# Contributing

We welcome your code contributions. Before submitting code via a GitHub pull request or by filing a bug in [bugs.mysql.com](https://bugs.mysql.com), you will need to have signed the Oracle Contributor Agreement. Consult the [OCA Page](https://oca.opensource.oracle.com) for additional information.

**Only pull requests from committers that can be verified as having signed the OCA can be accepted.**

## Submitting Code Contributions

1. Make sure you have a user account at [bugs.mysql.com](https://bugs.mysql.com). You'll need to reference this user account when you submit your OCA (Oracle Contributor Agreement).
2. Sign the Oracle OCA. You can find instructions for doing that at the [OCA Page](https://oca.opensource.oracle.com).
3. Validate your contribution by including tests that sufficiently cover the functionality.
4. Verify that the entire test suite passes with your code applied.
5. Submit your pull request via [GitHub](https://github.com/mysql/mysql-connector-j/pulls/) or uploading it to a bug record in [bugs.mysql.com](https://bugs.mysql.com) using the _Contributions_ tab.

## None-Code Contributions

Submissions Other than Code. These terms apply to all of Your Submissions other than code contributions.

"You" means you personally, as well as any person or entity on whose behalf you are Using the Site. "You" does not include Oracle or its employees using the Site on Oracle's behalf. "Use" and its variants are to be interpreted in their broadest sense and include, without limitation, the acts of using, accessing, receiving, browsing, downloading from, and uploading to. A "User" is a person or entity who Uses the site. "Submissions" means any materials (other than code contributions), including but not limited to technology specifications, technical materials, documentation, discussion thread postings, blogs, wikis, data, and any other content, information, technology or services submitted to by You to the site.

You hereby grant to Oracle and all Users a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, non-exclusive and fully sub-licensable right and license under Your intellectual property rights to reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, display and use Your Submissions (in whole or part) and to incorporate or implement them in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed. This includes, without limitation, the right to incorporate or implement the Submission into any product or service, and to display, market, sublicense and distribute the Submissions as incorporated or embedded in any product or service distributed or offered by Oracle without compensation to you.

All Users, Oracle, and their sublicensees are responsible for any modifications they make to the Submissions of others.

## Contributing Guidelines

We greatly appreciate feedback from our users, including bug reports and code contributions. Your input helps us improve, and we thank you for any issues you report or code you contribute.

### Reporting Issues

Before submitting a new bug report, please [check here](https://bugs.mysql.com/search.php) to see if the issue has already been reported.

When reporting a bug, ensure your report is as detailed as possible. Please include the following:

* Clear, reproducible steps to demonstrate the issue.
* Relevant platform and environment information.
* The specific version of the product in use.
* The version of the MySQL Server in use.
* Sample code that can help reproduce the issue, if applicable.

### Setting Up a Development Environment

You can use your preferred Java IDE to view, edit, and compile the MySQL Connector/J source code. For project configuration, please refer to the instructions in [Installing from Source](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/connector-j/en/connector-j-installing-source.html).

To run the full test suite or individual test cases, configure the necessary Ant properties within your IDE preferences. For further details, see [Testing Connector/J](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/connector-j/en/connector-j-testing.html).

### Getting Help

If you need assistance or would like to reach out to the community, please use the following resources:

* [MySQL Connector/J Developer Guide](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/connector-j/en/).
* [MySQL Connector/J X DevAPI Reference](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/dev/connector-j/).
* [MySQL Connector/J, JDBC and Java Forum](https://forums.mysql.com/list.php?39).
* [`#connectors` channel on MySQL Community Slack](https://mysqlcommunity.slack.com/messages/connectors/) ([Sign-up](https://lefred.be/mysql-community-on-slack/) required if you do not have an Oracle account.)
* [@MySQL on X](https://x.com/MySQL/).
* [MySQL Blog](https://blogs.oracle.com/mysql/).
* [MySQL Connectors Blog archive](https://dev.mysql.com/blog-archive/?cat=Connectors%20%2F%20Languages).
* [MySQL Newsletter](https://www.mysql.com/news-and-events/newsletter/).
* [MySQL Bugs Tracking System](https://bugs.mysql.com).

We look forward to hearing from you and encourage you to get involved. Happy coding!

[![X Follow](https://img.shields.io/twitter/follow/MySQL?style=social)](https://x.com/intent/follow?screen_name=MySQL)