailing list, but the language in `SubmittingPatches` is too
  wordy.  The first patch in this series shortens it to get to the
  point earlier.
* We recently updated `MyFirstContribution` to advise contributors
  to pace themselves when they find mistakes or receive feedback.
  However, we lack instructions for when a patch receives no
  reaction.  The second patch addresses this gap.
* There seems to be some confusion regarding when contributors should
  add `Reviewed-by:` and `Acked-by:` trailers.  The third patch
  clarifies this process.
* We want to ensure contributors don't walk away once their patch lands
  in `seen`, as that is merely the beginning of the story.  The fourth
  and fifth patches clarify this point.
* An experimental feature in `SubmittingPatches` invites contributors
  to draft the description for their topic in the "What's cooking"
  report.  However, instead of outlining the expected tone, we simply
  told them to emulate existing entries.  The final patch remedies this.
 1/6: SubmittingPatches: clarify expected structure of commit log message
 2/6: MyFirstContribution: what if I don't get a reply?
 3/6: MyFirstContribution: carrying over trailers
 4/6: MyFirstContribution: clarify that 'seen' does not mean acceptance
 5/6: SubmittingPatches: clarify the meaning of "Will queue"
 6/6: SubmittingPatches: clarify the writing style of whats-cooking
 Documentation/MyFirstContribution.adoc |  53 +++++++-
 Documentation/SubmittingPatches        | 171 +++++++++++++------------
 2 files changed, 135 insertions(+), 89 deletions(-)
-- 
2.55.0-391-gdf86bf5712
Next: Junio C Hamano
Message 1 of 21 in “Update Contributor Guides”
  1. 0/6 Update Contributor GuidesJunio C Hamano, Jul 11, 2026
  2. 1/6 SubmittingPatches: clarify expected structure of commit log messageJunio C Hamano, Jul 11, 2026
  3. Weijie YuanJul 12, 2026
  4. Junio C HamanoJul 12, 2026
  5. Weijie YuanJul 13, 2026
  6. Michael MontalboJul 12, 2026
  7. Junio C HamanoJul 13, 2026
  8. Weijie YuanJul 13, 2026
  9. D. Ben KnobleJul 14, 2026
  10. Weijie YuanJul 17, 2026
  11. 2/6 MyFirstContribution: what if I don't get a reply?Junio C Hamano, Jul 11, 2026
  12. Patrick SteinhardtJul 17, 2026
  13. Junio C HamanoJul 17, 2026
  14. 3/6 MyFirstContribution: carrying over trailersJunio C Hamano, Jul 11, 2026
  15. 4/6 MyFirstContribution: clarify that 'seen' does not mean acceptanceJunio C Hamano, Jul 11, 2026
  16. Matt HunterJul 12, 2026
  17. Junio C HamanoJul 12, 2026
  18. 5/6 SubmittingPatches: clarify the meaning of "Will queue"Junio C Hamano, Jul 11, 2026
  19. 6/6 SubmittingPatches: clarify the writing style of whats-cookingJunio C Hamano, Jul 11, 2026
  20. Michael MontalboJul 12, 2026
  21. Junio C HamanoJul 13, 2026

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