you need to do:
-Checkout the Latest Code from CVS
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+Checkout the Latest Code
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a necessary first step. Please do not try to work with the last
released version, as there is a good chance that somebody has already fixed
the bug you found. Somebody might have even added the feature you had in mind.
Don't make your work obsolete before you start!
-For information on how to check out Busybox from CVS, please look at the
+For information on how to check out Busybox development tree, please look at the
following links:
- http://busybox.net/cvs_anon.html
- http://busybox.net/cvs_howto.html
+ http://busybox.net/source.html
Read the Mailing List
we do not want to start adding mkfs/fsck tools for every (or any)
filesystem under the sun. (fsck_minix.c and mkfs_minix.c are living on
borrowed time.) There are far too many of these tools out there. Use
- the upstream version. Not everything has to be part of Busybox.
-
- - Any partitioning tools: Partitioning a device is typically done once and
- only once, and tools which do this generally do not need to reside on the
- target device (esp a flash device). If you need a partitioning tool, grab
- one (such as fdisk, sfdisk, or cfdisk from util-linux) and use that, but
- don't try to merge it into busybox. These are nasty and complex and we
- don't want to maintain them.
+ the upstream version. Rationale: bugs in these tools can destroy
+ vast amounts of data. Keeping up with filesystem format development
+ is impractical (especially in the area of keeping fsck tool safe
+ and up-to-date).
- Any disk, device, or media-specific tools: Use the -utils or -tools package
that was designed for your device; don't try to shoehorn them into Busybox.
independent. Do not send us tools that cannot be used across multiple
platforms / arches.
- - Any daemons that are not essential to basic system operation. To date, only
- syslogd and klogd meet this requirement. We do not need a web server, an
- ftp daemon, a dhcp server, a mail transport agent or a dns resolver. If you
- need one of those, you are welcome to ask the folks on the mailing list for
- recommendations, but please don't bloat up Busybox with any of these.
-
Bug Reporting
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But when I use BusyBox date I get this instead:
$ date
- llegal instruction
+ Illegal instruction
I am using Debian unstable, kernel version 2.4.19-rmk1 on an Netwinder,
- and the latest uClibc from CVS. Thanks for the wonderful program!
+ and the latest uClibc from CVS.
-Diligent
These are dirty jobs, but somebody's gotta do 'em.
- - Converting applets to use getopt() for option processing. Type 'find -name
- '*.c'|grep -L getopt' to get a listing of the applets that currently don't
- use getopt. If a .c file processes no options, it should have a line that
- reads: /* no options, no getopt */ somewhere in the file.
-
- - Replace any "naked" calls to malloc, calloc, realloc, str[n]dup, fopen with
- the x* equivalents found in libbb/xfuncs.c.
-
- Security audits:
http://www.securityfocus.com/popups/forums/secprog/intro.shtml
Other useful links:
- - the comp.lang.c FAQ: http://web.onetelnet.ch/~twolf/tw/c/index.html#Sources
+ - the comp.lang.c FAQ: http://home.datacomm.ch/t_wolf/tw/c/index.html#Sources
Making A Patch
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-If you've got anonymous CVS access set up, making a patch is simple. Just make
-sure you're in the busybox/ directory and type 'cvs diff -bwu > mychanges.patch'.
+If you've got anonymous Git access set up, making a patch is simple. Just make
+sure you're in the busybox/ directory and type:
+
+ git diff -b -w > mychanges.patch
+
You can send the resulting .patch file to the mailing list with a description
of what it does. (But not before you test it! See the next section for some
guidelines.) It is preferred that patches be sent as attachments, but it is
Also, feel free to help test other people's patches and reply to them with
comments. You can apply a patch by saving it into your busybox/ directory and
-typing 'patch < mychanges.patch'. Then you can recompile, see if it runs, test
-if it works as advertised, and post your findings to the mailing list.
+typing:
+
+ patch -p1 < mychanges.patch
+
+Then you can recompile, see if it runs, test if it works as advertised, and
+post your findings to the mailing list.
NOTE: Please do not include extraneous or irrelevant changes in your patches.
Please do not try to "bundle" two patches together into one. Make single,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's considered good form to test your new feature before you submit a patch
-to the mailing list, and especially before you commit a change to CVS. Here
+to the mailing list, and especially before you push a change to Git. Here
are some guidelines on how to test your changes.
- Always test Busybox applets against GNU counterparts and make sure the
on the mailing list.
We've made strident efforts to put a useful "collaboration" infrastructure in
-place in the form of mailing lists, the bug tracking system, and CVS. Please
+place in the form of mailing lists, the bug tracking system, and Git. Please
use these resources.
-Committing Changes to CVS
--------------------------
+Pushing Changes to Git
+----------------------
If you submit several patches that demonstrate that you are a skilled and wise
-coder, you may be invited to become a committer, thus enabling you to commit
-changes directly to CVS. This is nice because you don't have to wait for
-someone else to commit your change for you, you can just do it yourself.
+coder, you may be invited to become a committer, thus enabling you to push
+changes directly to Git. This is nice because you don't have to wait for
+someone else to push your change for you, you can just do it yourself.
-But note that this is a priviledge that comes with some responsibilities. You
-should test your changes before you commit them. You should also talk to an
+But note that this is a privilege that comes with some responsibilities. You
+should test your changes before you push them. You should also talk to an
applet maintainer before you make any kind of sweeping changes to somebody
else's code. Big changes should still go to the mailing list first. Remember,
being wise, polite, and discreet is more important than being clever.
+For more information on Git push access, see:
-When To Commit
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ http://busybox.net/developer.html
+
+
+When To Push
+~~~~~~~~~~~~
-Generally, you should feel free to commit a change if:
+Generally, you should feel free to push a change if:
- Your changes are small and don't touch many files
- You are fixing a bug
- Somebody has told you that it's okay
- It's obviously the Right Thing
-The more of the above are true, the better it is to just commit a change
-directly to CVS.
+The more of the above are true, the better it is to just push a change
+directly to Git.
-When Not To Commit
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+When Not To Push
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-Even if you have commit rights, you should probably still post a patch to the
+Even if you have push access, you should probably still post a patch to the
mailing list if:
- Your changes are broad and touch many different files
- You are not the maintainer and your changes make the maintainer cringe
The more of the above are true, the better it is to post a patch to the
-mailing list instead of committing.
+mailing list instead of pushing.
document don't worry, the folks on the Busybox mailing list are a fairly
good-natured bunch and will work with you to help get your patches into shape
or help you make contributions.
-
-