Contribution Q&As
From Symbian Developer Community
This article answers some of the questions raised by people wanting to contribute to the Symbian platform. Feel free to extend with your own Q&A pairs.
If you simply wish to write an application using the Symbian platform to sell or distribute freely to end-users, this probably isn't the place for you. Try the Quick Start wiki category for alternative sources of information.
Contents |
Getting Started
How can I find out more about contributing to Symbian?
The Contribution Process wiki page is a brilliant place to start.
Development
What are the system requirements for my developer environment?
Take a look at the wiki article here.
How do I get the latest tools and kit?
Take a look at How to Build a Package, which explains how you get the tools and source code, and invoke the build tools.
How do I make my first change?
A good place to start is the First Change Quick Start, which demonstrates making a change, and rebuilding the package. It also provides some pointers for your next steps.
What software configuration management should I use?
You will be required to contribute your code patch using Mercurial (Hg). It is worth taking time to make yourself familiar with this tool and getting set up with the appropriate client application and accounts. The process is detailed in our handy Mercurial Quick Start guide, and there is additional information in the Mercurial category.
Where can I find out more about contributing a fix?
You can find a short summary and links to further information in the Contributing a Fix section of the Contribution Process. In the same article, you'll also find a section on Contributing an Enhancement which may be more appropriate to the change you have in mind.
Interaction with Symbian and the Community
How and where do I discuss a potential contribution?
This article explains how to make contact with package owners and with Symbian staff to ask questions or propose a contribution. The community behaviour guide is also a useful place to find out what is expected of contributors and other stakeholders in the contribution process.
I can't necessarily write the code, but I do have a good idea for a potential contribution. Where shall I explain it?
We've set up a whole site dedicated to ideas. If you want to share an idea, please visit ideas.symbian.org. If the community likes your idea, there may be enough support to start a Symbian Innovation Project to make it happen.
How do I report a defect?
Submitting a defect is simple and open to everyone. If it is your first time submitting a defect to the Symbian Foundation we recommend that you take a few moments to read our handy Defect Handling Guidelines.
How can I track the progress of my contribution?
Once your contribution has been made available to the package owner for consideration, you can track it by observing the state of the Bugzilla report that describes it, and also any notes attached to the report. To help with this, by default Bugzilla is configured to send you an email when a report changes state or has content added, if you're the original reporter or the assigned fixer. If you want to track a report where you are not in one of those roles, then you can add yourself to the CC list. Once you're tracking a few contributions, you might want to consider setting up some email filters to help manage the notifications.
What can I do if my contribution is rejected?
There are many possible reasons for a contribution being declined, but the good news is that many of them are quite simple to resolve. The worst thing to do is just try again with exactly the same contribution. Firstly, find out why the the contribution was declined. The reason should be explained in the Bugzilla report that headlines the change. Look for a note attached by the Package Owner (or by one of their appointed Committers). Ideally, the note will also explain how to change the contribution so that it can be accepted. If you can do what's asked, then send in your contribution again. If things get complicated, and Bugzilla becomes too cumbersome, then you could contact the Package Owner directly.
Package Owner Q&As
Where can I find out more about being a package owner?
There's a good introduction on the Being a package owner wiki page, which is based on a presentation given in 2009.
Is there a process for accepting contributions?
Yes. It's described more here.
How do I manage my static landing page on developer.symbian.org?
There's a useful wiki page to describe the steps here.
Miscellaneous
What guidelines do you have for intellectual property?
We have a wiki page that covers IP Guidelines.
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