Life Cycle of a Patch
Each
PR goes through a defined series of states between origination and closure. By default, the originator of a
PR and all addresses listed in the
Notify-List? receive notification automatically of any state changes.
In our configuration, the following states are used:
- open:
- The initial state of a Problem Report.
This means the PR has been filed
and the responsible person(s) notified.
- analyzed:
- The responsible person has analyzed the problem.
The analysis should contain a preliminary evaluation
of the problem and an estimate of the amount
of time and resources necessary to solve the problem.
It should also suggest possible workarounds.
- feedback:
- This state is used in several cases:
- [In case of bug reports ]
The problem has been solved,
and the originator has been given a patch or other fix.
- [In case of patch submissions]
A submitted patch is not clear,
or does not apply cleanly,
or results in discussions on the mailing list,
or otherwise requires feedback from the originator.
- closed:
- A Problem Report is closed
("the bug stops here")
only when any patches or changes have been
integrated, documented, and tested,
and the submitter has confirmed the solution.
- suspended:
- Work on the problem has been postponed.
This happens if a timely solution is not possible
or is not cost-effective at the present time.
The PR continues to exist,
though a solution is not being actively sought.
If the problem cannot be solved at all,
it should be closed rather than suspended.
