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Re: Why do we need [PATCH]?

From
BGBrian Gerst <bgerst@didntduck.org>
Date
Dec 16, 2005, 21:14 UTC
Message-ID
<43A32E33.6040709@didntduck.org>
In-Reply-To
<20051216210145.GA25311@mars.ravnborg.org>
Sam Ravnborg wrote:
Show 27 quoted lines
> Hi git's.
> 
> I've just applied a patch to my git tree using git-applymbox.
> It worked like a charm as it often do.
> But then when I did a quick check with gitk it stuck me that
> the subject was prefixed with [PATCH].
> I am aware that the [PATCH] in subject tell me:
> "patch is received from somewhere and applied by me to the .git tree".
> This is in comparsion to patches received when I merge a git tree for
> example.
> 
> But with common practice to use sign-off I wonder the value of this
> patch marker.
> When browsing the kernel shortlog I often focus on first word in subject
> - cause this tells me what system/drivers is changed. But with the
>   [PATCH] marker I have to read some non-sense to see actual subject.
> 
> The information is redundant since metadata already tell me who is the
> author and who committed the change.
> So could we have it removed or if people continue to find it usefull
> then at least hide it behind some option. Using the [PATCH] prefix is
> not the natural thing to do with git.
> 
> I looked at the source and found the -k option, but adding [PATCH]
> should not be default behaviour so this is not the correct solution.
> 
> 	Sam

[PATCH] makes sense for the actual email message so that the recipient knows that the message contains a patch. But I agree that it does not add any value to the commit message in git. It actually detracts value, because it takes up limited space in the shortlog message.

--
				Brian Gerst
Previous: Dave JonesNext: Junio C Hamano
Message 3 of 5 in “Why do we need [PATCH]?”
  1. Sam RavnborgDec 16, 2005
  2. Dave JonesDec 16, 2005
  3. Brian GerstDec 16, 2005
  4. Junio C HamanoDec 16, 2005
  5. Sam RavnborgDec 16, 2005

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