hack-commit-push-2021-openjdk

The repository with the information about the session about patching the OpenJDK (Java reference implementation) at hack-commit-push 2021

https://hack-commit-pu.sh/

During the event

During the virtual event, i will be available on the conference session and on the slack of hack-commit-push, channel #proj-openjdk

Don't hesitate to join, say hello, ask questions, provide answers, etc

BTW, if you want to know why something is done that way in Java, you can also ask, i'm contributing since Java is opensource (15 years ago now), so i may know why and be able to explain it.

So you want to patch the source of the JDK :)

The source of the JDK are stored on Github, the main repository is at

https://github.com/openjdk/jdk

Create a Github acount

Before patching the JDK, the first step is to first clone the JDK repository to your own repository on github, so

• create a github account if you do not have one

  https://github.com/join

  add your public SSH key to your account, so Github knows that you are the one pushing code via git

  https://docs.github.com/en/github/authenticating-to-github/connecting-to-github-with-ssh/adding-a-new-ssh-key-to-your-github-account

  if you don't have one, don't worry the instructions also explain how to create a SSH key

• fork the OpenJDK/jdk repository into you own repository there is a button "fork" on the https://github.com/openjdk/jdk for that

• use your favorite IDE to clone your repository to a local folder The "git address" of the github repository is available using the green dropdown button "clone", and then select the SSH version

  • with IntelliJ, it's File > New > Project from version control, then copy the line (that should start with "git@...")

  • on a terminal, it's just git clone with the address of the forked repository

    git clone git@...
    

Build the JDK

Now you need to build the JDK from the source on your local repository, the instruction are available here https://github.com/openjdk/jdk/blob/master/doc/building.md

While it's building, we have the time to look for a bug to fix, i say a bug, but the best is not to start with an actual bug in the code but just a javadoc bug fix

Sign the Oracle Contributor Agreement (OCA)

First you need to sign the Oracle contributor Agreement, It's a single page document https://oca.opensource.oracle.com/

This is how the London Java User Group describes the OCA:

• If you’re working on Open JDK and your work is approved for submission you will need to have one of these.
• The essence of this agreement is to share the ownership of the change between yourself and Oracle.
• If you’re thinking about taking this path it’s only a simple one page document that is quick to complete, so I recommend doing this upfront.
• If you are going through your employers approval process it is potentially a good idea to try get both of these agreements signed off at the same time if you need to.

Sadly, there is no workaround the OCA, even if it's for a very small contribution, you have to sign the OCA.

Find a spec bug in the bug database

Crawling the bug database to find a javadoc issue to fix The bug database is available here (yes, it's JIRA so it's slooow)

https://bugs.openjdk.java.net/

The magic keyword to get the documentation issue is "spec", and you also need to filter to only get the open issues, it's the third dropdown menu from the left, select OPEN.

If you want to restrict yourself to particular are of the JDK, in More, you can add the dropdown "component", and by example for java-base (java.lang, java.util, etc) select core-libs.

Add an issue in this repository

Once you have found a spec issue you want to fix, add an issue in this repository to let know the other participant of hack-commit-push that you want to fix that issue.

https://github.com/forax/hack-commit-push-2021-openjdk/issues

Subscribe to the OpenJDK mailing lists

You also need to subscribe to the mailing lists. Being a subscriber of the mailing list, let you see all the patch and discussion around those patch. There is one mailing list by component of the JDK, all the mailing lists are available at

https://mail.openjdk.java.net/mailman/listinfo

By example, the mailing list for java.base (java.lan, java.util) etc is

https://mail.openjdk.java.net/mailman/listinfo/core-libs-dev

Create the pull request

Once you have fixed the issue in your local repository, your ready to create a pull request (PR) You can create a PR even if you have not signed yet the OCA but it will never be integrated without signing the OCA.

To create a pull request, in your repository that clone openjdk/jdk, the is a tab named "Pull request", the second tab from the left, from that tab you can create a pull request, i.e. ask people to review you change in order to be integrated in the JDK. So click on "create pull request".

The OpenJDK github repositories use bots to links the pull request (PR) with the other parts, the bug issues, etc Here is a list of all

https://wiki.openjdk.java.net/display/SKARA/Pull+Request+Commands

With that you should be able to link your pull request to the corresponding bug in the database.

Once you have signed the OCA, your change will be reviewed and integrated or not after discussions.