path: root/CONTRIBUTING.md

Contributing to OpenBMC
=======================

Here's a little guide to working on OpenBMC. This document will always be
a work-in-progress, feel free to propose changes.

Structure
---------

OpenBMC has quite a modular structure, consisting of small daemons with a
limited set of responsibilities. These communicate over D-Bus with other
components, to implement the complete BMC system.

The BMC's interfaces to the external world are typically through a separate
daemon, which then translates those requests to D-Bus messages.

These separate projects are then compiled into the final system by the
overall 'openbmc' build infrastructure.

For future development, keep this design in mind. Components' functionality
should be logically grouped, and keep related parts together where it
makes sense.

Starting out
------------

If you're starting out with OpenBMC, you may want to take a look at the issues
tagged with 'bitesize'. These are fixes or enhancements that don't require
extensive knowledge of the OpenBMC codebase, and are easier for a newcomer to
start working with.

Check out that list here:

 https://github.com/issues?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=is%3Aopen+is%3Aissue+user%3Aopenbmc+label%3Abitesize

If you need further details on any of these issues, feel free to add comments.

Performing code reviews is another good way to get started.  Go to
https://gerrit.openbmc-project.xyz and click on the "all" and "open"
menu items, or if you are interested in a particular repository, for
example "bmcweb", type "status:open project:openbmc/bmcweb" into the
search bar and press the "search" button.  Then select a review.
Remember to be positive and add value with every review comment.

Coding style
------------

Components of the OpenBMC sources should have a consistent style.  If the source is
coming from another project, we choose to follow the existing style of the
upstream project.  Otherwise, conventions are chosen based on the language.

### Python

Python source should all conform to PEP8.  This style is well established
within the Python community and can be verified with the 'pycodestyle' tool.

https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0008/

### Python Formatting

If a repository has a setup.cfg file present in its root directory,
then CI will automatically verify the Python code meets the [pycodestyle](http://pycodestyle.pycqa.org/en/latest/intro.html)
requirements. This enforces PEP 8 standards on all Python code.

OpenBMC standards for Python match with PEP 8 so in general, a blank setup.cfg
file is all that's needed. If so desired, an enforcement of 80
(vs. the default 79) chars is fine as well:
```
[pycodestyle]
max-line-length = 80
```
By default, pycodestyle does not enforce the following rules: E121, E123, E126,
E133, E226, E241, E242, E704, W503, and W504. These rules are ignored because
they are not unanimously accepted and PEP 8 does not enforce them. It is at the
repository maintainer's discretion as to whether to enforce the aforementioned
rules. These rules can be enforced by adding the following to the setup.cfg:
```
[pycodestyle]
ignore= NONE
```

### JavaScript

We follow the
[Google JavaScript Style Guide](https://google.github.io/styleguide/jsguide.html).

[Example .clang-format](https://www.github.com/openbmc/docs/blob/master/style/javascript/.clang-format)

### HTML/CSS

We follow the
[Google HTML/CSS Style Guide](https://google.github.io/styleguide/htmlcssguide.html).

### C

For C code, we typically use the Linux coding style, which is documented at:

  http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst

In short:

  - Indent with tabs instead of spaces, set at 8 columns

  - 80-column lines

  - Opening braces on the end of a line, except for functions

This style can mostly be verified with 'astyle' as follows:

    astyle --style=linux --indent=tab=8 --indent=force-tab=8

### C++

See [C++ Style and Conventions](./cpp-style-and-conventions.md).

Planning changes
----------------

If you are making a nontrivial change, you should plan how to
introduce it to the OpenBMC development community.

If you are planning a new function, you should get agreement that your
change will be accepted.  As early as you can, introduce the change
via the OpenBMC community call, IRC channel, or email list to start
the discussion.  You may find a better way to do what you need.

Stage your change in small pieces to make them easy to review:
 - If your change has a specification, sketch out your ideas first
   and work to get that accepted before completing the details.
 - Work at most a few days before seeking review.
 - Commit and review header files before writing code.
 - Commit and review each implementation module separately.

Make each commit simple to review.

Submitting changes
------------------

We use git for almost everything. Changes should be sent as patches to their
relevant source tree - or a git pull request for convenience.

Each commit should be a self-contained logical unit, and smaller patches are
usually better. However, if there is no clear division, a larger patch is
okay. During development, it can be useful to consider how your change can be
submitted as logical units.

Each commit is expected to be tested. The expectation of testing may vary from
subproject to subproject, but will typically include running all applicable
automated tests and performing manual testing. Each commit should be tested
separately, even if they are submitted together (an exception is when commits
to different projects depend on each other).

Commit messages are important. They should describe why the change is needed,
and what effects it will have on the system. Do not describe the actual
code change made by the patch; that's what the patch itself is for.

Use your full name for contributions, and include a "Signed-off-by" line,
to indicate that you agree to the Developer's Certificate of Origin (see below).

Commit messages should include a "Tested" field describing how you tested the
code changes in the patch. Example:
```
    Tested: I ran unit tests with "make check" (added 2 new tests) and manually
    tested on Witherspoon that Foo daemon no longer crashes at boot.
```

Ensure that your patch doesn't change unrelated areas. Be careful of
accidental whitespace changes - this makes review unnecessarily difficult.

The guidelines in the Linux kernel are very useful:

https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/submitting-patches.html

https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/submit-checklist.html

Your contribution will generally need to be reviewed before being accepted.


Submitting changes via Gerrit server
------------------------------------

The OpenBMC Gerrit server supports GitHub credentials, its link is:

  https://gerrit.openbmc-project.xyz/#/q/status:open

_One time only_: Execute one of the OpenBMC Contributor License Agreements:

* [Individual CLA](https://github.com/openbmc/openbmc/files/1860742/OpenBMC.ICLA.pdf)
* [Corporate CLA](https://github.com/openbmc/openbmc/files/1860741/OpenBMC.CCLA.pdf)

If you work for someone, consider asking them to execute the corporate CLA.  This
allows other contributors that work for your employer to skip the CLA signing process.

After signing a CLA, send it to openbmc@lists.ozlabs.org.

_One time setup_: Login to the WebUI with your GitHub credentials and verify on
your account Settings that your SSH keys were imported:

  https://gerrit.openbmc-project.xyz/#/settings/

Most repositories are supported by the Gerrit server, the current list can be
found under Projects -> List:

  https://gerrit.openbmc-project.xyz/#/admin/projects/

If you're going to be working with Gerrit often, it's useful to create an SSH
host block in ~/.ssh/config. Ex:
```
Host openbmc.gerrit
        Hostname gerrit.openbmc-project.xyz
        Port 29418
        User your_github_id
```

From your OpenBMC git repository, add a remote to the Gerrit server, where
'openbmc_repo' is the current git repository you're working on, such as
phosphor-rest-server, and 'openbmc.gerrit' is the name of the Host previously added:

  `git remote add gerrit ssh://openbmc.gerrit/openbmc/openbmc_repo`

Gerrit uses [Change-Ids](https://gerrit-review.googlesource.com/Documentation/user-changeid.html) to identify commits that belong to the same
review.  Configure your git repository to automatically add a
Change-Id to your commit messages.  The steps are:

  `gitdir=$(git rev-parse --git-dir)`

  `scp -p -P 29418 openbmc.gerrit:hooks/commit-msg ${gitdir}/hooks`

To submit a change set, commit your changes, and push to the Gerrit server,
where 'gerrit' is the name of the remote added with the git remote add command:

  `git push gerrit HEAD:refs/for/master`

Gerrit will show you the URL link to your review.  You can also find
your reviews from the [OpenBMC Gerrit server](https://gerrit.openbmc-project.xyz) search bar
or menu (All > Open, or My > Changes).

Invite reviewers to review your changes.  Each OpenBMC repository has
a `MAINTAINERS` file which lists required reviewers who are subject
matter experts.  Those reviewers may add additional reviewers.  To add
reviewers from the Gerrit web page, click the "add reviewers" icon by
the list of reviewers.

You are expected to respond to all comments.  And remember to use the
"reply" button to publish your replies for others to see.

The review results in the proposed change being accepted, rejected for
rework, or abandoned.  When you re-work your change, remember to use
`git commit --amend` so Gerrit handles the update as a new patch of
the same review.

Each repository is governed by a small group of maintainers who are
leaders with expertise in their area.  They are responsible for
reviewing changes and maintaining the quality of the code.  You'll
need a maintainer to accept your change, and they will look to the
other reviewers for guidance.  When accepted, your change will merge
into the OpenBMC project.


Avoid references to non-public resources
----------------------------------------

Code and commit messages should not refer to companies' internal documents
or systems (including bug trackers). Other developers may not have access to
these, making future maintenance difficult.


Best practices for D-Bus interfaces
----------------------------------

 * New D-Bus interfaces should be reusable

 * Type signatures should and use the simplest types possible, appropriate
   for the data passed. For example, don't pass numbers as ASCII strings.

 * D-Bus interfaces are defined in the `phosphor-dbus-interfaces` repository at:

     https://github.com/openbmc/phosphor-dbus-interfaces

See: http://dbus.freedesktop.org/doc/dbus-api-design.html


Best practices for C
--------------------

There are numerous resources available elsewhere, but a few items that are
relevant to OpenBMC work:

 * You almost never need to use `system(<some shell pipeline>)`. Reading and
   writing from files should be done with the appropriate system calls.

   Generally, it's much better to use `fork(); execve()` if you do need to
   spawn a process, especially if you need to provide variable arguments.

 * Use the `stdint` types (eg, `uint32_t`, `int8_t`) for data that needs to be
   a certain size. Use the `PRIxx` macros for printf, if necessary.

 * Don't assume that `char` is signed or unsigned.

 * Beware of endian considerations when reading to & writing from
   C types

 * Declare internal-only functions as `static`, declare read-only data
   as `const` where possible.

 * Ensure that your code compiles without warnings, especially for changes
   to the kernel.


Developer's Certificate of Origin 1.1
-------------------------------------

    By making a contribution to this project, I certify that:

    (a) The contribution was created in whole or in part by me and I
        have the right to submit it under the open source license
        indicated in the file; or

    (b) The contribution is based upon previous work that, to the best
        of my knowledge, is covered under an appropriate open source
        license and I have the right under that license to submit that
        work with modifications, whether created in whole or in part
        by me, under the same open source license (unless I am
        permitted to submit under a different license), as indicated
        in the file; or

    (c) The contribution was provided directly to me by some other
        person who certified (a), (b) or (c) and I have not modified
        it.

    (d) I understand and agree that this project and the contribution
        are public and that a record of the contribution (including all
        personal information I submit with it, including my sign-off) is
        maintained indefinitely and may be redistributed consistent with
        this project or the open source license(s) involved.