[U-Boot] Patch submission process

[Tom <Tom.Rix@windriver.com>]

Vipin KUMAR wrote:
> On 4/1/2010 2:45 PM, Wolfgang Denk wrote:
>> Dear Vipin KUMAR,
>>
>> In message <4BB45F3D.8040804@st.com> you wrote:
>>> After reading about the patch submission process, I felt that patches
>>> can only be sent when the merging window is open but patches are being
>>> continuously sent and reviewed.
>>>
>>> Is it correct to assume that a patch can be sent at any time and will
>>> only be applied to the mainline code during the merging window
>> First, please keep in mind that there are different types of patches.
>>
>> - There are bug fixes that correct problems in the existing code.
>>   These can go in moe or less any time. In reality, it depends on how
>>   urgent the problem is and how intrusive the bug fix is. Urgent
>>   fixes and low-intrusive patches go in more easily - for example, if
>>   a bug breaks support for a number of boards it makes no sense to
>>   continue with the release process without adding this patch - it is
>>   the urgency here that counts. On the other hand, if a patch fixes a
>>   spelling error in one of the README files, it is NOT urgent, but
>>   may go in quickly anyway, because it is obvious that applying this
>>   change has no impact on other parts of the code. Compare a patch
>>   that fixxes a bug that gets triggered under certain conditions
>>   only, but that requiires heavy vchanges to a lot of files - such a
>>   patch will go in early in the release process, but not if we are
>>   approaching the scheduled release date.

If the patch is a bug fix that should go in a release,
please let me know.

>>
>> - There are patches that add new features and/or support for new
>>   boards and processors. Such patches get accepted for mainline only
>>   when the merge window is open. It makes sense to post such patches
>>   before that, to get initial review comments and to have the patches
>>   clean and ready for posting when the merge window opens.
>>
>>   Some custodians even accept patches before that, and add these for
>>   example to their respective "next" branches. This is mostly a matter
>>   of the personal style of working of the respective custodian.

I will take patches or pull requests at any time.
Usually they go to arm/master.
Outside of the merge window they go arm/next.

Tom


>>
>> - Then there are patches that are intended as RFC, i. e. that are
>>   mainly intended to illustrate an idea and ask for discussion of a
>>   specific implementation. Such patches are not intended for inclusion
>>   into mainline and thus it makes not much sense to synchronize these
>>   with the release schedule.
>>
>>
> 
> Yes, I understand it well now.
> Thanks for a elaborate reply
> 
>> Hope this helps.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Wolfgang Denk
>>
>