Contribution Workflow

Contributing to a project involves a series of steps to ensure the changes are consistent with the existing codebase and the project's overall goals. Here's a detailed walkthrough of the process:

Preparation

1. Stay Updated

• Before starting any new work, ensure you have the latest updates from the main project.
• Synchronize your fork with the main repository. If you're unsure, refer to the section on Synchronizing Your Fork.

2. Create a Branch

• Always work on a new branch for every new feature or bug fix. This keeps your working directory clean and allows you to work on multiple features simultaneously.

  git checkout -b feature/my-new-feature
  

  Tip: Use descriptive branch names. It helps in understanding the branch's purpose at a glance.

Making Changes

1. Test Your Code

• Relevant tests should accompany every contribution. This ensures that your changes work as expected and don't introduce bugs.

  Example: If you've added a new widget, create tests to verify its behavior under various conditions.

2. Implement Changes

• Write clean, well-commented code and adhere to the project's coding standards.
• If you're unsure about a particular approach, discuss it in the issue comments or the project's community channels.

3. Code Formatting

• Maintain a consistent coding style across the project using Dart's formatting tool.

  dart format -w .
  

4. Analyze Your Code

• Ensure that your code adheres to Dart's best practices and has no potential issues.

  dart analyze --fatal-infos --fatal-warnings .
  

Before Submission

1. Commit Properly

• Group-related changes into individual commits.

• Use clear and concise commit messages describing the changes.

  Example: Instead of "fix bugs", use "fix null pointer exception in WidgetRenderer".

2. Documentation

• Enhance the documentation if you've introduced new features, made changes to the public API, or feel that a particular aspect of the project needs clearer instructions.

3. Testing

• Before submitting your changes, ensure all existing tests pass. Run:

  flutter test
  

4. Sign the CLA

• Before your changes can be merged, you need to sign the Contributor License Agreement. This is a standard procedure for open-source contributions to protect both the contributor and the project.

Submitting Changes

1. PR Creation

• Push your branch to your fork and create a pull request (PR) against the main Widgetbook repository.

  Tip: In the PR description, provide a detailed overview of the changes and their motivations, and if they're related to any existing issues, link those.

2. PR Conventions

• Adhere to the project's PR title and description conventions. If the project follows a specific format or template, ensure your PR respects that.

3. Verify CI Status

• After creating a PR, automated Continuous Integration (CI) checks will run. Ensure they all pass. If any checks fail, review and address the reported issues.