--- /dev/null
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+HACKING
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Coding style
+------------
+
+This project is programmed using the Linux kernel coding style, see
+http://lxr.linux.no/linux/Documentation/CodingStyle for details.
+
+Please use the same style for any code contributions, thanks!
+
+The Python decoders should follow the usual Python conventions and use
+Python idioms as far as it makes sense. The coding style should mostly follow
+the Python PEP-8, which includes the convention of 4 spaces for indentation.
+See http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0008/ for details.
+
+
+Contributions
+-------------
+
+ - Patches should be sent to the development mailinglist at
+ sigrok-devel@lists.sourceforge.net (please subscribe to the list first).
+
+ https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/sigrok-devel
+
+ - Alternatively, you can also clone the git repository and let us know
+ from where to pull/review your changes. You can use gitorious.org,
+ github.com, or any other public git hosting site.
+
+
+Random notes
+------------
+
+ - Consistently use g_try_malloc() / g_try_malloc0(). Do not use standard
+ malloc()/calloc() if it can be avoided (sometimes other libs such
+ as libftdi can return malloc()'d memory, for example).
+
+ - Always properly match allocations with the proper *free() functions. If
+ glib's g_try_malloc()/g_try_malloc0() was used, use g_free() to free the
+ memory. Otherwise use standard free(). Never use the wrong function!
+
+ - Never use g_malloc() or g_malloc0(). These functions do not return NULL
+ if not enough memory is available but rather lead to an exit() or segfault
+ instead. This behaviour is not acceptable for libraries.
+ Use g_try_malloc()/g_try_malloc0() instead and check the return value.
+
+ - You should never print any messages (neither to stdout nor stderr nor
+ elsewhere) "manually" via e.g. printf() or g_log() or similar functions.
+ Only srd_err()/srd_warn()/srd_info()/srd_dbg()/srd_spew() should be used.
+
+ - Use glib's gboolean / TRUE / FALSE for boolean types consistently.
+ Do not use <stdbool.h> and its true / false, and do not invent private
+ definitions for this either.
+
+ - Consistently use the same naming convention for #include guards in headers:
+ <PROJECTNAME>_<PATH_TO_FILE>_<FILE>
+ This ensures that all #include guards are always unique and consistent.
+ Example: LIBSIGROKDECODE_SIGROKDECODE_INTERNAL_H
+
+ - Consistently use the same naming convention for API functions:
+ <libprefix>_<groupname>_<action>().
+
+ Examples:
+ srd_log_loglevel_set(), srd_log_loglevel_get(), srd_log_handler_set(),
+ srd_log_handler_set_default(), and so on.
+
+ Getter/setter function names should usually end with "_get" or "_set".
+ Functions creating new "objects" should end with "_new".
+ Functions destroying "objects" should end with "_destroy".
+ Functions adding or removing items (e.g. from lists) should end with
+ either "_add" or "_remove".
+ Functions operating on all items from a list (not on only one of them),
+ should end with "_all", e.g. "_remove_all", "_get_all", and so on.
+ Use "_remove_all" in favor of "_clear" for consistency.
+
+ - In Doxygen comments, put an empty line between the block of @param lines
+ and the final @return line. The @param lines themselves (if there is more
+ than one) are not separated by empty lines.
+
+
+Protocol decoder guidelines
+---------------------------
+
+ - The 'desc' metadata field for a protocol decoder, which contains a
+ short, one-line description of the protocol/bus, should be at most 55
+ characters long, and end with a full stop. This short description can be
+ displayed on the command-line using "sigrok-cli -V -l 3", or in various
+ different places in GUIs.
+
+ - Longer, multi-line descriptions should be placed in the protocol
+ decoder's __init__.py file as docstring. It can be viewed (for a specific
+ protocol decoder, e.g., UART) via "sigrok-cli -a uart", or in various
+ other places in GUIs.
+
+ - Generally use strings for states (of the PD state machine), not integers.
+ This avoids having to keep a list of state definitions at the top of file.
+ The performance overhead for this is negligible in practice.
+
+ Recommended:
+ self.state = 'IDLE'
+ self.state = 'GET STOP BIT'
+ Not recommended:
+ self.state = IDLE
+ self.state = GET_STOP_BIT
+ (where IDLE = 0 and GET_STOP_BIT = 1, for example)
+
+ - Generally use strings for commands/IDs in generated protocol packets.
+ This avoids having to know magic numbers of the PD in higher-level PDs.
+ The performance overhead for this is negligible in practice.
+
+ Recommended:
+ self.put(x, y, p, ['STOPBIT', 0, 0])
+ self.put(x, y, p, ['ADDRESS READ', 0x51])
+ Not recommended:
+ self.put(x, y, p, [STOPBIT, 0, 0])
+ self.put(x, y, p, [ADDRESS_READ, 0x51])
+ (with STOPBIT = 3 and ADDRESS_READ = 7, for example)
+
+ - Use ALL-CAPS names for PD states and protocol packet commands/ID.
+ Words should be separated by spaces (not underscores or the like).
+
+ Recommended:
+ 'FIND ADDRESS', 'GET TEMPERATURE', 'START'
+ Not recommended:
+ 'FIND_ADDRESS', 'Get Temperature', 'start'
+
+
+Release engineering
+-------------------
+
+See
+
+ http://sigrok.org/wiki/Developers/Release_process
+
+for a list of items that need to be done when releasing a new tarball.
+