linux-kernel - [PATCH v2] docs: Clarify the usage and sign-off requirements for Co-developed-by

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Message-Id: <20190321184316.8525-1-sean.j.christopherson@intel.com>
Date:   Thu, 21 Mar 2019 11:43:16 -0700
From:   Sean Christopherson <sean.j.christopherson@...el.com>
To:     Jonathan Corbet <corbet@....net>
Cc:     linux-doc@...r.kernel.org, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org,
        Thomas Gleixner <tglx@...utronix.de>,
        Jani Nikula <jani.nikula@...ux.intel.com>,
        Jorge Ramirez-Ortiz <jorge.ramirez-ortiz@...aro.org>,
        Jonathan Cameron <jic23@...nel.org>,
        Joe Perches <joe@...ches.com>,
        Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@...uxfoundation.org>,
        Niklas Cassel <niklas.cassel@...aro.org>
Subject: [PATCH v2] docs: Clarify the usage and sign-off requirements for Co-developed-by

The documentation for Co-developed-by is a bit light on details, e.g. it
doesn't explicitly state that:

  - Multiple Co-developed-by tags are perfectly acceptable
  - Co-developed-by and Signed-off-by must be paired together
  - SOB ordering should still follow standard sign-off procedure

Lack of explicit direciton has resulted in developers taking a variety
of approaches, often lacking any intent whatsoever, e.g. scattering SOBs
willy-nilly, collecting them all at the end or the beginning, etc...

Tweak the wording to make it clear that multiple co-authors are allowed,
and document the expectation that standard sign-off procedures are to
be followed.  Provide examples to (hopefully) eliminate any ambiguity.

Cc: Thomas Gleixner <tglx@...utronix.de>
Cc: Jani Nikula <jani.nikula@...ux.intel.com>
Cc: Jorge Ramirez-Ortiz <jorge.ramirez-ortiz@...aro.org>
Cc: Jonathan Cameron <jic23@...nel.org>
Cc: Joe Perches <joe@...ches.com>
Cc: Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@...uxfoundation.org>
Cc: Niklas Cassel <niklas.cassel@...aro.org>
Cc: Jonathan Corbet <corbet@....net>
Signed-off-by: Sean Christopherson <sean.j.christopherson@...el.com>
---

v1: https://lkml.kernel.org/r/20190320151140.32432-1-sean.j.christopherson@intel.com
v2: Rewrite the blurb to state standard sign-off procedure should be
    followed as opposed to dictating the original author's SOB be last.

 Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst | 24 +++++++++++++++++---
 1 file changed, 21 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst b/Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst
index be7d1829c3af..a7a9da68a384 100644
--- a/Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst
+++ b/Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst
@@ -545,10 +545,28 @@ person it names - but it should indicate that this person was copied on the
 patch.  This tag documents that potentially interested parties
 have been included in the discussion.
 
-A Co-developed-by: states that the patch was also created by another developer
+A Co-developed-by: states that the patch was co-created by other developer(s)
 along with the original author.  This is useful at times when multiple people
-work on a single patch.  Note, this person also needs to have a Signed-off-by:
-line in the patch as well.
+work on a single patch.  Every Co-developed-by: must be immediately followed by
+a Signed-off-by: of the co-author.  Standard sign-off procedure applies, i.e.
+the ordering of Co-developed-by:/Signed-off-by: pairs should reflect the
+chronological history of the patch insofar as possible.  Notably, the last
+Signed-off-by: must always be that of the developer submitting the patch,
+regardless of whether they are the original author or a co-author.
+
+Example of a patch with multiple co-authors, submitted by the original author::
+
+	Co-developed-by: First Co-Author <first@...uthor.example.org>
+	Signed-off-by: First Co-Author <first@...uthor.example.org>
+	Co-developed-by: Second Co-Author <second@...uthor.example.org>
+	Signed-off-by: Second Co-Author <second@...uthor.example.org>
+	Signed-off-by: Original Author <original@...hor.example.org>
+
+Example of a patch submitted by a co-author::
+
+	Signed-off-by: Original Author <original@...hor.example.org>
+	Co-developed-by: Submitting Co-Author <sub@...uthor.example.org>
+	Signed-off-by: Submitting Co-Author <sub@...uthor.example.org>
 
 
 13) Using Reported-by:, Tested-by:, Reviewed-by:, Suggested-by: and Fixes:
-- 
2.21.0