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-rw-r--r--Documentation/development-process/2.Process33
1 files changed, 23 insertions, 10 deletions
diff --git a/Documentation/development-process/2.Process b/Documentation/development-process/2.Process
index 97726eba6102..911a45186340 100644
--- a/Documentation/development-process/2.Process
+++ b/Documentation/development-process/2.Process
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ The stages that a patch goes through are, generally:
154 inclusion, it should be accepted by a relevant subsystem maintainer - 154 inclusion, it should be accepted by a relevant subsystem maintainer -
155 though this acceptance is not a guarantee that the patch will make it 155 though this acceptance is not a guarantee that the patch will make it
156 all the way to the mainline. The patch will show up in the maintainer's 156 all the way to the mainline. The patch will show up in the maintainer's
157 subsystem tree and into the staging trees (described below). When the 157 subsystem tree and into the -next trees (described below). When the
158 process works, this step leads to more extensive review of the patch and 158 process works, this step leads to more extensive review of the patch and
159 the discovery of any problems resulting from the integration of this 159 the discovery of any problems resulting from the integration of this
160 patch with work being done by others. 160 patch with work being done by others.
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ finding the right maintainer. Sending patches directly to Linus is not
236normally the right way to go. 236normally the right way to go.
237 237
238 238
2392.4: STAGING TREES 2392.4: NEXT TREES
240 240
241The chain of subsystem trees guides the flow of patches into the kernel, 241The chain of subsystem trees guides the flow of patches into the kernel,
242but it also raises an interesting question: what if somebody wants to look 242but it also raises an interesting question: what if somebody wants to look
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ changes land in the mainline kernel. One could pull changes from all of
250the interesting subsystem trees, but that would be a big and error-prone 250the interesting subsystem trees, but that would be a big and error-prone
251job. 251job.
252 252
253The answer comes in the form of staging trees, where subsystem trees are 253The answer comes in the form of -next trees, where subsystem trees are
254collected for testing and review. The older of these trees, maintained by 254collected for testing and review. The older of these trees, maintained by
255Andrew Morton, is called "-mm" (for memory management, which is how it got 255Andrew Morton, is called "-mm" (for memory management, which is how it got
256started). The -mm tree integrates patches from a long list of subsystem 256started). The -mm tree integrates patches from a long list of subsystem
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ directory at:
275Use of the MMOTM tree is likely to be a frustrating experience, though; 275Use of the MMOTM tree is likely to be a frustrating experience, though;
276there is a definite chance that it will not even compile. 276there is a definite chance that it will not even compile.
277 277
278The other staging tree, started more recently, is linux-next, maintained by 278The other -next tree, started more recently, is linux-next, maintained by
279Stephen Rothwell. The linux-next tree is, by design, a snapshot of what 279Stephen Rothwell. The linux-next tree is, by design, a snapshot of what
280the mainline is expected to look like after the next merge window closes. 280the mainline is expected to look like after the next merge window closes.
281Linux-next trees are announced on the linux-kernel and linux-next mailing 281Linux-next trees are announced on the linux-kernel and linux-next mailing
@@ -303,12 +303,25 @@ volatility of linux-next tends to make it a difficult development target.
303See http://lwn.net/Articles/289013/ for more information on this topic, and 303See http://lwn.net/Articles/289013/ for more information on this topic, and
304stay tuned; much is still in flux where linux-next is involved. 304stay tuned; much is still in flux where linux-next is involved.
305 305
306Besides the mmotm and linux-next trees, the kernel source tree now contains 3062.4.1: STAGING TREES
307the drivers/staging/ directory and many sub-directories for drivers or 307
308filesystems that are on their way to being added to the kernel tree 308The kernel source tree now contains the drivers/staging/ directory, where
309proper, but they remain in drivers/staging/ while they still need more 309many sub-directories for drivers or filesystems that are on their way to
310work. 310being added to the kernel tree live. They remain in drivers/staging while
311 311they still need more work; once complete, they can be moved into the
312kernel proper. This is a way to keep track of drivers that aren't
313up to Linux kernel coding or quality standards, but people may want to use
314them and track development.
315
316Greg Kroah-Hartman currently (as of 2.6.36) maintains the staging tree.
317Drivers that still need work are sent to him, with each driver having
318its own subdirectory in drivers/staging/. Along with the driver source
319files, a TODO file should be present in the directory as well. The TODO
320file lists the pending work that the driver needs for acceptance into
321the kernel proper, as well as a list of people that should be Cc'd for any
322patches to the driver. Staging drivers that don't currently build should
323have their config entries depend upon CONFIG_BROKEN. Once they can
324be successfully built without outside patches, CONFIG_BROKEN can be removed.
312 325
3132.5: TOOLS 3262.5: TOOLS
314 327