Moby BuildKit: How To Contribute And Report Issues

Nov 2, 2025 by Admin 51 views

Hey there, fellow tech enthusiasts! Ever wanted to dive into the world of Moby BuildKit and maybe even lend a hand? Well, you've come to the right place! This guide is your ultimate companion, covering everything from contributing guidelines to how to report issues effectively. Let's get started and make BuildKit even better, shall we?

Contributing Guidelines and Issue Reporting Guide: Your Starting Point

Before you jump in, it's super important to understand the ground rules. Think of it like learning the rules of a game before you play. In this case, the contributing guidelines and the issue reporting guide are your rulebooks. They are located at contributing guidelines and issue reporting guide. Give them a read – trust me, it’s worth it! This will not only make your contributions smoother but also ensure that your issue reports are clear and helpful.

Why These Guides Matter

Contributing Guidelines: This document outlines how you can contribute to the project. It covers everything from code style to the types of contributions that are most welcome. Following these guidelines helps maintain consistency and ensures that your contributions are easily integrated. It's like having a shared language that everyone speaks, which makes collaboration a breeze. If you're planning to submit code, this is your bible.

Issue Reporting Guide: Got a bug? Found something that's not working as expected? This guide is your friend. It explains how to report issues in a way that helps the developers understand and fix them quickly. A well-written issue report saves everyone time and effort. It's like giving the developers a clear roadmap to the problem, so they can find the solution faster. The more information you provide, the better. This is especially true if you are finding a bug or something that does not match the documentation.

By taking the time to read these guides, you’re setting yourself up for success. You’ll be able to contribute effectively, report issues that get addressed, and become a valued member of the Moby BuildKit community. Think of it as your onboarding process. Knowledge is power, and in the world of open-source, it’s the key to making a real impact.

Well-Formed Report Checklist: Making Your Report Count

Now, let's talk about what makes a good issue report. Nobody wants to waste their time, right? Using a well-formed report checklist ensures that you provide all the necessary information, making it easier for the developers to understand and address the problem. This checklist is your secret weapon. Before you hit that “submit” button, ask yourself these questions.

The Checklist: Your Guide to a Great Report

Bug Unmentioned in Documentation: Is the bug you found something that isn’t already covered in the documentation? If it’s a new issue, you’re on the right track.
No Existing Issues: Has anyone else reported the same problem? Check both open and closed issues to make sure your bug isn’t already known. If it's a new one, document it.
Reproducer Provided: Can you provide the steps to reproduce the bug? This is super important! The developers need to be able to replicate the issue to understand and fix it. Including commands and input files is a lifesaver.

By following this checklist, you provide the developers with a clear and concise description of the problem. This saves them time and helps them find a solution faster. Think of it as giving them a complete puzzle, so they can assemble it without missing any pieces.

Description of Bug: Paint the Picture

Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. The description of the bug is where you paint a picture for the developers. The clearer you are, the better. This section should cover the bug description and the expected behavior.

Bug Description: What’s Happening and Why

This is where you explain what’s going wrong. Be as specific as possible. What exactly are you seeing? What steps led to the issue? What error messages did you encounter? Give as much detail as possible. Don’t assume the developers know what you’re doing. Explain it as if you’re teaching a friend. Use examples and screenshots if possible. A well-written description will save everyone time and help them understand the problem quickly.

Observed Behavior: What You See

Describe the actual behavior you observed. What did BuildKit do? Did it crash? Did it produce unexpected results? Be precise. If there are any error messages, include them. This will help the developers understand what went wrong and how it manifested in the system. The more details you provide, the better.

Expected Behavior: What Should Happen

Explain what you expected BuildKit to do. What should have happened instead of what you observed? This helps the developers understand the intended functionality and what’s not working correctly. This is the goal or the desired outcome. Being clear about expectations is crucial.

By providing a thorough description of the bug, including both observed and expected behaviors, you give the developers all the information they need to understand and address the problem. It’s like providing a complete story with a beginning, a middle, and an end, which helps them quickly find the problem.

Reproduction: Your Step-by-Step Guide

This is the most critical part of your report. Reproduction is all about providing the steps to recreate the bug. Developers need to be able to reproduce the problem to understand and fix it. If they can’t reproduce it, they can’t fix it. So, make sure your steps are clear, concise, and easy to follow. Think of this section as a recipe that, when followed, will produce the bug.

Steps to Reproduce: The Recipe for the Bug

Be Precise: Provide a step-by-step guide. List each action in the exact order you took it. Don’t leave anything out. Even the smallest detail can be important.
Use Commands: If you're using commands like docker build or docker buildx build, include the exact command you ran. This is crucial for replication. Don’t just say “I ran a build command”. Show them the exact command. The developers need to know precisely what you did.
Include Input Files: If you used any input files (like a Dockerfile or any other configuration files), include them as well. This will help the developers understand the context of the bug. Put the code in the markdown format.
Environment Details: Mention the versions of your tools (Docker, BuildKit, etc.) and your operating system. This helps developers create an environment similar to yours. Including the environment details will assist with debugging.
Test, Test, Test: Before submitting your report, test the steps yourself. Make sure they actually reproduce the bug. This will save time and ensure your report is accurate. Double-check your work.

By providing clear and concise reproduction steps, you empower the developers to quickly understand and fix the problem. You are helping them by giving them the recipe for the bug. Without this, fixing the issue is very difficult.

Version Information: The Fine Print

This section is about providing details about your environment. This information helps the developers understand the context of the bug. It is important for them to be able to reproduce the issue and ensure the fix works in similar environments. Include details about your environment.

What to Include

Terminal Output: Show the output of the commands that show your environment details. Use the docker version or docker info command, and include the output. This provides the version of docker and other dependencies that you have. Put the output into the code markdown section.
Operating System: Specify the operating system you are using (e.g., Ubuntu 20.04, macOS Monterey). This helps the developers understand the environment.
BuildKit Version: Include the exact version of BuildKit you are using. This helps with reproducing the problem. You can find this information by running a command like docker buildx version. Include the version information.

By providing this version information, you allow the developers to understand your environment. This will help them to resolve the problem effectively and with ease. They can reproduce the problem if they have the version information.