:Tags: joining, fedpkg, rpms
:Slug: becoming-a-package-maintainer
= Becoming a package maintainer

Fedora Packages are maintained collectively by a community of both Red Hat members and volunteers.
Software components included in Fedora need to be maintained actively, and bugs - especially security issues - need to be fixed in a timely manner. 
As a Fedora package maintainer, it is your primary https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Package_maintainer_responsibilities[ responsibility] to ensure this.

This guide will lead you through the initial steps for joining the packaging team.

[[create-a-fedora-account]]
== Create a Fedora Account

Create an account in the https://admin.fedoraproject.org/accounts/[Fedora Account System], and https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Account_System/CompleteFPCA[complete the Fedora Project Contributor Agreement (FPCA)]

Additionally, you require a RSA SSH key to work on Fedora packages. Add your public RSA SSH key to the Fedora Account System. 
More information on creating an SSH key is available in the https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Cryptography[Cryptography article].

[[join-the-important-mailing-lists]]
== Join the important Mailing Lists
There are several mailing lists that are useful to Fedora Package Maintainers. 
devel-announce is the only mailing list that is required for Fedora Package Maintainers to belong to.

=== devel-announce mailing list
Fedora Package Maintainers are expected to join the https://lists.fedoraproject.org/admin/lists/devel-announce.lists.fedoraproject.org/[devel-announce mailing list.] 
devel-announce is a low traffic announcements only list, where important development information is posted.

=== devel mailing list
Joining the https://lists.fedoraproject.org/admin/lists/devel.lists.fedoraproject.org/[devel mailing list] is recommended for Fedora Package Maintainers. 
devel is a high-traffic mailing list where discussions about the development of Fedora are held.

=== packaging mailing list
Another mailing list you might consider (at least to view the archives)
is the https://lists.fedoraproject.org/admin/lists/packaging@lists.fedoraproject.org/[packaging mailing list]. This is the mailing list of the link:Packaging/Committee[ Fedora
Packaging Committee], who determine the official packaging guidelines
for Fedora projects.

[[read-the-guidelines]]
== Read the Guidelines

The https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Packaging:Guidelines[Fedora Packaging Guidelines] specify a list of recommendations for Fedora packages.
The http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Packaging:Naming[Package Naming Guidelines] specify recommendations for how Fedora packages are named.

For detailed information on creating an RPM package, refer to the guide to https://docs.fedoraproject.org/quick-docs/en-US/creating-rpm-packages.html[creating an RPM package.]

== Next steps
* #[setting up your system for packaging]
* #[creating a new package in Fedora]