CHAPTER 42

Helping with Ubuntu Development

IN THIS CHAPTER

Introduction    to  Ubuntu  Development

Setting Up  Your    Development System

Fixing  Bugs    and Packaging

Finding Bugs    to  Fix with    Harvest

Masters of  the Universe

References

Whereas Chapter 41, “Using Ubuntu for Opportunistic Software

Development,” talks about developing to scratch your own itch, this chapter
focuses on becoming part of a larger team—specifically the group of talented
men and women who develop and package software for Ubuntu as a whole.
Ubuntu is made up of thousands of different components that are written in
several different programming languages. Every component is available as
source code, which is gathered into source packages. Source packages also
include other content, specifically metadata describing things like copyright
and licensing information, required dependencies, and build instructions for
compiling or assembling the software for use. These source packages are used
to build binary .deb packages, which are then included in the Ubuntu
software repositories and made available for quick and easy installation by
users. There are ways for anyone interested and willing to do a bit of study to
use their skills to help.

When a bug is found, it gets fixed only if someone helps out and spends time
exploring the program code to find and fix it. Then the fix becomes available
to the wider community only if someone takes the time to build a new
package that includes the fix and then uploads that package to an appropriate
location in the Ubuntu software repositories.