From 5265fa8b4049478186bb6b20defe305a473e07d9 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: MiMoHo <37556964+MiMoHo@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:54:01 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] docs(contributing): accept a known identity in the sign-off

The sign-off section asks for a real name and rules out pseudonyms.
For people who run Nextcloud themselves, a real name in a permanent,
public history makes them and their servers easy to find, and the DCO
keeps that record indefinitely.

Ask for a known identity instead, as the Linux kernel has done since
2023 and Git since 2025: no anonymous contributions, but a consistent
pseudonym such as the GitHub username and the GitHub no-reply address
are fine.

AI-Assisted-By: Claude Opus 5.5 (xhigh)
Signed-off-by: MiMoHo <37556964+MiMoHo@users.noreply.github.com>
---
 CONTRIBUTING.md | 5 ++++-
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 2f6d46f4..6184a4cb 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -60,7 +60,9 @@ If you can certify it, then just add a line to every git commit message:
   Signed-off-by: Random J Developer <random@developer.example.org>
 ````
 
-Use your real name (sorry, no pseudonyms or anonymous contributions).
+Use a known identity (sorry, no anonymous contributions). Many contributors
+use their real name, but a pseudonym you use consistently, such as your GitHub
+username, is fine, and so is your [GitHub no-reply address][noreply].
 If you set your `user.name` and `user.email` git configs, you can sign your
 commit automatically with `git commit -s`. You can also use git [aliases](https://git-scm.com/book/tr/v2/Git-Basics-Git-Aliases)
 like `git config --global alias.ci 'commit -s'`. Now you can commit with
@@ -74,6 +76,7 @@ In case you are not sure how to add or update the license header correctly pleas
 [dcofile]: https://github.com/nextcloud/server/blob/master/contribute/developer-certificate-of-origin
 [applyalicense]: https://github.com/nextcloud/server/blob/master/contribute/HowToApplyALicense.md
 [aipolicy]: https://github.com/nextcloud/.github/blob/master/AI_POLICY.md
+[noreply]: https://docs.github.com/en/account-and-profile/setting-up-and-managing-your-personal-account-on-github/managing-email-preferences/setting-your-commit-email-address
 
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