<H1>Developer's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for
PostgreSQL</H1>
- <P>Last updated: Fri Jun 9 21:54:54 EDT 2000</P>
+ <P>Last updated: Mon Nov 26 21:36:56 EST 2001</P>
+
<P>Current maintainer: Bruce Momjian (<A href=
"mailto:pgman@candle.pha.pa.us">pgman@candle.pha.pa.us</A>)<BR>
</P>
<A href="#14">14</A>) Why don't we use threads in the backend?<BR>
<A href="#15">15</A>) How are RPM's packaged?<BR>
<A href="#16">16</A>) How are CVS branches handled?<BR>
+ <A href="#17">17</A>) How do I get involved in PostgreSQL
+ development?<BR>
<BR>
<HR>
<P>Also, Ian Lance Taylor points out that branches and tags can be
distiguished by using "cvs status -v".</P>
+
+ <H3><A name="17">17</A>) How go I get involved in PostgreSQL
+ development?</H3>
+ <P>This was written by Lamar Owen:</P>
+<PRE>
+> If someone was interested in joining the development team, where would
+> they...
+> - Find a description of the open source development process used by the
+> PostgreSQL team.
+
+Read HACKERS for six months (or a full release cycle, whichever is longer).
+Really. HACKERS _is_the process. The process is not well documented (AFAIK
+-- it may be somewhere that I am not aware of) -- and it changes continually.
+
+> - Find the development environment (OS, system, compilers, etc)
+> required to develop code.
+
+Developers Corner on the website has links to this information. The
+distribution tarball itself includes all the extra tools and documents that
+go beyond a good Unix-like development environment. In general, a modern
+unix with a modern gcc, GNU make or equivalent, autoconf (of a particular
+version), and good working knowledge of those tools are required.
+
+> - Find an area or two that needs some support.
+
+The TODO list.
+
+You've made the first step, by finding and subscribing to HACKERS. Once you
+find an area to look at in the TODO, and have read the documentation on the
+internals, etc, then you check out a current CVS,write what you are going to
+write (keeping your CVS checkout up to date in the process), and make up a
+patch (as a context diff only) and send to the PATCHES list, prefereably.
+
+Discussion on the patch typically happens here. If the patch adds a major
+feature, it would be a good idea to talk about it first on the HACKERS list,
+in order to increase the chances of it being accepted, as well as toavoid
+duplication of effort. Note that experienced developers with a proven track
+record usually get the big jobs -- for more than one reason. Also note that
+PostgreSQL is highly portable -- nonportable code will likely be dismissed
+out of hand.
+
+Once your contributions get accepted, things move from there. Typically, you
+would be added as a developer on the list on the website when one of the
+other developers recommends it. Membership on the steering committee is by
+invitation only, by the other steering committee members, from what I have
+gathered watching froma distance.
+
+I make these statements from having watched the process for over two years.
+
+To see a good example of how one goes about this, search the archives for the
+name 'Tom Lane' and see what his first post consisted of, and where he took
+things. In particular, note that this hasn't been _that_ long ago -- and his
+bugfixing and general deep knowledge with this codebase is legendary. Take a
+few days to read after him. And pay special attention to both the sheer
+quantity as well as the painstaking quality of his work. Both are in high
+demand.
+
+Hope that helps!
+--
+Lamar Owen
+WGCR Internet Radio
+1 Peter 4:11
+
+---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
+TIP 1: subscribe and unsubscribe commands go to majordomo@postgresql.org
+
+
+</PRE>
+
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