Newbie Guide for Windows People Working on Minor Bugs

= Install and Set Things Up =

You'll only have to do this once.

Get a Dreamhack
What's a Dreamhack? To put it simply, it's a mirror of the Dreamwidth site where you can test your changes.


 * Apply for a Dreamhack by filling this form.


 * Get PuTTY - choose the 'Windows installer for everything except PuTTYtel' .exe file - and install it.


 * Run PuTTY. In the configuration window, enter "hack.dreamwidth.net" for the host name. Go to Connection/Data and enter the username/login given to you in the welcome e-mail. It should be something like dh-xxx.


 * You may also want to change the Window/Appearance, Window/Colours and Window/Selection settings.


 * Once you're done, go back to Session. Select Default Settings and click on Save.


 * Click on Open. Click Yes on the pop-up message box.


 * Enter the password given to you in the welcome e-mail when asked. Note that no characters are displayed and the cursor won't move. It's normal.


 * Change your password by typing:


 * On your Dreamhack, the default user is called 'system'. You need to set its password so you can access this account. Type:


 * Once you're done type:


 * You can access your Dreamhack at http://yourusername.hack.dreamwidth.net/ and log in as system. You may want to upgrade your account to a paid one by going here.

Install WinSCP
What for? WinSCP will allow you to see and manage the files of your Dreamhack. You'll use it to edit the theme/layout files.


 * Install WinSCP. I chose the Explorer mode because I don't need to access any files on my computer but choose what's best for you.


 * Use "hack.dreamwidth.net" for the host name. Enter your username and password. Click on Save then on Login.

Set Up Your Dreamhack
Again?! Yes, you need to create some files that will make keeping your Dreamhack up-to-date easier.


 * Follow the steps outlined at Back Up Your Configs.


 * N.B. To create files, go to WinSCP, go to the right directory, right-click on New/File and edit.


 * Also create the dwu, dws and dwdb scripts as explained in Scripting.


 * In PuTTY, type this then Enter:

This will create a directory where your patches will be put into:


 * Do the same thing with dw-nonfree if you're working with non-free styles:

The directory will be:

Create a Bugzilla account
Simply click here.

= How All of This Works =


 * Your Dreamhack has two parts:
 * the live part
 * two main repository parts ( and  ).


 * What you see on http://yourusername.hack.dreamwidth.net/ is the live part.


 * But you edit files in the repository parts and you create patches in the repository parts.


 * To make the live part match the repository parts, you use 'synchronize' and 'update database':


 * You mustn't forget to regularly update the repository parts by running 'update':

Of course, you'll have to run  and   again after that. You'll do this often. :)


 * To edit files, you use WinSCP.


 * To create patches and update code, you use PuTTY.


 * To find bugs, file bugs, upload patches, you use Bugzilla.

= Before You Fix Anything =

Find or File a Bug

 * To find: use simple search, advanced search or predefined searches such as unassigned effort-minor.


 * To file: use this form. Fill and edit the fields as needed and don't forget to change the e-mail address in Assign To.

Create a Patch

 * First make sure nobody's working on the files you want to edit. If there are already patches up for review/commit, you may need to first import and apply these patches to your Dreamhack to avoid conflicts. You can see patches up for commit by clicking here.


 * Open PuTTY and update everything. You need to work with the latest code.


 * Go to dw-free by typing this then Enter:


 * To go to dw-nonfree, type this then Enter:


 * Create a new patch by typing this then Enter (change NUMBER and PATCHNAME of course):

Import a Patch

 * Go to Bugzilla, open the bug, click on the patch. Copy its URL.


 * In PuTTY, go to dw-free:


 * Then type this to import the patch and name it patch:


 * Type this to apply the patch:


 * Synchronize your live code (as explained above).

= Edit Files =

Use WinSCP to open the file(s) you need to edit.

TODO: indicate where some files are (upgrading/S2Layers & htdocs probably).

N.B. If WinSCP is not using your favorite editor, go to View/Preferences/Editor. Click on Add/External Editor and Browse. At the end don't forget to click on Up to make it the default editor.

= Test Your Changes on Your Dreamhack =


 * In PuTTY, stop your Dreamhack:


 * Synchronize your live code and update your database:


 * Start your Dreamhack again:


 * Go to your Dreamhack and test. Edit the files again in WinSCP if more changes are needed. Go through these steps again to resynchronize your live code and test your new changes.

= Upload Your Patch =

Update & Save Your Patch

 * In PuTTY, go to your patch directory (see this section if you've forgotten how to)


 * Type this to update your patch file:


 * Go to your patch directory in WinSCP and save a copy of your patch on your computer (see this section if you've forgotten where the patch folder is).


 * Go back to the default code by typing (PATCHNAME is full name with extension too):

For more commands, see https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Mercurial_Queues

!!! Do not manually edit your patch. This may cause errors and your patch won't work.

Upload Your Patch

 * Log in onto Bugzilla and open your bug.


 * Click on 'Add an Attachment' to attach your patch. Add a description and check 'patch'. Set Flags/Commit and Flags/Review to ? then click on Commit.


 * Wait for someone to review and commit your patch. :) You're done. Congrats!

= Specific Topics for People Working on Styles Bugs =

How do I File a New Style Bug?
Use this template. Fill and edit the fields as needed and don't forget to change the e-mail address in Assign To.

Where are Styles Files?

 * core2.s2 is in


 * Theme and layout .s2 files are in  or


 * .pm layout files are in


 * S2Theme.pm is in


 * S2Theme_local.pm is in


 * s2layers.dat is in


 * s2layers-local.dat is in