Submit code changes

This page describes the full process of submitting a code change to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), including how to request a review and track your changes.

AOSP relies on a Gerrit, a web-based code review system for projects that use Git.

Sign the contributor license agreements

Before you contribute any code changes for AOSP, you must read Contributor license agreements and headers and sign one of the following agreements:

Start a branch

For each code change that you intend to make, perform the following steps:

  1. Start a new branch within the relevant Git repository. A branch isn't a copy of the original files; it's a pointer to a specific commit, which makes creating local branches and switching among them a lightweight operation. By using branches, you can identify changes from each other. Run this command to start a branch:

    repo start BRANCH_NAME
    

    You can start several independent branches at the same time in the same repository. The branch BRANCH_NAME is local to your workspace and isn't included either on Gerrit or in the final source tree. Branches are also specific to the project you are in, so if you need to change files in different projects as part of the same change, you'll need a branch in each project where you change files.

  2. (optional) Verify that the branch was created:

    repo status .
    

    You should see your newly created branch. For example:

    project frameworks/native/                      branch mynewbranch
    

Make and test your change

Follow these steps to make and test your change:

  1. To ensure you're working with the most current codebase, perform a sync of the entire codebase:

    repo sync
    

    If you have any conflicts during the sync, refer to steps 2-4 of Resolve sync conflicts.

  2. Find the code to change. To find code, consider using Android Code Search. You can use Android Code Search to view the AOSP source code as it's laid out when you actually use it. For more information, see Getting started with Code Search. To view all of the code in the main branch within Android code search, navigate to https://cs.android.com/android/platform/superproject/main.

  3. Modify or add source files. For any changes made:

  4. Build Android.

  5. Test your build.

Stage and commit your change

A commit is the basic unit of revision control in Git and consists of a snapshot of the directory structure and file contents for the entire project. Follow these steps to commit your change:

  1. By default, Git registers but doesn't track the changes that you make. To instruct Git to track your changes, you must mark or stage those changes for inclusion in a commit. Run this command to stage the change:

    git add -A
    

    This command tracks changes that you've made to any files.

  2. Take the files in the staging area and commit or store them in your local database:

    git commit -s
    

    By default, a text editor opens and you are prompted to provide a commit message.

  3. Provide a commit message in the following format:

    • Line 1: Headline. Provide a one-line summary of the change (50 characters maximum). Consider using prefixes to describe the area you changed, followed by a description of the change you made in this commit, such as the following example containing a user interface change:

      ui: Removes deprecated widget
      
    • Line 2: Blank line. Follow the headline with a blank line.

    • Line 3: Body. Provide a long description that hard-wraps at 72 characters maximum. Describe what issue the change solves and how. Although the body is optional, it's helpful to others who need to refer back to the change. Be sure to include a brief note of any assumptions or background information that might be important when another contributor works on this feature.

    To read a blog about good commit descriptions (with examples), see How to Write a Git Commit Message.

  4. Save the commit.

A unique change ID and your name and email, which were provided during repo init, are automatically added to your commit message.

Upload the change for review

After you commit your change to your personal Git history, upload it to Gerrit:

  1. Run the following command to upload all of your commits in all of your projects:

    repo upload
    

    All changes in all projects are included in the upload.

    You're prompted to run hook scripts.

  2. Press a and then Enter.

    You're prompted to approve the upload:

    Upload project frameworks/native/ to remote branch main:
    branch BRANCH_NAME ( 1 commit, Wed Aug 7 09:32:33 2019 -0700):
           ff46b36d android codelab change
    to https://android-review.googlesource.com/ (y/N)?
    
  3. Press y and then Enter to approve the upload.

You should receive a message similar to remote: SUCCESS.

Request a review

After a successful upload, Repo provides you with a link to your changes in Gerrit. Click the link to view your changes on the review server, add comments, or request specific reviewers for your change. All changes to the code must be reviewed by the appropriate code owners.

To request a review:

  1. In Gerrit, click SUGGEST OWNERS:

    Suggest owners link in Gerrit

    Figure 1. Suggest owners link in Gerrit.

    The reviewer dialog appears. This dialog contains a list of code owners who can review your change.

  2. Click a code owner to add them to your review.

    The SEND button is activated.

  3. (Optional) Type the email address of anyone else you'd like to review your change.

  4. (Optional) Click +1 next to Autosubmit to automatically submit the change after you receive approvals. If you don't click this button, a Google employee has to submit your change for you.

  5. Click SEND to send the change for review.

Code owners review your code changes and either provide feedback for you to resolve or approve the changes.

Determine status of change

To determine the status of the files in your change, check for the following icons next to the files in the change:

  • (checkmark icon): Approved by code owner
  • (cross icon): Not approved by code owner
  • (clock icon): Pending approval by code owner

The following figure shows these status icons applied to files in a change:

Example of files with icons showing code owner approval

Figure 2. Example of files with icons showing code owner approval.

Resolve feedback and upload a replacement change

If a reviewer requests a modification to your update, you can amend your commit within Git, which results in a new patchset on the same change.

To resolve feedback and amend your change:

  1. Follow steps 2-4 in Make and test your change.

  2. Run the following commands to amend your change:

    git add -A
    git commit --amend
    
  3. Upload your change.

When you upload the amended change, it replaces the original both on Gerrit and in your local Git history.

Resolve sync conflicts

If other changes are submitted to the source tree that conflict with yours, you receive a message that you have conflicts. To resolve the conflicts:

  1. Ensure you're working with the most current code:

    repo sync .
    

    The repo sync command fetches the updates from the source server, then attempts to automatically rebase your HEAD onto the new remote HEAD.

  2. If the automatic rebase is unsuccessful, perform a manual rebase:

    repo rebase .
    
  3. Resolve merge conflicts. If you don't have a preferred method for resolving merge conflicts, you can use git mergetool to manually fix conflicts between files.

  4. When you've successfully fixed the conflicting files, run this command to apply the new commits:

    git rebase --continue
    

Submit change

After a submission makes it through the review and verification process, a Google reviewer must submit the code for you. Other users can run repo sync to pull the update into their respective local clients.

After your submission is merged, you can visit the Android Continuous Integration dashboard to monitor when your submissions are integrated into the tree.