[[!meta license="""[[!toggle id="license" text="GFDL 1.2+"]][[!toggleable id="license" text="Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled [[GNU Free Documentation License|/fdl]]."]]"""]] [[!meta title="Contributing"]] [[!tag stable_URL]] So, you are interested in contributing to the GNU Hurd project? Welcome! Every single contribution is very much encouraged. There are various ways to contribute; read up on contributing to... [[!toc levels=2]] If you are lurking around here and would like to contribute, but feel you would do so better under formal mentoring: please [[contact_us]], or just speak up at one of the [[regular IRC meetings|IRC#regular_meetings]]! We also have a list of [[open_issues]] and one for more elaborate [[project ideas|community/gsoc/project_ideas]] - the latter originally written for the [[Google Summer of Code|community/gsoc]], but not exclusively. Even just investigating open issues, without being able to fix them, can be useful, because a issue that has been tracked down often becomes obvious to address for people who know the stuff -- but these people typically don't have the time that is needed to track down the issues. --- # Improve GNU Hurd Running on GNU Mach The *[[GNU Hurd|hurd]] running on the [[GNU Mach microkernel|microkernel/mach/gnumach]]* is what is commonly meant when people are talking about GNU/Hurd systems. This system has mostly been designed and implemented [[in the '90s|history]]. It works and is usable. For example, these web pages have been rendered on a GNU/Hurd system. You can try it out for yourself: for getting access, installing [[Debian_GNU/Hurd|hurd/running/debian]] will probably be the easiest and most feature-complete solution. If you don't have spare hardware to use for doing so, you can also get a [[shell_account_on_a_public_Hurd_machine|public_hurd_boxen]]. Depending on the things you're going to work on (and on your internet connection), this may be an easy way of getting used to Hurd systems. Installing in a virtual machine is another possibility, see the page about [[running_a_Hurd_system|hurd/running]] for the full story. In particular, running a Debian GNU/Hurd [[QEMU image|hurd/running/QEMU]] may be a viable alternative. Then you can either play around and eventually strive to do something useful or -- if you want -- [[ask_us|contact_us]] to assign something to you, depending on the skills you have and the resources you intend to invest. Please spend some time with thinking about the items in this [[questionnaire]]. Before you can significantly contribute to the operating system itself, you'll need to take some time to learn about the system, for example: [[microkernels for beginners|microkernel/for_beginners]], [[Mach's concepts|microkernel/mach/concepts]], [[Hurd's concepts|hurd/concepts]], the *[[hurd/critique]]*. Until you can understand and do the basic exercises listed there, you won't be able to significantly contribute to the Hurd. You can also have a look at the [starting guide talk](https://fosdem.org/2015/schedule/event/hurd/). In terms of building and hacking on software, the easiest way to avoid having to understand the whole picture from the start is install the Debian distribution, and patch over the Debian source code. Installing from upstream source is much more complexe since you would need to know which piece fits where. Building and installing patched packages is much more simple. For more reading resources, please see these web pages, for example, [[Hurd_documentation|hurd/documentation]] and [[Mach_documentation|microkernel/mach/documentation]] for links to a bunch of documents. ## Small hack entries Here is a list of small hacks, which can serve as entries into the Hurd code for people who would like to dive into the code but just lack a "somewhere to begin with". Make sure to check out the most up-to-date version on * Teach rsync to use `*getxattr` and friends on GNU/Hurd too, to enable the -X option, so as to preserve translator entries. * Add a `name` field to `thread` structure in Mach, and `thread_set_name` (like `task_set_name`), and use it to add `pthread_setname_np` to glibc. * Avoid GCC trampolines: as discussed in these happen when we pass the address of a nested function to another function. This can be seen by running `readelf -S file.o | grep GNU-stack | grep X`, for instance that happens in libdiskfs/file-exec.c, libdiskfs/io-revoke.c. We can't really use -fno-trampoline, we should instead add `void *data` parameters to iterators such as `ports_class_iterate` or `fshelp_exec_reauth`, so that the nested functions can be made mere static functions that get their information from the `void *data` parameter. * Implement `pthread_setschedparam` and `sched_setscheduler` in glibc by calling mach's `thread_policy` and `thread_priority`. * Strengthen httpfs: it should append '/' to URL automatically, it should not fallback index.html itself, etc. probably a lot more small easy issues. * Create a Wiki page with all presentations about the Hurd. Many are referenced here in the Wiki, but they are not easy to find. ([[!taglink open_issue_documentation]]) * Some translators do not support [[hurd/fsysopts]], i.e. support for the `file_get_fs_options` and `fsys_set_options` RPCs. * Extend `device_read`/`device_write` into supporting > 2TiB disk sizes. * Make `host_get_time` much more precise by using the TSC. * Make the Hurd [[hurd/console]]'s configuration use [[xkb layout/variant instead of keymap|hurd/console/discussion]]. * Add NX / SMEP / SMAP protection support to GNU Mach. * Add use of PCID in GNU Mach. * Fix 64bit instruction set disassembling in GNU Mach's `/i386/i386/db_disasm.c` `db_disasm` function and tables. * Write a partfs translator, to which one gives a disk image, and which exposes the partitions of the disk image, using parted, and the parted-based storeio (`settrans -c foos1 /hurd/storeio -T typed part:1:file:/home/samy/tmp/foo`). This would be libnetfs-based. * Write [[virtio drivers for KVM|open_issues/virtio#KVM]]. * Move the [[mount/umount|open_issues/glibc#mount]] logic from `utils/{,u}mount.c` into [[glibc]]. * Add a tool to trace system calls, by using gnumach's Syscall-Emulation, see * Improve our [[FUSE library|hurd/libfuse]]. * Fix our [[open_issues/symlink_translator]]. * Add a /dev/rtc device * Add gnumach support for EFI memory areas report through GetMemoryMap instead of the BIOS E820. * Implement `SA_NOCLDWAIT`. It means adding an RPC to proc to implement it, and then making glibc detect when setting `SIG_IGN` on `SIGCLD`, or setting the `SA_NOCLDWAIT` flag, and in that case call into `proc`, similarly to the `S_proc_mod_stopchild` RPC. proc's `S_proc_wait` shall then wait for all children and return `ECHILD`. * Implement `lsof`. One can get inspiration from `libshouldbeinlibc/portinfo.c` for the details. * Add `VSTATUS` support to `term`. Essentially in `term/munge.c`, `input_character`, just like the `VINTR`, `VQUIT`, `VSUSP`, collect a few stats from the system, and put them into the output queue. * Make mig use the `access` function attribute to properly express accesses in arrays, e.g. for `device_read/write_inband`. * Add a limitation in the number of a process that a given uid can run. That would be in the `proc` translator. That will allow to avoid crashes when an application goes crazy with forking. Setting a hardcoded limitation would thus already be useful. ## Porting Packages Please [[contact_us]] before spending a lot of time on the following porting tasks: some work may already have been done that you can base your work upon. For guidelines, please have a look at the dedicated [[porting_page|hurd/porting]]. ### Debian GNU/Hurd Along with the official Debian "jessie" release (but not as an official Debian release), in April 2015 the [[Debian GNU/Hurd|hurd/running/debian]] team released [[Debian GNU/Hurd 2015|news/2015-04-29-debian_gnu_hurd_2015]]. There is a goal of getting Debian GNU/Hurd into shape for a technology preview for integration as a proper Debian release candidate. The *to do* list is on . The following missing packages/missing functionality block a lot of other packages, and are thus good candidates for porting, in order to increase archive coverage: * umount functionality in busybox Here is a [[list of packages that need porting|hurd/running/debian/porting]]. You can also just [[install_Debian_GNU/Hurd|hurd/running/debian]] and find what doesn't work or suit you and try to improve that. Or, you can pick one from the [list of failing packages](http://people.debian.org/~sthibault/failed_packages.txt). ## TODO List This is the list of tasks that we *want* to address soon, starting with the most pressing: * Add amd64 support to gdb. * Fix shell output pipe replacement issue on amd64, see [discussion](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-hurd/2023-10/msg00062.html). * Settle CI for mig+gnumach+hurd+glibc. * Port `dhcpcd`, see [call for help](https://lists.debian.org/debian-hurd/2023/11/msg00030.html) * Extensively test (e.g. running testsuites of glibc, perl) and fix the lwip-based TCP/IP stack, to be sure we don't get regressions by switching to it. * Prevent duplicate instances of `rumpdisk` from competing for the disk PCI cards (e.g. when a second one gets started from a chroot). * Fix the memory consumption of `rumpdisk`. * Integrate `rumpusbdisk` with the rest of the disk translators etc. * Fix `tmpfs` losing files, see [discussion](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-hurd/2015-02/msg00091.html). * Fix the `fakeroot-tcp` issue which is making `debian-installer` fail to build, see [build logs](http://d-i.debian.org/daily-images/daily-build-overview.html). * Port `libasan`/`lsan`/`ubsan`/`libtasn` so we can use these sanitizers (youpi did some of it, pending clean/submit). * Finish moving `pthread_` symbols from `libpthread` to `libc`, see for instance [some moves](https://sourceware.org/pipermail/libc-alpha/2023-March/146425.html), synchronize with Guy-Fleury Iteriteka. * Rewrite `pthread_cond_*`, `pthread_rwlock_*`, `pthread_barrier_*` to use `gsync`, like `pthread_mutex_*` do (also see the nptl implementations, possibly just share with them). * Improve rumpdisk's asynchronism, see end of `hurd/rumpdisk/block-rump.c`. * Check performance of `rumpdisk` against the in-`gnumach` drivers. * Make `ext2fs` use xattr by default to store translators (see `use_xattr_translator_records`) after making sure the upgrade path works fine. * Finish glib's file monitoring (see [merge request draft](https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/glib/-/merge_requests/3626) and [Debian bug](https://bugs.debian.org/1008208)) * Extend `ext2fs` to support 64bit time. * Fix the `git` testsuite (just a few tests failing, used to pass). * Fix the `subversion` testsuite (just a few tests failing). * Fix the `vim` testsuite (just a few tests failing, used to pass). * Fix building `mesa`. * Fix building `wayland`. * Port `python-procps`. * Implement a `rumpnet`. * Implement a `rumpfs`. * Fix `SMP` support. ## Open Issues There is a list of [[open_issues]]. This list includes everything from bug reports to open-ended research questions. ## Instant Development Environment *This is a very brief guide to get your development environment set up. Pester ArneBab @ irc.freenode.net on IRC if something does not work :)* ([[!taglink open_issue_documentation]]) First run the hurd in [[qemu|hurd/running/qemu#index1h2]] After you have a Hurd vm set up and running: * `apt update` * `apt install -y git mercurial emacs vim` * `apt build-dep -y hurd gnumach` * `git clone git://git.sv.gnu.org/hurd/hurd.git` * `git clone git://git.sv.gnu.org/hurd/gnumach.git` * `git clone git://git.sv.gnu.org/hurd/incubator.git` * You can connect through ssh with `ssh root@localhost -p 2222` * Get more from the [repo list](http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/hurd/). * Read the docs on these pages. * Start hacking. * For shutting down, use `reboot`, then press `c` in grub and issue halt (to avoid filesystem corruption). Adding `--no-reboot` to the qemu line should help, too. --- # Design / Research: GNU Hurd on a Modern Microkernel Developers [[have_identified|hurd/critique]] a number of problem with the *Hurd on Mach* system. Problems, that can not easily be fixed by bug-fixing the existing code base, but which require design changes -- deep going ones actually. As such systems (as the desired one) are not in common use, but are -- if at all -- research projects, this new *Hurd on a modern microkernel* project itself is more a research project than a *sit down and implement/code/hack* project. If you're interested in contributing in this area, knowing the *Hurd on Mach* system (see [[above|contributing#hurd_on_mach]]) nevertheless is a prerequisite. At least have a deep look at the documentation pointers. Also read through the [[HurdNG|hurd/ng]] section. Please send email to the [[mailing lists/l4-hurd]] mailing list for discussing this post-Mach system design. --- # Documentation ## Technical Writer Our hackers (programmers) typically do what their kind always does: they code. What they don't like too much is documenting their wonderful achievements. On the other hand, there are people (you?) who enjoy documenting technical matters, so don't hesitate to [[contact_us]] if technical documentation shall be your contribution to GNU Hurd development. A good start is probably to just start using the Hurd, and play with the translators. In the process you will probably find that some of the documentations are missing some details, are outdated, etc. That is were you can start contributing for instance. As an advice: do not start yet another documentation from scratch. There are already a lot of tutorials in the wilds, and they are almost all completely outdated. Rather contribute to the existing official documentation: this wiki, the documentation in the Hurd source, the Debian Hurd port pages. ## Web Pages Please read about [[how_to_contribute_to_these_web_pages|web_pages]]. --- # Final Words -- Difficulties Please note that doing substantial contributions to a project as big and as encompassing as the GNU Hurd is not a trivial task. For working on the GNU Hurd's inner guts and getting useful work done, you have to plan for a many-months learning experience which will need sufficient self-motivation. Working on an advanced operating system kernel isn't something you can do in a few free minutes -- even less so without any previous [[kernel]] hacking experience. Likewise, the Linux kernel maintainers are stating the exactly same difficulties, which is well presented by Jonathan Corbet in his 2010 Linux Kernel Summit report for the opening sessions about [*welcoming of newcomers*](http://lwn.net/Articles/412639/). But of course, none of this is meant to be dismissive, or to scare you away -- on the contrary: just [[start using|hurd/running]] the GNU Hurd, and either notice yourself what's not working as expected, or have a look at one of the [[Open Issues]], and we shall see if you'll evolve to be the next core Hurd hacker! You'll *just* have to get excited about it!