288 lines
13 KiB
Markdown
288 lines
13 KiB
Markdown
<!-- Copyright 2015-2020 Signal Messenger, LLC -->
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<!-- SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only -->
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# Contributor Guidelines
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## Advice for new contributors
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Start small. The PRs most likely to be merged are the ones that make small,
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easily reviewed changes with clear and specific intentions. See below for more
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[guidelines on pull requests](#pull-requests).
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It's a good idea to gauge interest in your intended work by finding the current issue
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for it or creating a new one yourself. You can use also that issue as a place to signal
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your intentions and get feedback from the users most likely to appreciate your changes.
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Once you've spent a little bit of time planning your solution, you can go
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back to the issue and talk about your approach. We'd be happy to provide feedback. [An
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ounce of prevention, as they say!](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/247269-an-ounce-of-prevention-is-worth-a-pound-of-cure)
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## Developer Setup
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First, you'll need [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/) which matches our current version.
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You can check [`.nvmrc` in the `development` branch](https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop/blob/development/.nvmrc)
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to see what the current version is. If you have [nvm](https://github.com/creationix/nvm)
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you can just run `nvm use` in the project directory and it will switch to the project's
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desired Node.js version. [nvm for windows](https://github.com/coreybutler/nvm-windows) is
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still useful, but it doesn't support `.nvmrc` files.
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Then you need [`git`](https://git-scm.com/) and [`git-lfs`](https://github.com/git-lfs/git-lfs/wiki/Installation), if you don't have those yet.
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### macOS
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Install the [Xcode Command-Line Tools](http://osxdaily.com/2014/02/12/install-command-line-tools-mac-os-x/).
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### Windows
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1. **Windows 7 only:**
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- Install Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1:
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https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40773
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- Install Windows SDK version 8.1: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/sdk-archive
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1. Install _Windows Build Tools_: Open the [Command Prompt (`cmd.exe`) as Administrator](<https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc947813(v=ws.10).aspx>)
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and run: `npm install --vs2015 --global --production --add-python-to-path windows-build-tools`
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### Linux
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1. Pick your favorite package manager.
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1. Install `python` (Python 3.6+)
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1. Install `gcc`
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1. Install `g++`
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1. Install `make`
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### All platforms
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Now, run these commands in your preferred terminal in a good directory for development:
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```
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git lfs install # Setup Git LFS.
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npm install --global yarn # Make sure you have have `yarn`
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git clone https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop.git
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cd Signal-Desktop
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yarn install --frozen-lockfile # Install and build dependencies (this will take a while)
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yarn generate # Generate final JS and CSS assets
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yarn build:webpack # Build parts of the app that use webpack (Sticker Creator)
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yarn test # A good idea to make sure tests run first
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yarn start # Start Signal!
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```
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You'll need to restart the application regularly to see your changes, as there
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is no automatic restart mechanism. Alternatively, keep the developer tools open
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(`View > Toggle Developer Tools`), hover over them, and press
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<kbd>Cmd</kbd> + <kbd>R</kbd> (macOS) or <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>R</kbd>
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(Windows & Linux).
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Also, note that the assets loaded by the application are not necessarily the same files
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you’re touching. You may not see your changes until you run `yarn generate` on the
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command-line like you did during setup. You can make it easier on yourself by generating
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the latest built assets when you change a file. Run each of these in their own terminal
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instance while you make changes - they'll run until you stop them:
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```
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yarn transpile --watch # recompiles when you change .ts files
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yarn sass-manifest --watch # recompiles when you change .scss files
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```
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If you miss the `git-lfs` step, run `yarn cache clean` and remove `node_modules` before trying again.
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### webpack
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Some parts of the app (such as the Sticker Creator) have moved to webpack.
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You can run a development server for these parts of the app with the
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following command:
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```
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yarn dev
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```
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In order for the app to make requests to the development server you must set
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the `SIGNAL_ENABLE_HTTP` environment variable to a truthy value. On Linux and
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macOS, that simply looks like this:
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```
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SIGNAL_ENABLE_HTTP=1 yarn start
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```
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## Setting up standalone
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By default the application will connect to the **staging** servers, which means that you
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**will not** be able to link it with your primary mobile device.
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Fear not! You don't have to link the app with your phone. On the QR code screen, you can
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select 'Set Up as Standalone Device' from the File menu, which goes through the
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registration process like you would on a phone.
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Note: you won't be linked to a primary phone, which will make testing certain things very
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difficult (contacts, profiles, and groups are all solely managed on your phone).
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## The staging environment
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Sadly, this default setup results in no contacts and no message history, an entirely
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empty application. But you can use the information from your production install of Signal
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Desktop to populate your testing application!
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First, exit both production and development apps (In macOS - literally quit the apps).
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Second, find your application data:
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- macOS: `~/Library/Application Support/Signal`
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- Linux: `~/.config/Signal`
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- Windows 10: `C:\Users\<YourName>\AppData\Roaming\Signal`
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Now make a copy of this production data directory in the same directory (a sibling of the Signal
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directory), and call it `Signal-development`. Now start up the development version of the app as normal,
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and you'll see all of your contacts and messages!
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You'll notice a prompt to re-link, because your production credentials won't work on
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staging. Click 'Relink', then 'Standalone', then verify the phone number and click
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'Send SMS.'
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Once you've entered the confirmation code sent to your phone, you are registered as a
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standalone staging device with your normal phone number, and a copy of your production
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message history and contact list.
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Here's the catch: you can't message any of these contacts, since they haven't done the
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same thing. Who can you message for testing?
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## Additional storage profiles
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What you need for proper testing is additional phone numbers, to register additional
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standalone devices. You can get them via
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[Twilio ($1/mo. per number + $0.0075 per SMS)](https://www.twilio.com/), or via
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[Google Voice (one number per Google Account, free SMS)](https://voice.google.com/).
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Once you have the additional numbers, you can setup additional storage profiles and switch
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between them using the `NODE_APP_INSTANCE` environment variable.
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For example, to create an 'alice' profile, put a file called `local-alice.json` in the
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`config` directory:
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```
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{
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"storageProfile": "aliceProfile"
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}
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```
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Then you can start up the application a little differently to load the profile:
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```
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NODE_APP_INSTANCE=alice yarn run start
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```
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This changes the [userData](https://electron.atom.io/docs/all/#appgetpathname)
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directory from `%appData%/Signal` to `%appData%/Signal-aliceProfile`.
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# Making changes
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So you're in the process of preparing that pull request. Here's how to make that go
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smoothly.
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## Tests
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Please write tests! Our testing framework is
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[mocha](http://mochajs.org/) and our assertion library is
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[chai](http://chaijs.com/api/assert/).
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The easiest way to run all tests at once is `yarn test`, which will run them on the
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command line. You can run the client-side tests in an interactive session with
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`NODE_ENV=test yarn run start`.
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## Pull requests
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So you wanna make a pull request? Please observe the following guidelines.
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- First, make sure that your `yarn ready` run passes - it's very similar to what our
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Continuous Integration servers do to test the app.
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- Please do not submit pull requests for translation fixes. Anyone can update
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the translations in [Transifex](https://www.transifex.com/projects/p/signal-desktop).
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- Never use plain strings right in the source code - pull them from `messages.json`!
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You **only** need to modify the default locale
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[`_locales/en/messages.json`](_locales/en/messages.json). Other locales are generated
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automatically based on that file and then periodically uploaded to Transifex for
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translation.
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- [Rebase](https://nathanleclaire.com/blog/2014/09/14/dont-be-scared-of-git-rebase/) your
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changes on the latest `development` branch, resolving any conflicts.
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This ensures that your changes will merge cleanly when you open your PR.
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- Be sure to add and run tests!
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- Make sure the diff between the development branch and your branch contains only the
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minimal set of changes needed to implement your feature or bugfix. This will
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make it easier for the person reviewing your code to approve the changes.
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Please do not submit a PR with commented out code or unfinished features.
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- Avoid meaningless or too-granular commits. If your branch contains commits like
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the lines of "Oops, reverted this change" or "Just experimenting, will
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delete this later", please [squash or rebase those changes away](https://robots.thoughtbot.com/git-interactive-rebase-squash-amend-rewriting-history).
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- Don't have too few commits. If you have a complicated or long lived feature
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branch, it may make sense to break the changes up into logical atomic chunks
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to aid in the review process.
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- Provide a well written and nicely formatted commit message. See [this
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link](http://chris.beams.io/posts/git-commit/)
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for some tips on formatting. As far as content, try to include in your
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summary
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1. What you changed
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2. Why this change was made (including git issue # if appropriate)
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3. Any relevant technical details or motivations for your implementation
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choices that may be helpful to someone reviewing or auditing the commit
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history in the future. When in doubt, err on the side of a longer
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commit message.
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Above all, spend some time with the repository. Follow the pull request template added to
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your pull request description automatically. Take a look at recent approved pull requests,
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see how they did things.
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## Linking to a staging mobile device
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Multiple standalone desktop devices are great for testing of a lot of scenarios. But a lot
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of the Signal experience requires a primary mobile device: contact management,
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synchronizing read and verification states among all linked devices, etc.
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This presents a problem - even if you had another phone, the production versions of the
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iOS and Android apps are locked to the production servers. To test all scenarios in
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staging, your best bet is to pull down the development version of the iOS or Android app,
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and register it with one of your extra phone numbers:
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First, build Signal for Android or iOS from source, and point its service URL to `chat.staging.signal.org`:
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**on Android:** Replace the `SIGNAL_URL` value in [build.gradle](https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/blob/master/build.gradle)
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**on iOS:** Replace the `textSecureServerURL` value in `TSConstants.h`(located in the SignalServiceKit pod)
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This task is 1% search and replace, 99% setting up your build environment. Instructions are available for both
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the [Android](https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/blob/master/BUILDING.md)
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and [iOS](https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-iOS/blob/master/BUILDING.md) projects.
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Then you can set up your development build of Signal Desktop as normal. If you've already
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set up as a standalone install, you can switch by opening the DevTools (View -> Toggle
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Developer Tools) and entering this into the Console and pressing enter: `window.reduxActions.app.openInstaller();`
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## Changing to production
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If you're completely sure that your changes will have no impact to the production servers,
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you can connect your development build to the production server by putting a file called
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`local-development.json` in the `config` directory. It should be a copy of
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`production.json`, but you should set `updatesEnabled` to `false` so that the auto-update
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infrastructure doesn't kick in while you're developing.
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**Beware:** Setting up standalone with your primary phone number when connected to the
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production servers will _unregister_ your mobile device! All messages from your contacts
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will go to your new development desktop app instead of your phone.
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## Testing Production Builds
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To test changes to the build system, build a release using
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```
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yarn generate
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yarn build
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```
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Then, run the tests using `yarn test-release`.
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## Translations
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To pull the latest translations, follow these steps:
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1. Download Transifex client:
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https://docs.transifex.com/client/installing-the-client
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2. Create Transifex account: https://transifex.com
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3. Generate API token: https://www.transifex.com/user/settings/api/
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4. Create `~/.transifexrc` configuration:
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https://docs.transifex.com/client/client-configuration#-transifexrc
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5. Run `yarn get-strings`.
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