Restructure into PHP/PECL/PEAR component areas (at the expense of duplication)

Author: cjbj

README.SUBMITTING_PATCH

@@ -1,74 +1,134 @@
-Submitting Patches to PHP
-=========================
+Submitting Enhancements and Patches to PHP
+==========================================
 
-This document describes how to submit a patch for PHP. Creating a
-patch for PHP is easy!
+This document describes how to submit an enhancement or patch for PHP.
+It's easy!
 
 You don't need any login accounts or special access to download,
-build, debug and begin submitting PHP code, tests or documentation for
-inclusion in PHP. Once you've followed this README and had several
-patches accepted, PHP commit privileges are often quickly granted.
+build, debug and begin submitting PHP, PECL or PEAR code, tests or
+documentation.  Once you've followed this README and had several
+patches accepted, commit privileges are often quickly granted.
 
 An excellent article to read first is:
 http://phpadvent.org/2008/less-whining-more-coding-by-elizabeth-smith
 
 
-Prework
--------
-If you are fixing broken functionality then create a bug or identify
-an existing bug at http://bugs.php.net/. This can be used to track
-the patch progress and prevent your changes getting lost in the PHP
-mail archives.
-
-If your code change is large, then first discuss it with the extension
-maintainer and/or a development mail list. Extension maintainers can
-be found in the EXTENSIONS file in the PHP source. Use the
-[email protected] mail list to discuss changes to the base PHP
-code. Use [email protected] for changes to code that is only
-available from PECL (http://pecl.php.net/). Use [email protected]
-for PEAR modules (http://pear.php.net/). Use [email protected] for
-PHP documentation questions. Mail list subscription is explained on
-http://www.php.net/mailing-lists.php.
+Online Forums
+-------------
+There are several IRC channels where PHP developers are often
+available to discuss questions.  They include #php.pecl, #php.doc and
+#pear on the EFNet network and #php-dev-win on FreeNode.
+
+
+PHP Patches
+-----------
+If you are fixing broken functionality in PHP C source code first
+create a bug or identify an existing bug at http://bugs.php.net/.  A
+bug can be used to track the patch progress and prevent your changes
+getting lost in the PHP mail archives.
+
+If your change is large then create a Request For Comment (RFC) page
+on http://wiki.php.net/rfc, discuss it with the extension maintainer,
+and discuss it on the development mail list [email protected].
+RFC Wiki accounts can be requested on
+http://wiki.php.net/start?do=register.  PHP extension maintainers can
+be found in the EXTENSIONS file in the PHP source.  Mail list
+subscription is explained on http://www.php.net/mailing-lists.php.
+
+Information on PHP internal C functions is at
+http://www.php.net/internals, though this is considered incomplete.
+Various external resources can be found on the web.  A standard
+printed reference is the book "Extending and Embedding PHP" by Sara
+Golemon.
 
-If a PHP or PECL patch affects user functionality or makes significant
-internal changes then create a simple Request For Comment (RFC) page
-on http://wiki.php.net/rfc before starting discussion. This RFC can be
-used for initial discussion and later for documentation. Wiki accounts
-can be requested on http://wiki.php.net/start?do=register
+Attach the patch to the PHP bug and consider sending a notification
+email about the change to [email protected].  Also CC the
+extension maintainer.  Explain what has been changed by your patch.
+Test scripts should be included.
 
-Online information on PHP internal C functions is at
-http://www.php.net/internals, though this is considered
-incomplete. Various external resources can be found on the web. A
-standard reference is the book "Extending and Embedding PHP" by Sara
-Golemon.
+Please make the mail subject prefix "[PATCH]".  If attaching a patch,
+ensure it has a file extension of ".txt".  This is because only MIME
+attachments of type 'text/*' are accepted.
 
-Information on contributing to PEAR is available at
-http://pear.php.net/manual/en/guide-developers.php
+
+PHP Documentation Patches
+-------------------------
+If you are fixing incorrect PHP documentation first create a bug or
+identify an existing bug at http://bugs.php.net/.  A bug can be used
+to track the patch progress and prevent your changes getting lost in
+the PHP mail archives.
+
+If your change is large, then first discuss it with the mail list
+[email protected].  Subscription is explained on
+http://www.php.net/mailing-lists.php.
 
 Information on contributing to PHP documentation is at
 http://php.net/dochowto and http://wiki.php.net/doc/howto
 
-There are several IRC channels where PHP developers are often
-available to discuss questions. They include #php.pecl and #php.doc
-on the EFNet network and #php-dev-win on FreeNode.
+Attach the patch to the PHP bug and consider sending a notification
+email about the change to [email protected].  Explain what has been
+fixed/added/changed by your patch.
+
+Please make the mail subject prefix "[PATCH]".  Include the bug id(s)
+which can be closed by your patch.  If attaching a patch, ensure it
+has a file extension of ".txt".  This is because only MIME attachments
+of type 'text/*' are accepted.
+
+
+PECL Extension Patches: http://pecl.php.net/
+--------------------------------------------
+If you are fixing broken functionality in a PECL extension then create
+a bug or identify an existing bug at http://pecl.php.net/bugs/.  A bug
+can be used to track the patch progress and prevent your changes
+getting lost in the PHP mail archives.
+
+If your change is large then create a Request For Comment (RFC) page
+on http://wiki.php.net/rfc, discuss it with the extension maintainer,
+and discuss it on the development mail list [email protected].
+PECL mail list subscription is explained on
+http://pecl.php.net/support.php.  RFC Wiki accounts can be requested
+on http://wiki.php.net/start?do=register
+
+Information on PHP internal C functions is at
+http://www.php.net/internals, though this is considered incomplete.
+Various external resources can be found on the web.  A standard
+printed reference is the book "Extending and Embedding PHP" by Sara
+Golemon.
+
+Update any open bugs and add a link to the source of your patch.  Send
+the patch or pointer to the bug to [email protected].  Also CC
+the extension maintainer.  Explain what has been changed by your
+patch.  Test scripts should be included.
+
+Please make the mail subject prefix "[PATCH] ...".  Include the patch
+as an attachment with a file extension of ".txt".  This is because
+only MIME attachments of type 'text/*' are accepted.
+
+
+PEAR Package Patches: http://pear.php.net/
+------------------------------------------
+Information on contributing to PEAR is available at
+http://pear.php.net/manual/en/developers-newmaint.php and
+http://pear.php.net/manual/en/guide-developers.php
 
 
-How to create your patch
-------------------------
-PHP uses Subversion (SVN) for revision control. Read
+How to create your PHP, PHP Documentation or PECL patch
+-------------------------------------------------------
+PHP and PECL use Subversion (SVN) for revision control.  Read
 http://www.php.net/svn.php for help on using SVN to get and build PHP
-source code. We recommend using a Sparse Directory checkout described
-in http://wiki.php.net/vcs/svnfaq. If you are new to SVN, read
+source code.  We recommend using a Sparse Directory checkout described
+in http://wiki.php.net/vcs/svnfaq.  If you are new to SVN, read
 http://svnbook.red-bean.com.
 
-Generally we ask that patches work on the current stable PHP
-development branch and on "trunk".
+Generally we ask that bug fix patches work on the current stable PHP
+development branches and on "trunk".  New PHP features only need to
+work on "trunk".
 
 Read CODING_STANDARDS before you start working.
 
 After modifying the source see README.TESTING and
-http://qa.php.net/write-test.php for how to test. Submitting test
-scripts helps us to understand what functionality has changed. It is
+http://qa.php.net/write-test.php for how to test.  Submitting test
+scripts helps us to understand what functionality has changed.  It is
 important for the stability and maintainability of PHP that tests are
 comprehensive.
 
@@ -80,73 +140,43 @@ For ease of review and later troubleshooting, submit individual
 patches for each bug or feature.
 
 
-Checklist for submitting your patch
------------------------------------
+Checklist for submitting your PHP or PECL code patch
+----------------------------------------------------
  - Update SVN source just before running your final 'diff' and
    before testing.
+ - Add in-line comments and/or have external documentation ready.
+   Use only "/* */" style comments, not "//".
+ - Create test scripts for use with "make test".
  - Run "make test" to check your patch doesn't break other features.
  - Rebuild PHP with --enable-debug (which will show some kinds of
    memory errors) and check the PHP and web server error logs after
-   running the PHP tests.
- - Rebuild PHP with --enable-maintainer-zts to check your patch compiles
-   on multi-threaded web servers.
- - Create test scripts for use with "make test".
- - Add in-line comments and/or have external documentation ready.
+   running your PHP tests.
+ - Rebuild PHP with --enable-maintainer-zts to check your patch
+   compiles on multi-threaded web servers.
  - Review the patch once more just before submitting it.
 
 
-Where to send your patch
-------------------------
-If you are patching PHP C source then email the patch to
-[email protected]
-
-If you patching a PECL extension then send the patch to
-[email protected]
-
-If you are patching PEAR then send the patch to
-[email protected]
-
-If you are patching PHP's documentation then send the patch to
-[email protected]
-
-The mail can be CC'd to the extension maintainer (see EXTENSIONS).
-
-Please make the subject prefix "[PATCH]", for example "[PATCH] Fix
-return value of all array functions"
-
-Include the patch as an attachment with a file extension of ".txt".
-This is because only MIME attachments of type 'text/*' are accepted.
-
-Explain what has been fixed/added/changed by your patch. Test scripts
-should be included in the email.
-
-Include the bug id(s) which can be closed by your patch.
-
-Finally, update any open bugs and add a link to the source of your
-patch.
-
-
-What happens after you submit your patch
-----------------------------------------
+What happens after submitting your PHP, PHP Documentation or PECL patch
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 If your patch is easy to review and obviously has no side-effects,
 it might be committed relatively quickly.
 
 Because PHP is a volunteer-driven effort more complex patches will
-require patience on your side. If you do not receive feedback in a few
-days, consider resubmitting the patch. Before doing this think about
-these questions:
+require patience on your side.  If you do not receive feedback in a
+few days, consider resubmitting the patch.  Before doing this think
+about these questions:
 
+ - Did I send the patch to the right mail list?
  - Did I review the mail list archives to see if these kind of
    changes had been discussed before?
  - Did I explain my patch clearly?
- - Is my patch too hard to review? Because of which factors?
- - Are there any unwanted white space changes?
+ - Is my patch too hard to review? Because of what factors?
 
 
-What happens when your patch is applied
----------------------------------------
-Your name will be included in the SVN commit log. If your patch
-affects end users, a brief description and your name might be added to
-the NEWS file.
+What happens when your PHP or PECL patch is applied
+---------------------------------------------------
+Your name will likely be included in the SVN commit log.  If your
+patch affects end users, a brief description and your name might be
+added to the NEWS file.
 
 Thank you for patching PHP!