How to add a triager in Node.js v20.19.6 — [nodejs] add triager

[nodejs] add triager is a documentation change introduced in Node.js v20.19.6 that records a new triager in the project”s collaborator/triage lists. This short tutorial teaches you how the doc change was prepared, reviewed, and landed so you can duplicate the process to add or update triagers in Node.js docs or similar open-source projects. Target: contributors making doc edits to nodejs/node for the v20.19.6 release.

What You”ll Need

• GitHub account and familiarity with pull requests
• Fork of the nodejs/node repository (or write access if you”re a collaborator)
• Git installed locally and a working clone of your fork
• Signed Contributor License Agreement (CLA) if required by the project
• Basic knowledge of markdown and the project”s docs layout

How It Works

Adding a triager in Node.js documentation is primarily a repository documentation change: a contributor edits the collaborators/triage list (or the appropriate docs file), opens a pull request, and passes the project”s CI and review process. The actual commit recorded in v20.19.6 (“doc: add Miles Guicent as triager”) is an example of this simple workflow.

The workflow is lightweight: make a small markdown change, run local linters if available, open a PR that follows the project”s PR template, and request reviews from maintainers. After approval and passing CI, the change lands and is picked up in release notes for the next release.

Step-by-Step Guide

[nodejs] add triager

1. Fork & clone: fork nodejs/node on GitHub, then clone your fork locally (git clone & git remote setup) so you can edit files.
2. Create a branch: create a focused branch, e.g. git checkout -b doc/add-triager-Miles-Guicent to isolate your change.
3. Edit the docs: locate the collaborators/triagers file or the release notes source and add the new entry in markdown. Keep entry format consistent with existing items.
4. Run checks locally: run any repo-provided linters, markdown checks, or docs build steps locally (npm run lint or similar) to catch formatting/CI issues early.
5. Commit with a clear message: use conventional commit style (doc: add as triager) and sign your commit if required by the project.
6. Open a PR: push the branch to your fork and open a pull request against nodejs/node. Use the project”s PR template and explain why the triager entry is being added.
7. Address reviews & CI: respond to reviewer feedback, fix any CI failures (lint, spelling, file path), and update the PR until maintainers approve.
8. Land the change: once approved and green, the maintainers or release team will merge the PR; the change will appear in the next release notes (e.g., v20.19.6 included this commit).

Use Cases & Examples

1) Adding a new triager after they complete onboarding: you update the triagers list with the new name and role note so release notes reflect their addition in the next release.

2) Correcting a triager”s listing: if someone”s entry is misspelled or in the wrong section, you open a small doc PR to move or rename the line; this is what the maintainers do for clean records.

3) Bulk documentation tidy before a release: you or a documentation team member perform a sweep of collaborator lists to add missing roles, standardize formatting, and ensure accurate release note entries; each change is a focused PR following the same process as the [nodejs] add triager example.

Common Issues

• CI lint failures: fix markdown style or spelling errors reported by CI and push an amended commit.
• Wrong file edited: verify the authoritative docs file (collaborators.md, collaborators list, or release-notes source) and update the correct path, then rebase if needed.
• CLA not signed: ensure your contributor agreement is signed (project-specific) — the PR bot will usually block merges until it”s complete.
• Merge conflicts on release branch: rebase your branch onto the target branch, resolve conflicts locally, and push the resolved branch for CI to re-run.

What”s Next

• Learn the release notes process so your doc change surfaces in the next release summary.
• Contribute to CONTRIBUTING.md or collaborator onboarding docs to streamline future triager additions.
• Explore more repo automation: add a checklist or GitHub Actions job to validate triager entries automatically.

Related Resources

• Parent release guide: https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/v20.19.6 (release that contains commit e7f6f04758)
• Official Node.js docs and contributor guide: https://nodejs.org/docs/v20.19.6/api/ and the repository CONTRIBUTING.md