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+# Maintainer tools
+
+Useful tools used in daily routines:
+- [checkpatch](https://docs.kernel.org/dev-tools/checkpatch.html)
+- [kup](https://korg.docs.kernel.org/kup.html)
+- [Auto-publishing](https://korg.docs.kernel.org/kup.html#auto-publishing-with-git-archive-signer)
+- [b4](https://b4.docs.kernel.org/en/latest/)
+
+# Checklist before applying patch
+
+We don't have CI testing yet, so all those steps must be performed manually:
+- Style check with [checkpatch](https://docs.kernel.org/dev-tools/checkpatch.html):
+
+ This is the current code style follows. We are not strict to all rules. It must be run
+ by **checkpatch --no-tree**, see README.md.
+
+- [Commit style](https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/v4.10/process/submitting-patches.html):
+
+ It doesn't need to be followed as strictly as is in kernel but changes should be logically
+ separated. Submitter should care at least to mention "It is used in next patches" if unused
+ externs/files are added in patch. We love: *Reported-by:*, *Suggested-by:*, *Fixes:* tags.
+
+- Compilation, ideally on various gcc versions.
+- Mdadm test suite execution.
+- Consider requesting new tests from submitter, especially for new functionalities.
+- Ensure that maintainer *sign-off* is added, before pushing.
+
+# Making a release
+
+Assuming that maintainer is certain that release is safe, following steps must be done:
+
+- Update versions strings in release commit, please refer to previous releases for examples.
+
+- Create GPG signed tag and push it to repo. Use same format as was used previously, prefixed by
+ **mdadm-**, e.g. **mdadm-3.1.2**, **mdadm-4.1**.
+
+- [Auto-publishing](https://korg.docs.kernel.org/kup.html#auto-publishing-with-git-archive-signer):
+
+ Adopt script to our release tag model. When ready, push signed note to repository. If it is done
+ correctly, then *(sig)* is added to the package automatically generated by kernel.org automation.
+ There is no need to upload archive manually.
+
+- Update CHANGELOG.md.
+- Write "ANNOUNCE" mail to linux-raid@kernel.org to notify community.
Describe rules maintainer should follow. Signed-off-by: Mariusz Tkaczyk <mariusz.tkaczyk@linux.intel.com> --- MAINTAINERS.md | 44 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 44 insertions(+) create mode 100644 MAINTAINERS.md