Adopting a Plugin or Template

Basically there are three main steps you should take in order to adopt a plugin or template:

• Try to contact the author to make sure the plugin/template is really an orphan
  • if not, send patches to the author instead of creating a new, just slightly different version of the plugin/template (like we currently have with translation, translation2, translation3, …)
  • if the plugin/template is already hosted on a platform like github there is also the possibility that the current author gives you commit access so you can directly commit your changes, manage issues etc. and support the development of the plugin/template without the need that the plugin/template author needs to apply every change you are making.
• If the plugin/template is an orphan, send a mail to the mailinglist with your intend to adopt the plugin/template

• Clone the repository at github if it's there already
• If it isn't check in the last original version into some version control (git + github are recommended)
• If you want there is also the offer to use the dokufreaks account on github for hosting your adopted plugin/template. This account is an organization which means there are different teams in it that can have access to different repositories. If the repository you are adopting is already on the dokufreaks account adopting it there means that e.g. download links don't need to be changed and thus the next update for users will be smoother. If you however feel more comfortable on your own account or a completely different service/setup that's also no problem at all, this is just an offer. If you want to get access you need to contact one of the owners, that's currently (2010-11-29) andiAndreas Gohr
  andi
  
  Berlin Germany, fooselGina Häußge
  foosel
  
  Darmstadt, Germany and michituxMichael Hamann
  michitux
  
  Karlsruhe, Germany.

• Change the plugin/template page and the information provided in the plugin/template itself
  • put your name as author
  • put your email address
  • change the download link to your download of the plugin/template
  • put some info about the original author somewhere in the description of the plugin/template
• Now you are ready to add your patches and make new releases (and should of course do that)

For authors giving their plugins/templates to adoption: use some tag? “orphan”? If possible send a mail to the mailinglist explaining which plugins/templates you are giving to adoption and in which state they are (and perhaps also some notes which skills the future author needs). Such a mail could of course also be used to find other people who are willing to help you developing the plugin/template.