[dpdk-dev] doc: add contributors guide

diff --git a/doc/guides/contributing/index.rst b/doc/guides/contributing/index.rst
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--- a/doc/guides/contributing/index.rst
+++ b/doc/guides/contributing/index.rst
@@ -9,3 +9,4 @@  Contributor's Guidelines
     design
     versioning
     documentation
+    patches
diff --git a/doc/guides/contributing/patches.rst b/doc/guides/contributing/patches.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e5d28d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/guides/contributing/patches.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,309 @@ 
+.. submitting_patches:
+
+Contributing Code to DPDK
+=========================
+
+This document outlines the guidelines for submitting code to DPDK.
+
+The DPDK development process is modeled (loosely) on the Linux Kernel development model so it is worth reading the
+Linux kernel guide on submitting patches:
+`How to Get Your Change Into the Linux Kernel <http://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/SubmittingPatches>`_.
+The rationale for many of the DPDK guidelines is explained in greater detail in the kernel guidelines.
+
+
+The DPDK Development Process
+-----------------------------
+
+The DPDK development process has the following features:
+
+* The code is hosted in a public git repository.
+* There is a mailing list where developers submit patches.
+* There are maintainers for hierarchical components.
+* Patches are reviewed publicly on the mailing list.
+* Successfully reviewed patches are merged to the master branch of the repository.
+
+The mailing list for DPDK development is `dev@dpkg.org <http://dpdk.org/ml/archives/dev/>`_.
+Contributors will need to `register for the mailing list <http://dpdk.org/ml/listinfo/dev>`_ in order to submit patches.
+It is also worth registering for the DPDK `Patchwork <http://dpdk.org/dev/patchwxispork/project/dpdk/list/>`_
+
+There are also DPDK mailing lists for:
+
+* users: `general usage questions <http://dpdk.org/ml/listinfo/users>`_.
+* announce: `release announcements <http://dpdk.org/ml/listinfo/announce>`_ (also forwarded to the dev list).
+* dts: `test suite reviews and discussions <http://dpdk.org/ml/listinfo/dts>`_.
+* test-reports: `test reports <http://dpdk.org/ml/listinfo/test-report>`_ (from continuous integration testing).
+
+The development process requires some familiarity with the ``git`` version control system.
+Refer to the `Pro Git Book <http://www.git-scm.com/book/>`_ for further information.
+
+
+Getting the Source Code
+-----------------------
+
+The source code can be cloned using either of the following::
+
+    git clone git://dpdk.org/dpdk
+
+    git clone http://dpdk.org/git/dpdk
+
+You can also `browse the source code <http://www.dpdk.org/browse/dpdk/tree/>`_ online.
+
+
+Make your Changes
+-----------------
+
+Make your planned changes in the cloned ``dpdk`` repo. Here are some guidelines and requirements:
+
+* Follow the :ref:`coding_style` guidelines.
+
+* If you add new files or directories you should add your name to the ``MAINTAINERS`` file.
+
+* If your changes add new external functions then they should be added to the local ``version.map`` file.
+  See the :doc:`Guidelines for ABI policy and versioning </contributing/versioning>`.
+
+* Most changes will require an addition to the release notes in ``doc/guides/rel_notes/``.
+  See the :ref:`Release Notes section of the Documentation Guidelines <doc_guidelines>` for details.
+
+* Don’t break compilation between commits with forward dependencies.
+  Each commit should compile on its own to allow for ``git bisect`` and continuous integration testing.
+
+* Add tests to the the ``app/test`` unit test framework where possible.
+
+* Add documentation, if required, in the form of Doxygen comments or a User Guide in RST format.
+  See the :ref:`Documentation Guidelines <doc_guidelines>`.
+
+Once the changes have been made you should commit them to your local repo.
+The commits should be separated into logical patches in a patchset.
+In general commits should be separated based on their directory such as ``lib``, ``drivers``, ``scripts`` although
+some of these, such as ``drivers`` may require finer grained separation.
+The easiest way of determining this is to do a ``git log`` on changed or similar files.
+
+Example of a logical patchset separation::
+
+   [patch 1/6]    ethdev: add support for ieee1588 timestamping
+   [patch 2/6]    e1000: add support for ieee1588 timestamping
+   [patch 3/6]    ixgbe: add support for ieee1588 timestamping
+   [patch 4/6]    i40e: add support for ieee1588 timestamping
+   [patch 5/6]    app/testpmd: refactor ieee1588 forwarding
+   [patch 6/6]    doc: document ieee1588 forwarding mode
+
+
+The component separation will also be used in the subject line of the commit message, see below.
+The required format of the commit messages is shown in the next sections.
+
+
+Commit Messages: Subject Line
+-----------------------------
+
+The first, summary, line of the git commit message becomes the subject line of the patch email.
+Here are some guidelines for the summary line:
+
+* The summary line should be around 50 characters.
+
+* The summary line should be lowercase.
+
+* It should be prefixed with the component name (use git log to check existing components).
+  For example::
+
+     config: enable same drivers options for linux and bsd
+
+     ixgbe: fix offload config option name
+
+* Use the imperative of the verb (like instructions to the code base).
+  For example::
+
+     ixgbe: fix bug in xyz
+
+     ixgbe: add refcount to foo struct
+
+* Don't add a period/full stop to the subject line or you will end up two in the patch name: ``dpdk_description..patch``.
+
+The actual email subject line should be prefixed by ``[PATCH]`` and the version, if greater than v1,
+for example: ``PATCH v2``.
+The is generally added by ``git send-email`` or ``git format-patch``, see below.
+
+If you are submitting a RFC draft of a feature you can use ``[RFC]`` instead of ``[PATCH]``.
+
+
+Commit Messages: Body
+---------------------
+
+Here are some guidelines for the body of a commit message:
+
+* You must provide a body to the commit message after the subject/summary line.
+  Do not leave it blank.
+
+* The body of the message should describe the issue being fixed or the feature being added.
+  It is important to provide enough information to allow a reviewer to understand the purpose of the patch.
+
+* The commit message must end with a ``Signed-off-by:`` line which is added using::
+
+      git commit --signoff # or -s
+
+  The purpose of the signoff is explained in the
+  `Developer's Certificate of Origin <http://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/SubmittingPatches>`_
+  section of the Linux kernel guidelines.
+
+  .. Note::
+
+     All developers must ensure that they have read and understood the
+     Developer's Certificate of Origin section of the documentation prior
+     to applying the signoff and submitting a patch.
+
+* The signoff must be a real name and not an alias or nickname.
+  More than one signoff is allowed.
+
+* The text of the commit message should be wrapped at 72 characters.
+
+* When fixing a regression, it is a good idea to reference the id of the commit which introduced the bug.
+  You can generate the required text as follows::
+
+     git log -1 COMMIT_ID --abbrev=12 --format='Fixes: %h ("%s")'
+
+     Fixes: a4024448efa6 ("i40e: add ieee1588 timestamping")
+
+* When fixing an error or warning it is useful to add the error message or output.
+
+* Use correct capitalization, punctuation and spelling.
+
+In addition to the ``Signed-off-by:`` name the commit messages can also have one or more of the following:
+
+* ``Reported-by:`` The reporter of the issue.
+* ``Tested-by:`` The tester of the change.
+* ``Reviewed-by:`` The reviewer of the change.
+* ``Suggested-by:`` The person who suggested the change.
+
+
+Creating Patches
+----------------
+
+It is possible to send patches directly from git but for new contributors it is recommended to generate the
+patches with ``git format-patch`` and then when everything looks okay, and the patches have been checked, to
+send them with ``git send-mail``.
+
+Here are some examples of using ``git format-patch`` to generate patches:
+
+.. code-block:: console
+
+   # Generate a patch from the last commit.
+   git format-patch -1
+
+   # Generate a patch from the last 3 commits.
+   git format-patch -3
+
+   # Generate the patches in a directory.
+   git format-patch -3 -o ~/patch/
+
+   # Add a cover letter to explain a patchset.
+   git format-patch -3 -o --cover-letter
+
+   # Add a prefix with a version number.
+   git format-patch -3 -o --subject-prefix 'PATCH v2'
+
+
+Cover letters are useful for explaining a patchset.
+Smaller notes can be put inline in the patch after the ``---`` separator, for example::
+
+   Subject: [PATCH] fm10k/base: add FM10420 device ids
+
+   Add the device ID for Boulder Rapids and Atwood Channel to enable
+   drivers to support those devices.
+
+   Signed-off-by: Wang Xiao W <xiao.w.wang@intel.com>
+   ---
+
+   ADD NOTES HERE.
+
+    drivers/net/fm10k/base/fm10k_api.c  | 6 ++++++
+    drivers/net/fm10k/base/fm10k_type.h | 6 ++++++
+    2 files changed, 12 insertions(+)
+   ...
+
+Version 2 and later of a patchset should also include a short log of the changes so the reviewer knows what has changed.
+This can go either in the cover letter on the annotations.
+For example::
+
+   v3:
+   * Fixed issued with version.map.
+
+   v2:
+   * Added i40e support.
+   * Renamed ethdev functions from rte_eth_ieee15888_*() to rte_eth_timesync_*()
+     since 802.1AS can be supported through the same interfaces.
+
+
+Checking the Patches
+--------------------
+
+Patches should be checked for formatting and syntax issues using the Linux scripts tool ``checkpatch``.
+
+The ``checkpatch`` utility can be obtained by cloning, and periodically, updating the Linux kernel sources.
+
+The kernel guidelines that are tested by ``checkpatch`` don't match the DPDK Coding Style guidelines exactly but
+they provide a good indication of conformance.
+Warnings about not using kernel data types or about split strings can be ignored::
+
+   /path/checkpatch.pl --ignore PREFER_KERNEL_TYPES,SPLIT_STRING -q files*.patch
+
+
+Sending Patches
+---------------
+
+Patches should be sent to the mailing list using ``git send-email``.
+This will require a working and configured ``sendmail`` or similar application.
+See the `Git send-mail <https://git-scm.com/docs/git-send-email>`_ documentation for more details.
+
+The patches should be sent to ``dev@dpdk.org``::
+
+   git send-email --to dev@dpdk.org 000*.patch
+
+If the patches are a change to existing files then you should CC the maintainer(s) of the changed files.
+The appropriate maintainer can be found in the ``MAINTAINERS`` file::
+
+   git send-email --to dev@dpdk.org --cc maintainer@some.org 000*.patch
+
+You can test the emails by sending it to yourself or with the ``--dry-run`` option.
+
+If the patch is in relation to a previous email thread you can add it to the same thread using the Message ID::
+
+   git send-email --to dev@dpdk.org --in-reply-to <1234-foo@bar.com> 000*.patch
+
+The Message ID can be found in the raw text of emails or at the top of each Patchwork patch,
+`for example <http://dpdk.org/dev/patchwork/patch/7646/>`_.
+
+
+Once submitted your patches will appear on the mailing list and in Patchwork.
+
+Experienced commiters may send patches directly with ``git send-email`` without the ``git format-patch`` step.
+
+
+The Review Process
+------------------
+
+The more work you put into the previous steps the easier it will be to get a patch accepted.
+
+The general cycle for patch review and acceptance is:
+
+#. Submit the patch.
+
+#. Wait for review comments. While you are waiting review some other patches.
+
+#. Fix the review comments and submit a ``v n+1`` patchset::
+
+      git format-patch -3 -o --subject-prefix 'PATCH v2'
+
+#. Update Patchwork to mark your previous patches as "Superseded".
+
+#. If the patch is deemed suitable for merging by the relevant maintainer(s) or other developers they will ``ack``
+   the patch with an email that includes something like::
+
+      Acked-by: Alex Smith <alex.smith@example.com>
+
+   **Note**: When acking patches please remove as much of the text of the patch email as possible.
+   It is generally best to delete everything after the ``Signed-off-by:`` line.
+
+#. If the patch isn't deemed suitable based on being out of scope or conflicting with existing functionality
+   it may receive a ``nack``.
+   In this case you will need to make a more convincing technical argument in favor of your patches.
+
+#. Acked patches will be merged in the next merge window.