== Submitting Patches ==

=== Expressing your desire to work on a ticket ===
By default, tickets are assigned to a default component owner. If you wish to work on an assigned ticket, simply comment on the ticket to inform the person. For the most part, this is to reduce the frustration of duplicating work.

=== Coding style ===
The [http://www.haiku-os.org/development/coding-guidelines Coding Guidelines] are expected to be followed when submitting patches.

'''Note:''' When patching existing files that do not follow our Coding Guidelines, it is preferable to apply the stylization to the entire file. If that is not possible, then conform to the pervading style being used.
 * [http://dev.haiku-os.org/browser/haiku/trunk/src/tools/checkstyle checkstyle] can be used to help identify violations
 * [wiki:CodingGuidelines/VIM] integrate with vim to check style.

Be aware, that these style checker tools may generate false positives (eg, evaluating comments as coding violations) or may miss other violations. 

=== Automatic white space cleanup ===
Sometimes you'll see a commit message of "Automatic white space cleanup. No functional change.", for example r36509. It is preferred for new code to not introduced unneeded white space. Luckily, there is an option in Pe to perform this for you automatically. Here is how to enable it from within Pe.
 * In the menu bar, select Window --> Preferences
 * Select "Files" from the left pane
 * enable [x] Discard trailing space
 * click [Apply]
Now, when you save & close a file, any stray spaces at the end of any lines will be automatically removed.

=== Committing changes ===

 * Before making any commits to the Haiku repository (local even), be sure to [http://www.haiku-os.org/guides/building/get-source-git#configure_env configure the git environment] on your local system! Failure to configure git properly before a commit will result in incorrect naming in your commit and public humiliation on the mailing list.
 * Create patches from within the ''HAIKU_TOP'' directory. This is the directory that contains ''configure'' and typically is the ''haiku/'' or ''buildtools/'' branch.
 	* {{{git status}}} will display which files are modified, added, or deleted. Use `git diff` to inspect your changes.
 * You'll then have to commit your changes locally by adding the changed or added files (`git add my-file my/new/file`), and then do a `git commit`.
	* You will need to enter a complete commit message that will later appear as is in Haiku's repository if your patch is going to be accepted.
	* The first line of the message is the title that should be as descriptive as possible while not exceeding 50 characters.
	* After an empty line you should add a detailed description what you're trying to fix and how.
	* If you solve a ticket in the bugtracker with it, add a "Fixes #{ticketnumber}." at the end, on its own line.

=== Submitting your commit(s) ===
Create an account on [https://review.haiku-os.org Haiku's Gerrit instance] using your GitHub account, and add your SSH keys.

'''Note''': If, after creating an account, you do not have any email addresses attached, please create a ticket under the component {{{Website/Gerrit}}} and specify your GitHub username and the email address you would like the administrators to set for you.

'''Note''': Any commits submitted to Gerrit ''must'' have the same email address as is in your Gerrit account, or else Gerrit will reject your submission!

Then submit your commits to Gerrit like this:
{{{
git push origin <local source branch>:refs/for/<remote target branch>
}}}
Most likely, you are submitting from your local {{{master}}} branch to the remote {{{master}}} branch, in which case you would use:
{{{
git push origin master:refs/for/master
}}}

After pushing, either '''create a new ticket about this patch''' or '''comment on the ticket your patch fixes''' with a link to the Gerrit review.

=== Following up ===
''Lastly and most importantly'': once a developer reviews your submitted code, expect them to point out any and all flaws. This is standard procedure and is constructive criticism. Remember, we want to help you improve your coding abilities. 

You may want to either subscribe to or read the [http://www.freelists.org/list/haiku-commits haiku-commits] mailing list archives. It is quite common for the discussion of recently committed code to occur on this list.