Message-ID: <30616.1192133818@lwn.net>
Date:	Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:16:58 -0600
From:	Jonathan Corbet <corbet@....net>
To:	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
cc:	akpm@...ux-foundation.org
Subject: [PATCH] Documentation/patch-tags v3

Here's the current version of the patch-tags document; I've made changes
in response to comments from a Randy Dunlap and Scott Preece.  The only
substantive change, though, is the removal of the privacy term, since it
really does seem to be overkill.  It can come back if it turns out to be
truly needed.

Andrew, you've been quiet on this.  Does it correspond to your notion of
what Reviewed-by should mean?  

jon

diff --git a/Documentation/00-INDEX b/Documentation/00-INDEX
index 43e89b1..fa1518b 100644
--- a/Documentation/00-INDEX
+++ b/Documentation/00-INDEX
@@ -284,6 +284,8 @@ parport.txt
 	- how to use the parallel-port driver.
 parport-lowlevel.txt
 	- description and usage of the low level parallel port functions.
+patch-tags
+	- description of the tags which can be added to patches
 pci-error-recovery.txt
 	- info on PCI error recovery.
 pci.txt
diff --git a/Documentation/patch-tags b/Documentation/patch-tags
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6acde5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/patch-tags
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+Patches headed for the mainline may contain a variety of tags documenting
+who played a hand in (or was at least aware of) their progress.  All of
+these tags have the form:
+
+	Something-done-by: Full name <email@...ress> [optional random stuff]
+
+These tags are:
+
+From: 	   	The original author of the patch.  This tag will ensure
+		that credit is properly given when somebody other than the
+		original author submits the patch.
+
+Signed-off-by:	A person adding a Signed-off-by tag is attesting that the
+		patch is, to the best of his or her knowledge, legally able
+		to be merged into the mainline and distributed under the
+		terms of the GNU General Public License, version 2.  See
+		the Developer's Certificate of Origin, found in
+		Documentation/SubmittingPatches, for the precise meaning of
+		Signed-off-by.  This tag assures upstream maintainers that
+		the provenance of the patch is known and allows the origin
+		of the patch to be reviewed should copyright questions
+		arise.
+
+Acked-by:	The person named (who should be an active developer in the
+		area addressed by the patch) is aware of the patch and has
+		no objection to its inclusion; it informs upstream
+		maintainers that a certain degree of consensus on the patch
+		as been achieved..  An Acked-by tag does not imply any
+		involvement in the development of the patch or that a
+		detailed review was done. 
+
+Reviewed-by:	The patch has been reviewed and found acceptable according
+		to the Reviewer's Statement as found at the bottom of this
+		file.  A Reviewed-by tag is a statement of opinion that the
+		patch is an appropriate modification of the kernel without
+		any remaining serious technical issues.  Any interested
+		reviewer (who has done the work) can offer a Reviewed-by
+		tag for a patch.  This tag serves to give credit to
+		reviewers and to inform maintainers of the degree of review
+		which has been done on the patch.
+
+Cc:		The person named was given the opportunity to comment on
+		the patch.  This is the only tag which might be added
+		without an explicit action by the person it names.  This
+		tag documents that potentially interested parties have been
+		included in the discussion.
+
+Tested-by:	The patch has been successfully tested (in some
+		environment) by the person named.  This tag informs
+		maintainers that some testing has been performed, provides
+		a means to locate testers for future patches, and ensures
+		credit for the testers.
+
+
+----
+
+Reviewer's statement of oversight
+
+By offering my Reviewed-by: tag, I state that:
+
+ (a) I have carried out a technical review of this patch to evaluate its
+     appropriateness and readiness for inclusion into the mainline kernel. 
+
+ (b) Any problems, concerns, or questions relating to the patch have been
+     communicated back to the submitter.  I am satisfied with the
+     submitter's response to my comments.
+
+ (c) While there may be things that could be improved with this submission,
+     I believe that it is, at this time, (1) a worthwhile modification to
+     the kernel, and (2) free of known issues which would argue against its
+     inclusion.
+
+ (d) While I have reviewed the patch and believe it to be sound, I do not
+     (unless explicitly stated elsewhere) make any warranties or guarantees
+     that it will achieve its stated purpose or function properly in any
+     given situation.
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