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[PATCH v8 3/4] format-patch: add "chronological" format for cover

From
Mirko Faina <mroik@delayed.space>
Date
Mar 12, 2026, 16:20 UTC
Message-ID
<b67f1c9603bac9ea464357c77743e71c27003bd2.1773331753.git.mroik@delayed.space>
In-Reply-To
<cover.1773331753.git.mroik@delayed.space>

Having a user craft a custom format spec everytime might be a hassle, and having a common format that seems reasonable might make reviews easier. This patch introduces a new simple preset called "chronological".

Teach make_cover_letter() the "chronological" format.
Signed-off-by: Mirko Faina <mroik@delayed.space>
---
 Documentation/git-format-patch.adoc |  2 +-
 builtin/log.c                       |  3 +++
 t/t4014-format-patch.sh             | 11 +++++++++++
 3 files changed, 15 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
diff --git a/Documentation/git-format-patch.adoc b/Documentation/git-format-patch.adoc
index de36b87a85..6364fd1f5a 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-format-patch.adoc
+++ b/Documentation/git-format-patch.adoc
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ feeding the result to `git send-email`.
 	Specify the format in which to generate the commit list of the patch
 	series. This option is available if the user wants to use an
 	alternative to the default `shortlog` format. The accepted values for
-	format-spec are "shortlog" or a format string.
+	format-spec are "shortlog", "chronological" or a format string.
 	e.g. `%s (%an)`
 	If defined, defaults to the `format.commitListFormat` configuration
 	variable.
diff --git a/builtin/log.c b/builtin/log.c
index 4f22012395..12877a0ac2 100644
--- a/builtin/log.c
+++ b/builtin/log.c
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 #define MAIL_DEFAULT_WRAP 72
 #define COVER_FROM_AUTO_MAX_SUBJECT_LEN 100
 #define FORMAT_PATCH_NAME_MAX_DEFAULT 64
+#define CHRONOLOGICAL "[%(count)/%(total)] %s"
 
 static unsigned int force_in_body_from;
 static int stdout_mboxrd;
@@ -1420,6 +1421,8 @@ static void make_cover_letter(struct rev_info *rev, int use_separate_file,
 
 	if (format == NULL || !strcmp(format, "shortlog"))
 		generate_shortlog_cover_letter(&log, rev, list, nr);
+	else if (!strcmp(format, "chronological"))
+		generate_commit_list_cover(rev->diffopt.file, CHRONOLOGICAL, list, nr);
 	else
 		generate_commit_list_cover(rev->diffopt.file, format, list, nr);
 
diff --git a/t/t4014-format-patch.sh b/t/t4014-format-patch.sh
index 631669c159..5ec527bce9 100755
--- a/t/t4014-format-patch.sh
+++ b/t/t4014-format-patch.sh
@@ -392,6 +392,17 @@ test_expect_success 'cover letter with subject, author and count' '
 	test_grep "^\[1/1\] This is a subject (A U Thor)$" patches/0000-cover-letter.patch
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'cover letter chronological' '
+	test_when_finished "git reset --hard HEAD~1" &&
+	test_when_finished "rm -rf patches result test_file" &&
+	touch test_file &&
+	git add test_file &&
+	git commit -m "This is a subject" &&
+	git format-patch --cover-letter \
+	--cover-letter-format="chronological" -o patches HEAD~1 &&
+	test_grep "^\[1/1\] This is a subject$" patches/0000-cover-letter.patch
+'
+
 cat > expected <<EOF
 
 
-- 
2.53.0.904.g2727be2e99
Previous: Junio C HamanoNext: Junio C Hamano
Message 97 of 113 in “format-patch: better commit list for cover letter”
  1. format-patch: better commit list for cover letterMirko Faina, Feb 20, 2026
  2. format-patch: better commit list for cover letterMirko Faina, Feb 20, 2026
  3. Mirko FainaFeb 21, 2026
  4. Junio C HamanoFeb 21, 2026
  5. Mirko FainaFeb 21, 2026
  6. Junio C HamanoFeb 21, 2026
  7. Junio C HamanoFeb 21, 2026
  8. Mirko FainaFeb 21, 2026
  9. Junio C HamanoFeb 21, 2026
  10. Mirko FainaFeb 21, 2026
  11. 0/3 format-patch: add cover-letter-format optionMirko Faina, Feb 24, 2026
  12. Mirko FainaFeb 24, 2026
  13. 0/2 format-patch: add cover-letter-format optionMirko Faina, Feb 24, 2026
  14. 1/2 format-patch: add ability to use alt cover formatMirko Faina, Feb 24, 2026
  15. Junio C HamanoFeb 24, 2026
  16. Mirko FainaFeb 24, 2026
  17. Junio C HamanoFeb 25, 2026
  18. Jeff KingFeb 25, 2026
  19. Junio C HamanoFeb 24, 2026
  20. Jeff KingFeb 25, 2026
  21. Mirko FainaFeb 25, 2026
  22. 2/2 format-patch: add commitListFormat configMirko Faina, Feb 24, 2026
  23. Junio C HamanoFeb 24, 2026
  24. Mirko FainaFeb 25, 2026
  25. Junio C HamanoFeb 25, 2026
  26. Mirko FainaFeb 26, 2026
  27. Junio C HamanoFeb 26, 2026
  28. Junio C HamanoFeb 24, 2026
  29. Junio C HamanoFeb 24, 2026
  30. Mirko FainaFeb 25, 2026
  31. Junio C HamanoFeb 25, 2026
  32. 0/4 format-patch: add cover-letter-format optionMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  33. 1/4 pretty.c: add %(count) and %(total) placeholdersMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  34. 2/4 format-patch: move cover letter summary generationMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  35. 4/4 format-patch: add commitListFormat configMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  36. 3/4 format-patch: add ability to use alt cover formatMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  37. Junio C HamanoFeb 27, 2026
  38. Mirko FainaFeb 27, 2026
  39. 0/4 format-patch: add cover-letter-format optionMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  40. 1/4 pretty.c: add %(count) and %(total) placeholdersMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  41. 3/4 format-patch: add ability to use alt cover formatMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  42. 2/4 format-patch: move cover letter summary generationMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  43. 4/4 format-patch: add commitListFormat configMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  44. 5/4 docs: add usage for the cover-letter fmt featureMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  45. Junio C HamanoFeb 27, 2026
  46. Mirko FainaFeb 27, 2026
  47. Junio C HamanoFeb 27, 2026
  48. 0/5 format-patch: add cover-letter-format optionMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  49. 1/5 pretty.c: add %(count) and %(total) placeholdersMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  50. 2/5 format-patch: move cover letter summary generationMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  51. 3/5 format-patch: add ability to use alt cover formatMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  52. 4/5 format-patch: add commitListFormat configMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  53. 5/5 docs: add usage for the cover-letter fmt featureMirko Faina, Feb 27, 2026
  54. Junio C HamanoMar 6, 2026
  55. Mirko FainaMar 6, 2026
  56. 0/5 format-patch: add cover-letter-format optionMirko Faina, Mar 6, 2026
  57. 1/5 pretty.c: add %(count) and %(total) placeholdersMirko Faina, Mar 6, 2026
  58. 2/5 format-patch: move cover letter summary generationMirko Faina, Mar 6, 2026
  59. 3/5 format-patch: add ability to use alt cover formatMirko Faina, Mar 6, 2026
  60. Junio C HamanoMar 10, 2026
  61. Mirko FainaMar 10, 2026
  62. 4/5 format-patch: add commitListFormat configMirko Faina, Mar 6, 2026
  63. 5/5 docs: add usage for the cover-letter fmt featureMirko Faina, Mar 6, 2026
  64. Junio C HamanoMar 6, 2026
  65. 0/5 format-patch: add cover-letter-format optionMirko Faina, Mar 6, 2026
  66. 1/5 pretty.c: add %(count) and %(total) placeholdersMirko Faina, Mar 6, 2026
  67. Phillip WoodMar 10, 2026
  68. Mirko FainaMar 10, 2026
  69. 2/5 format-patch: move cover letter summary generationMirko Faina, Mar 6, 2026
  70. 3/5 format-patch: add ability to use alt cover formatMirko Faina, Mar 6, 2026
  71. Phillip WoodMar 10, 2026
  72. MroikMar 10, 2026
  73. 4/5 format-patch: add commitListFormat configMirko Faina, Mar 6, 2026
  74. Phillip WoodMar 10, 2026
  75. Junio C HamanoMar 10, 2026
  76. Mirko FainaMar 10, 2026
  77. Phillip WoodMar 11, 2026
  78. Junio C HamanoMar 11, 2026
  79. Phillip WoodMar 11, 2026
  80. Junio C HamanoMar 11, 2026
  81. Mirko FainaMar 10, 2026
  82. 5/5 docs: add usage for the cover-letter fmt featureMirko Faina, Mar 6, 2026
  83. Bert WesargMar 10, 2026
  84. Phillip WoodMar 10, 2026
  85. 0/4 format-patch: add cover-letter-format optionMirko Faina, Mar 12, 2026
  86. 1/4 format-patch: move cover letter summary generationMirko Faina, Mar 12, 2026
  87. Junio C HamanoMar 12, 2026
  88. 2/4 format-patch: add ability to use alt cover formatMirko Faina, Mar 12, 2026
  89. Junio C HamanoMar 12, 2026
  90. Mirko FainaMar 12, 2026
  91. Junio C HamanoMar 12, 2026
  92. Junio C HamanoMar 12, 2026
  93. Phillip WoodMar 13, 2026
  94. Junio C HamanoMar 13, 2026
  95. Mirko FainaMar 13, 2026
  96. Junio C HamanoMar 13, 2026
  97. 3/4 format-patch: add "chronological" format for coverMirko Faina, Mar 12, 2026
  98. Junio C HamanoMar 12, 2026
  99. 4/4 format-patch: add commitListFormat configMirko Faina, Mar 12, 2026
  100. Junio C HamanoMar 12, 2026
  101. Junio C HamanoMar 12, 2026
  102. Mirko FainaMar 12, 2026
  103. Junio C HamanoMar 12, 2026
  104. 1/3 pretty.c: fix null pointer dereferenceMirko Faina, Feb 24, 2026
  105. Junio C HamanoFeb 24, 2026
  106. Mirko FainaFeb 24, 2026
  107. Mirko FainaFeb 24, 2026
  108. Jeff KingFeb 24, 2026
  109. 2/3 format-patch: add ability to use alt cover formatMirko Faina, Feb 24, 2026
  110. Jeff KingFeb 24, 2026
  111. Mirko FainaFeb 24, 2026
  112. Jeff KingFeb 24, 2026
  113. 3/3 format-patch: add commitListFormat configMirko Faina, Feb 24, 2026

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