---
title: "Cross Repo Commit Policy"
sidenav: docs
---

= Cross Repo Commit Policy

This policy provides flexibility for contributors to commit across repositories without heavyweight processes for small, low-impact changes, while ensuring larger changes still undergo normal review and oversight.

== Policy Guidelines

* *Obvious Fixes:* Anyone may make obvious, small changes (e.g., typo or build break fixes) to any repository, subject to repository-specific rules.
* *Repository Rules:* Committers must know, understand, and follow the specific rules and validation tools of the repositories they are modifying.
* *Cross-Repository Trust:* When committing outside their primary area, committers are trusted to use their best judgment based on the following framework:
** *Sufficient Review:* The change has received appropriate peer review for its size and complexity.
** *Expert Consultation:* Repository experts are consulted for non-trivial changes.
** *Stricter Rules:* The committer remains deferential to areas requiring formal oversight (e.g., the `ports/Mk` tree).
** *Scale:* The larger or more complex the change, the more critical it is to seek review and wait for explicit approval.
** *When in Doubt:* Seek review from a committer experienced in the target repository before committing.
* *Accountability:* Committers must accept feedback on both process and content. If a mistake occurs, the default action is an immediate backout, followed by a more formal review, as appropriate.

When in doubt, ask first and seek a sanity check.

See the extref:{committers-guide}[Committer's Guide] for specific blanket grants and commit message conventions.