GNU Info

(maintain.info)Recording Contributors

---

Next: Copyright Papers Prev: Legal Matters Up: Legal Matters

---

Enter node , (file) or (file)node

Recording Contributors
======================

   *Keep correct records of which portions were written by whom.* This
is very important.

   These records should say which files, or parts of files, were
written by each person, and which files or portions were revised by
each person.

   But they don't need to be as detailed as a change log.  They don't
need to distinguish work done at different times, only different people.
They don't need describe changes in more detail than which files or
parts of a file were changed.  And they don't need to say anything about
the function or purpose of a file or change-the Register of Copyrights
doesn't care what the text does, just who wrote or contributed to which
parts.

   You need not list someone who has contributed just a few lines (less
than 15) of minor changes, but keep in mind that a series of minor
changes can add up to a significant contribution that does need to be
listed.

   The list should also mention if certain files distributed in the same
package are really a separate program.

   For example, this would describe an early version of GAS:

     Dean Elsner   first version of all files except gdb-lines.c and m68k.c.
     Jay Fenlason  entire files gdb-lines.c and m68k.c, most of app.c,
                   plus extensive changes in messages.c, input-file.c, write.c
                   and revisions elsewhere.
     
     Note: GAS is distributed with the files obstack.c and obstack.h, but
     they are considered a separate package, not part of GAS proper.

   Please keep these records in a file named `AUTHORS' in the source
directory for the program itself.