From 0ea096ae23fa81f05ce97e5e61c15647c0a475ec Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Christopher Baines Date: Wed, 31 May 2023 09:25:12 +0100 Subject: doc: Move and rewrite the branching strategy. Move away from using staging and core-updates, and make the strategy independant of branch names. Keep the 300 dependent threshold for changes to master, as I don't have any specific reason to change this. Most importantly, require using guix-patches issues to coordinate merging of the branches, as I think that'll address the key issues that have shown up recently where it's been unclear which branch should be merged next. * doc/contributing.texi (Submitting Patches): Move the branching strategy to a new Managing Patches and Branches section. (Managing Patches and Branches): New section. (Commit Policy): Simplify through referencing the new Managing Patches and Branches section. Signed-off-by: Christopher Baines --- doc/contributing.texi | 144 +++++++++++++++++++++++++------------------------- doc/guix.texi | 14 ++--- 2 files changed, 80 insertions(+), 78 deletions(-) diff --git a/doc/contributing.texi b/doc/contributing.texi index 958fc44cbd..3a402c13a9 100644 --- a/doc/contributing.texi +++ b/doc/contributing.texi @@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ choice. * Packaging Guidelines:: Growing the distribution. * Coding Style:: Hygiene of the contributor. * Submitting Patches:: Share your work. -* Tracking Bugs and Patches:: Keeping it all organized. +* Tracking Bugs and Changes:: Keeping it all organized. * Commit Access:: Pushing to the official repository. * Updating the Guix Package:: Updating the Guix package definition. * Writing Documentation:: Improving documentation in GNU Guix. @@ -1161,11 +1161,11 @@ readability of patches. Seasoned Guix developers may also want to look at the section on commit access (@pxref{Commit Access}). This mailing list is backed by a Debbugs instance, which allows us to -keep track of submissions (@pxref{Tracking Bugs and Patches}). Each -message sent to that mailing list gets a new tracking number assigned; -people can then follow up on the submission by sending email to -@code{@var{ISSUE_NUMBER}@@debbugs.gnu.org}, where @var{ISSUE_NUMBER} is -the tracking number (@pxref{Sending a Patch Series}). +keep track of submissions (@pxref{Tracking Bugs and Changes}). +Each message sent to that mailing list gets a new tracking number +assigned; people can then follow up on the submission by sending email +to @code{@var{ISSUE_NUMBER}@@debbugs.gnu.org}, where @var{ISSUE_NUMBER} +is the tracking number (@pxref{Sending a Patch Series}). Please write commit logs in the ChangeLog format (@pxref{Change Logs,,, standards, GNU Coding Standards}); you can check the commit history for @@ -1257,48 +1257,9 @@ and which optional dependencies should be used. In particular, avoid adding the @code{texlive-tiny} package or @code{texlive-union} procedure instead. @item -For important changes, check that dependent packages (if applicable) are -not affected by the change; @code{guix refresh --list-dependent -@var{package}} will help you do that (@pxref{Invoking guix refresh}). - -@c See . -@cindex branching strategy -@cindex rebuild scheduling strategy -Depending on the number of dependent packages and thus the amount of -rebuilding induced, commits go to different branches, along these lines: - -@table @asis -@item 300 dependent packages or less -@code{master} branch (non-disruptive changes). - -@item between 300 and 1,800 dependent packages -@code{staging} branch (non-disruptive changes). This branch is intended -to be merged in @code{master} every 6 weeks or so. Topical changes -(e.g., an update of the GNOME stack) can instead go to a specific branch -(say, @code{gnome-updates}). This branch is not expected to be -buildable or usable until late in its development process. - -@item more than 1,800 dependent packages -@code{core-updates} branch (may include major and potentially disruptive -changes). This branch is intended to be merged in @code{master} every -6 months or so. This branch is not expected to be buildable or usable -until late in its development process. -@end table - -All these branches are @uref{https://@value{SUBSTITUTE-SERVER-1}, -tracked by our build farm} and merged into @code{master} once -everything has been successfully built. This allows us to fix issues -before they hit users, and to reduce the window during which pre-built -binaries are not available. - -When we decide to start building the @code{staging} or -@code{core-updates} branches, they will be forked and renamed with the -suffix @code{-frozen}, at which time only bug fixes may be pushed to the -frozen branches. The @code{core-updates} and @code{staging} branches -will remain open to accept patches for the next cycle. Please ask on -the mailing list or IRC if unsure where to place a patch. -@c TODO: It would be good with badges on the website that tracks these -@c branches. Or maybe even a status page. +Check that dependent packages (if applicable) are not affected by the +change; @code{guix refresh --list-dependent @var{package}} will help you +do that (@pxref{Invoking guix refresh}). @item @cindex determinism, of build processes @@ -1574,16 +1535,17 @@ $ guix shell -D guix [env]$ git send-email --to=@var{ISSUE_NUMBER}@@debbugs.gnu.org -2 @end example -@node Tracking Bugs and Patches -@section Tracking Bugs and Patches +@node Tracking Bugs and Changes +@section Tracking Bugs and Changes -This section describes how the Guix project tracks its bug reports and -patch submissions. +This section describes how the Guix project tracks its bug reports, +patch submissions and topic branches. @menu -* The Issue Tracker:: The official bug and patch tracker. -* Debbugs User Interfaces:: Ways to interact with Debbugs. -* Debbugs Usertags:: Tag reports with custom labels. +* The Issue Tracker:: The official bug and patch tracker. +* Managing Patches and Branches:: How changes to Guix are managed. +* Debbugs User Interfaces:: Ways to interact with Debbugs. +* Debbugs Usertags:: Tag reports with custom labels. @end menu @node The Issue Tracker @@ -1600,6 +1562,55 @@ email to @email{bug-guix@@gnu.org}, while patch submissions are filed against the @code{guix-patches} package by sending email to @email{guix-patches@@gnu.org} (@pxref{Submitting Patches}). +@node Managing Patches and Branches +@subsection Managing Patches and Branches +@cindex branching strategy +@cindex rebuild scheduling strategy + +Changes should be posted to @email{guix-patches@@gnu.org}. This mailing +list fills the patch-tracking database (@pxref{The Issue Tracker}). It +also allows patches to be picked up and tested by the quality assurance +tooling; the result of that testing eventually shows up on the dashboard +at @indicateurl{https://qa.guix.gnu.org/issue/@var{ISSUE_NUMBER}}, where +@var{ISSUE_NUMBER} is the number assigned by the issue tracker. Leave +time for a review, without committing anything. + +As an exception, some changes considered ``trivial'' or ``obvious'' may +be pushed directly to the @code{master} branch. This includes changes +to fix typos and reverting commits that caused immediate problems. This +is subject to being adjusted, allowing individuals to commit directly on +non-controversial changes on parts they’re familiar with. + +Changes which affect more than 300 dependent packages (@pxref{Invoking +guix refresh}) should first be pushed to a topic branch other than +@code{master}; the set of changes should be consistent---e.g., ``GNOME +update'', ``NumPy update'', etc. This allows for testing: the branch +will automatically show up at +@indicateurl{https://qa.guix.gnu.org/branch/@var{branch}}, with an +indication of its build status on various platforms. + +To help coordinate the merging of branches, you must create a new +guix-patches issue each time you wish to merge a branch (@pxref{The +Issue Tracker}). Normally branches will be merged in a ``first come, +first merged'' manner, tracked through the guix-patches issues. + +If you agree on a different order with those involved, you can track +this by updating which issues block@footnote{You can mark an issue as +blocked by another by emailing @email{control@@debbugs.gnu.org} with the +following line in the body of the email: @code{block XXXXX by YYYYY}. +Where @code{XXXXX} is the number for the blocked issue, and @code{YYYYY} +is the number for the issue blocking it.} which other issues. +Therefore, to know which branch is at the front of the queue, look for +the oldest issue, or the issue that isn't @dfn{blocked} by any other +branch merges. An ordered list of branches with the open issues is +available at @url{https://qa.guix.gnu.org}. + +Once a branch is at the front of the queue, wait until sufficient time +has passed for the build farms to have processed the changes, and for +the necessary testing to have happened. For example, you can check +@indicateurl{https://qa.guix.gnu.org/branch/@var{branch}} to see +information on some builds and substitute availability. + @node Debbugs User Interfaces @subsection Debbugs User Interfaces @@ -1816,23 +1827,14 @@ If you get commit access, please make sure to follow the policy below (discussions of the policy can take place on @email{guix-devel@@gnu.org}). -Changes should be posted to @email{guix-patches@@gnu.org}. This mailing -list fills the patch-tracking database (@pxref{Tracking Bugs and -Patches}). It also allows patches to be picked up and tested by the -quality assurance tooling; the result of that testing eventually shows -up on the dashboard at -@indicateurl{https://qa.guix.gnu.org/issue/@var{ISSUE_NUMBER}}, where -@var{ISSUE_NUMBER} is the number assigned by the issue tracker. Leave -time for a review, without committing anything (@pxref{Submitting -Patches}). If you didn’t receive any reply after one week (two weeks -for more significant changes), and if you're confident, it's OK to -commit. +Ensure you're aware of how the changes should be handled +(@pxref{Managing Patches and Branches}) prior to being pushed to the +repository, especially for the @code{master} branch. -As an exception, some changes considered ``trivial'' or ``obvious'' may -be pushed directly. This includes changes to fix typos and reverting -commits that caused immediate problems. This is subject to being -adjusted, allowing individuals to commit directly on non-controversial -changes on parts they’re familiar with. +If you're committing and pushing your own changes, try and wait at least +one week (two weeks for more significant changes) after you send them +for review. After this, if no one else is available to review them and +if you're confident about the changes, it's OK to commit. When pushing a commit on behalf of somebody else, please add a @code{Signed-off-by} line at the end of the commit log message---e.g., diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi index 395fc25818..43dffe08c1 100644 --- a/doc/guix.texi +++ b/doc/guix.texi @@ -637,18 +637,18 @@ includes POWER9 systems such as the RYF Talos II mainboard}. This platform is available as a "technology preview": although it is supported, substitutes are not yet available from the build farm (@pxref{Substitutes}), and some packages may fail to -build (@pxref{Tracking Bugs and Patches}). That said, the Guix +build (@pxref{Tracking Bugs and Changes}). That said, the Guix community is actively working on improving this support, and now is a great time to try it and get involved! @item riscv64-linux little-endian 64-bit RISC-V processors, specifically RV64GC, and -Linux-Libre kernel. This platform is available as a "technology preview": -although it is supported, substitutes are not yet available from the -build farm (@pxref{Substitutes}), and some packages may fail to build -(@pxref{Tracking Bugs and Patches}). That said, the Guix community is -actively working on improving this support, and now is a great time to -try it and get involved! +Linux-Libre kernel. This platform is available as a "technology +preview": although it is supported, substitutes are not yet available +from the build farm (@pxref{Substitutes}), and some packages may fail to +build (@pxref{Tracking Bugs and Changes}). That said, the Guix +community is actively working on improving this support, and now is a +great time to try it and get involved! @end table -- cgit 1.4.1