From 505a14fbf1d3e2d187fa009462844e4a9d380d44 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Coby Chapple Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2013 17:36:23 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] start reworking README to better articulate some contributing guidelines --- README.md | 99 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++------------------- 1 file changed, 66 insertions(+), 33 deletions(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 42f2caa9..2e9087ed 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -1,41 +1,74 @@ -# A Collection of Useful .gitignore Templates +# A collection of `.gitignore` templates -That's what we're trying to build. Please contribute -by [forking][fk] and sending a [pull request][pr]. +This is GitHub’s collection of [`.gitignore`][man] file templates. +We use this list to populate the `.gitignore` template choosers available +in the GitHub.com interface when creating new repositories and files. -Also **please** only modify **one file** per commit. This'll -make merging easier for everyone. +For more information about how `.gitignore` files work, and how to use them, +the following resources are a great place to start: -Global gitignores (OS-specific, editor-specific) should go into the -`Global/` directory. +- The [Ignoring Files chapter][chapter] of the [Pro Git][progit] book. +- The [Ignoring Files article][help] on the GitHub Help site. +- The [gitignore(5)][man] manual page. -For more information on gitignore: [gitignore(5)][g5] +[man]: http://git-scm.com/docs/gitignore +[help]: https://help.github.com/articles/ignoring-files +[chapter]: http://git-scm.com/book/en/Git-Basics-Recording-Changes-to-the-Repository#Ignoring-Files +[progit]: http://git-scm.com/book -[fk]: http://help.github.com/forking/ +## Folder structure + +The files in the root directory are for `.gitignore` templates that are +project specific, such as language or framework specific templates. +Global (operating system or editor specific) templates should go into the +[`Global/`](./Global) directory. + +## Contributing guidelines + +We’d love you to help us improve this project. To help us keep this collection +high quality, we request that contributions adhere to the following guidelines. + +- **Provide a link to the application or project’s homepage**. Unless it’s + extremely popular, there’s a chance the maintainers don’t know about or use + the language, framework, editor, app, or project your change applies to. + +- **Provide links to documentation** supporting the change you’re making. + Current, canonical documentation mentioning the files being ignored is best. + If documentation isn’t available to support your change, do the best you can + to explain what the files being ignored are for. + +- **Explain why you’re making a change**. Even if it seems self-evident, please + take a sentence or two to tell us why your change or addition should happen. + It’s especially helpful to articulate why this change applies to *everyone* + who works with the applicable technology, rather than just you or your team. + +- **Please consider the scope of your change**. If your change specific to a + certain language or framework, then make sure the change is made to the + template for that language or framework, rather than to the template for an + editor, tool, or operating system. + +- **Please only modify *one file* per commit**. This will make merging and + conflict resolution easier for everyone. + +In general, the more you can do to help us understand the change you’re making, +the more likely we’ll be to accept your contribution quickly. + +## Contributing workflow + +Here’s how we suggest you go about proposing a change to this project: + +1. [Fork this project][fork] to your account. +2. [Create a branch][branch] for the change you intend to make. +3. Make your changes to your fork. +4. [Send a pull request][pr] from your fork’s branch to our `master` branch. + +Using the web-based interface to make changes is fine too, and will help you +by automatically forking the project and prompting to send a pull request too. + +[fork]: http://help.github.com/forking/ +[branch]: https://help.github.com/articles/creating-and-deleting-branches-within-your-repository [pr]: http://help.github.com/pull-requests/ -[g5]: http://man.cx/gitignore -## Pull Requests +## License -Since this repo includes a large and diverse -number of programming languages, frameworks, editors, -and ecosystems, it's **very helpful** if you can provide -a link to information supporting your pull request. -Up-to-date, canonical documentation that mentions the files -to be ignored is best. - -This ensures we can efficiently go through pull requests -and keep quality high. - -## Global Ignores - -git has a global configuration that applies rules to all of -your projects. For example: - - git config --global core.excludesfile ~/.global_ignore - -... will apply the rules in ~/.global_ignore for all of your repos. - -This is useful if you use an editor (like Emacs) that drops backup files, -or if you work in an environment that generates binary or intermediate -files that are always ignored. +[MIT](./LICENSE).