Contributing to Sourcegraph/Zoekt

This guide outlines how to contribute to the Sourcegraph/Zoekt project. Zoekt is a fast and scalable code search engine designed for large codebases.

Prerequisites:

• Familiarity with Go programming language and its ecosystem.
• Understanding of code search and indexing concepts.
• Basic understanding of Git and GitHub.

Getting Started:

1. Fork the repository: Fork the sourcegraph/zoekt repository on GitHub. This creates a copy of the project in your personal account.
2. Clone your fork: Clone the forked repository to your local machine.

git clone [email protected]:<your-username>/zoekt.git

3. Create a branch: Create a new branch for your contribution. It’s recommended to use descriptive names for your branches.

git checkout -b <branch-name>

4. Install dependencies: Install the necessary dependencies by running the following command.

go get github.com/sourcegraph/zoekt/

5. Make your changes: Make your changes on the newly created branch.
6. Run tests: Zoekt has a comprehensive test suite. Run the tests to ensure your changes don’t introduce any regressions.

go test ./...

7. Commit your changes: Commit your changes with a clear and concise message describing the changes you’ve made.

git add .
git commit -m "Fix: <Issue description>"

8. Push your changes: Push your branch to your fork.

git push origin <branch-name>

9. Create a pull request: Go to your fork on GitHub, navigate to your branch, and create a pull request against the main branch of the original sourcegraph/zoekt repository.

Contributing to Zoekt’s Core Functionality:

Zoekt has various components that developers can contribute to. Here are some areas where your contributions can make a significant impact:

• Search Engine Improvements: Enhance the search engine’s performance, accuracy, and features. This could involve optimizing algorithms, implementing new search operators, or improving ranking mechanisms.
• Indexing Enhancements: Contribute to the indexing pipeline by optimizing the indexing process, supporting new file types or formats, or improving index compression techniques.
• Web Interface Enhancements: Improve the user experience of the Zoekt web interface by adding new features, improving the search results display, or making it more responsive and accessible.
• API Development: Enhance the JSON API by adding new endpoints, expanding its functionality, or improving its performance and security.

Contributing to Zoekt’s Ecosystem:

You can also contribute to Zoekt’s ecosystem by:

• Developing Integrations: Create integrations for Zoekt with other tools and services, such as IDEs, code repositories, or continuous integration platforms.
• Writing Documentation: Improve the existing documentation or contribute new documentation for specific features, use cases, or APIs.
• Creating Examples: Develop illustrative examples showcasing the use of Zoekt for various tasks and scenarios.

Code Style and Conventions:

• Adhere to the existing code style and conventions in the sourcegraph/zoekt repository.
• Use Go’s built-in code formatter (gofmt) to ensure consistent formatting.

Testing:

• Write thorough unit tests for your changes to ensure they function correctly.
• Run the existing test suite to identify potential regressions.

Code Review:

• Submit your changes as a pull request and patiently await feedback from the maintainers.
• Be responsive to feedback and address any concerns raised during the review process.

Contribution Process:

• Use GitHub issues to discuss potential contributions, bug reports, and feature requests.
• Prioritize contributions that are well-documented, tested, and aligned with the project’s goals.

By following these guidelines, you can contribute to the success of Sourcegraph/Zoekt and help build a powerful and versatile code search engine.