[development] Is there a how-to contribute to core for the impatient?

[Ivan Sergio Borgonovo]

I'd like to contribute to core or at least test some of the patches,
check issues etc... for pg, and if I'm lucky enough propose some
patch too.

I can think of this bunch of activities/knowledge I should have
before I can contribute to core:
- build up a testing environment
- checkout HEAD d6
- apply proposed patches in issues
- write/correct patches
- coding standards

Anything to add to this:
http://drupal.org/node/28245
and
http://drupal.org/coding-standards
?

-- 
Ivan Sergio Borgonovo
http://www.webthatworks.it