Getting started developing

[Justin Brown-3]

Hello,

So I've been using Amarok for a couple years now, and I really want to start doing some development. The problem is that I don't really know where to begin. I have a decent amount of C++ experience from school, and I've done some PyQT programming on my own, so I feel like I should have the skills to make some contributions. I just don't understand how to do it. I managed to use git clone to get a copy of the source code, but it's really overwhelming. I don't know where to begin. I seem to remember Lydia posting on a blog about junior jobs, but I'm not sure what the status of those jobs are. Does anyone have a recommendation on a smallish piece of code that needs work? My idea would be to get a fairly small piece (maybe 5-6 files) and study it for a few days, then try to make some minor tweaks to it.
I'm also not really sure how to use git/gitorious. I signed up for an account and added a ssh key. How do I go about making commits? Should I be asking these questions somewhere else?

Thanks for the replies.
Justin Brown
justin.brown1.1@...

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> Hello,
>
> So I've been using Amarok for a couple years now, and I really want to
>  start doing some development. The problem is that I don't really know
>  where to begin. I have a decent amount of C++ experience from school, and
>  I've done some PyQT programming on my own, so I feel like I should have
>  the skills to make some contributions. I just don't understand how to do
>  it. I managed to use git clone to get a copy of the source code, but it's
>  really
> overwhelming. I don't know where to begin. I seem to remember Lydia posting
> on a blog about junior jobs, but I'm not sure what the status of those jobs
> are. Does anyone have a recommendation on a smallish piece of code that
> needs work? My idea would be to get a fairly small piece (maybe 5-6 files)
> and study it for a few days, then try to make some minor tweaks to it.
> I'm also not really sure how to use git/gitorious. I signed up for an
> account and added a ssh key. How do I go about making commits? Should I be
> asking these questions somewhere else?
>
> Thanks for the replies.
> Justin Brown
> justin.brown1.1@...

Try to fix some minor bugs to get familiar with the code. Gitorious is a nice
way to contribute to Amarok. The most comfortable way is to issue so called
"Merge requests" right from gitorious.org
A much easier way is to call `git format-patch` and send the result to amarok-
devel@....
Please read some Git tutorials to get started. It's hard at the beginning, we
all know ;)

--
Kevin Funk
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> I don't know where to begin. I seem to remember Lydia posting
> on a blog about junior jobs, but I'm not sure what the status of those jobs
> are.

Emailing this list is a good start! Another tip is to hang out in
#amarok @ freenode.net The Amarok devs are very much IRC based, more
so than most open source projects. You'll almost always be able to
find a dev around in there.

The Amarok code base is large and complicated, particularly if you
have never worked on a large scale project before. I don't know the
status of the JJs, it is up to the devs to post those JJs, and
frankly, most of us are lazy or forget to make them. I would suggest
browsing around bugs.kde.org (searching for amarok of course), find a
bug that looks interesting and confined to a small area.

Here are some places to avoid, for now, because they are
large/complex. If it involves any of the following, be wary:
Database
QueryMaker
Meta::
Take that all with a grain of salt.

If you have any ideas for an applet, checking out how some of the
current context applets works would be a good idea.

If you are feeling ambitious, you could check out the "Organize Files"
(Copy/Move to Collection) feature. It's had a lot of
performance/deleting-files issues, and for the most part is a wholly
self contained system: Inputs come in, stuff comes out. Search the
list/bugs.kde.org for info regarding it, or ask.

Another dev might have some better ideas for JJs, lets wait and see.
Again, I can't stress enough: hang out in #amarok when you're online
and in the Amarok mood :-)

Casey
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Hi Justin,

On Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 20:28, Justin Brown <justin.brown1.1@...> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> So I've been using Amarok for a couple years now, and I really want to start
> doing some development. The problem is that I don't really know where to
> begin. I have a decent amount of C++ experience from school, and I've done
> some PyQT programming on my own, so I feel like I should have the skills to
> make some contributions.

Welcome on board :)

> I just don't understand how to do it. I managed to
> use git clone to get a copy of the source code, but it's really
> overwhelming. I don't know where to begin. I seem to remember Lydia posting
> on a blog about junior jobs, but I'm not sure what the status of those jobs
> are. Does anyone have a recommendation on a smallish piece of code that
> needs work? My idea would be to get a fairly small piece (maybe 5-6 files)
> and study it for a few days, then try to make some minor tweaks to it.
> I'm also not really sure how to use git/gitorious. I signed up for an
> account and added a ssh key. How do I go about making commits? Should I be
> asking these questions somewhere else?

Did you read our wiki on how to get started? There are a lot of useful links:

http://amarok.kde.org/wiki/Development

Also, just signing in on Gitorious will not allow you to do merges, if
you want to contribute on a regular basis you need to apply for a KDE
developer account, too, so you can be added in the KDE developers
group:

http://techbase.kde.org/Contribute/Get_a_SVN_Account

And, most important, read the hacking guide available here:

http://gitorious.org/amarok/amarok/trees/master/HACKING

Hope this helps :)


Regards, Myriam.

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