git/list[1] front-page[2] threads[3] people[4] search[5] about
 

[PATCH v2 4/4] format-patch: learn --infer-cover-letter option

From
Denton Liu <liu.denton@gmail.com>
Date
Aug 19, 2019, 23:52 UTC
Message-ID
<e682bd347a09d0e1293ec6bd495c38dac5006a19.1566258525.git.liu.denton@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To
<cover.1566258525.git.liu.denton@gmail.com>

We used to populate the subject of the cover letter generated by git-format-patch with "*** SUBJECT HERE ***". However, if a user submits multiple patchsets, they may want to keep a consistent subject between rerolls.

If git-format-patch is run with `--infer-cover-letter` or `format.inferCoverSubject`, infer the subject for the cover letter from the top line(s) of a branch description, similar to how a subject is read from a commit message.

Signed-off-by: Denton Liu <liu.denton@gmail.com>
---
 Documentation/config/format.txt    |  4 +++
 Documentation/git-format-patch.txt | 10 ++++++
 builtin/log.c                      | 56 +++++++++++++++++++-----------
 t/t4014-format-patch.sh            | 33 ++++++++++++++++++
 4 files changed, 82 insertions(+), 21 deletions(-)
diff --git a/Documentation/config/format.txt b/Documentation/config/format.txt
index 60e4e92885..9cd6a64e3e 100644
--- a/Documentation/config/format.txt
+++ b/Documentation/config/format.txt
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ format.subjectPrefix::
 	The default for format-patch is to output files with the '[PATCH]'
 	subject prefix. Use this variable to change that prefix.
 
+format.inferCoverSubject::
+	A boolean value which lets you enable the
+	`--infer-cover-subject` option of format-patch by default.
+
 format.signature::
 	The default for format-patch is to output a signature containing
 	the Git version number. Use this variable to change that default.
diff --git a/Documentation/git-format-patch.txt b/Documentation/git-format-patch.txt
index 95bc4d53ca..00ccfb51e7 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-format-patch.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-format-patch.txt
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ SYNOPSIS
 		   [--start-number <n>] [--numbered-files]
 		   [--in-reply-to=<Message-Id>] [--suffix=.<sfx>]
 		   [--ignore-if-in-upstream]
+		   [--[no-]infer-cover-subject]
 		   [--rfc] [--subject-prefix=<Subject-Prefix>]
 		   [(--reroll-count|-v) <n>]
 		   [--to=<email>] [--cc=<email>]
@@ -171,6 +172,14 @@ will want to ensure that threading is disabled for `git send-email`.
 	patches being generated, and any patch that matches is
 	ignored.
 
+--[no-]infer-cover-subject::
+	Instead of using the default "*** SUBJECT HERE ***" subject for
+	the cover letter, infer the subject from the branch's
+	description.
++
+Similar to a commit message, the subject is inferred as the beginning of
+the description up to and excluding the first blank line.
+
 --subject-prefix=<Subject-Prefix>::
 	Instead of the standard '[PATCH]' prefix in the subject
 	line, instead use '[<Subject-Prefix>]'. This
@@ -347,6 +356,7 @@ with configuration variables.
 	signOff = true
 	outputDirectory = <directory>
 	coverLetter = auto
+	inferCoverSubject = true
 ------------
 
 
diff --git a/builtin/log.c b/builtin/log.c
index 44b10b3415..b15754e282 100644
--- a/builtin/log.c
+++ b/builtin/log.c
@@ -774,6 +774,7 @@ static const char *signature = git_version_string;
 static const char *signature_file;
 static int config_cover_letter;
 static const char *config_output_directory;
+static int infer_cover_subject;
 
 enum {
 	COVER_UNSET,
@@ -887,6 +888,10 @@ static int git_format_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 		}
 		return 0;
 	}
+	if (!strcmp(var, "format.infercoversubject")) {
+		infer_cover_subject = git_config_bool(var, value);
+		return 0;
+	}
 
 	return git_log_config(var, value, cb);
 }
@@ -993,20 +998,6 @@ static void print_signature(FILE *file)
 	putc('\n', file);
 }
 
-static void add_branch_description(struct strbuf *buf, const char *branch_name)
-{
-	struct strbuf desc = STRBUF_INIT;
-	if (!branch_name || !*branch_name)
-		return;
-	read_branch_desc(&desc, branch_name);
-	if (desc.len) {
-		strbuf_addch(buf, '\n');
-		strbuf_addbuf(buf, &desc);
-		strbuf_addch(buf, '\n');
-	}
-	strbuf_release(&desc);
-}
-
 static char *find_branch_name(struct rev_info *rev)
 {
 	int i, positive = -1;
@@ -1057,13 +1048,17 @@ static void make_cover_letter(struct rev_info *rev, int use_stdout,
 			      struct commit *origin,
 			      int nr, struct commit **list,
 			      const char *branch_name,
+			      int infer_subject,
 			      int quiet)
 {
 	const char *committer;
-	const char *body = "*** SUBJECT HERE ***\n\n*** BLURB HERE ***\n";
-	const char *msg;
+	const char *subject = "*** SUBJECT HERE ***";
+	const char *body = "*** BLURB HERE ***";
+	const char *description = NULL;
 	struct shortlog log;
 	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct strbuf description_sb = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct strbuf subject_sb = STRBUF_INIT;
 	int i;
 	const char *encoding = "UTF-8";
 	int need_8bit_cte = 0;
@@ -1091,17 +1086,34 @@ static void make_cover_letter(struct rev_info *rev, int use_stdout,
 	if (!branch_name)
 		branch_name = find_branch_name(rev);
 
-	msg = body;
+	if (branch_name && *branch_name)
+		read_branch_desc(&description_sb, branch_name);
+
+	if (description_sb.len) {
+		if (infer_subject) {
+			description = format_subject(&subject_sb, description_sb.buf, " ");
+			subject = subject_sb.buf;
+		} else {
+			description = description_sb.buf;
+		}
+	}
+
 	pp.fmt = CMIT_FMT_EMAIL;
 	pp.date_mode.type = DATE_RFC2822;
 	pp.rev = rev;
 	pp.print_email_subject = 1;
 	pp_user_info(&pp, NULL, &sb, committer, encoding);
-	pp_title_line(&pp, &msg, &sb, encoding, need_8bit_cte);
-	pp_remainder(&pp, &msg, &sb, 0);
-	add_branch_description(&sb, branch_name);
+	pp_title_line(&pp, &subject, &sb, encoding, need_8bit_cte);
+	pp_remainder(&pp, &body, &sb, 0);
+	if (description) {
+		strbuf_addch(&sb, '\n');
+		strbuf_addstr(&sb, description);
+		strbuf_addch(&sb, '\n');
+	}
 	fprintf(rev->diffopt.file, "%s\n", sb.buf);
 
+	strbuf_release(&description_sb);
+	strbuf_release(&subject_sb);
 	strbuf_release(&sb);
 
 	shortlog_init(&log);
@@ -1577,6 +1589,8 @@ int cmd_format_patch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		{ OPTION_CALLBACK, 0, "rfc", &rev, NULL,
 			    N_("Use [RFC PATCH] instead of [PATCH]"),
 			    PARSE_OPT_NOARG | PARSE_OPT_NONEG, rfc_callback },
+		OPT_BOOL(0, "infer-cover-subject", &infer_cover_subject,
+			    N_("infer a cover letter subject from the branch description")),
 		{ OPTION_CALLBACK, 0, "subject-prefix", &rev, N_("prefix"),
 			    N_("Use [<prefix>] instead of [PATCH]"),
 			    PARSE_OPT_NONEG, subject_prefix_callback },
@@ -1916,7 +1930,7 @@ int cmd_format_patch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		if (thread)
 			gen_message_id(&rev, "cover");
 		make_cover_letter(&rev, use_stdout,
-				  origin, nr, list, branch_name, quiet);
+				  origin, nr, list, branch_name, infer_cover_subject, quiet);
 		print_bases(&bases, rev.diffopt.file);
 		print_signature(rev.diffopt.file);
 		total++;
diff --git a/t/t4014-format-patch.sh b/t/t4014-format-patch.sh
index 0114608b1f..ad920bb063 100755
--- a/t/t4014-format-patch.sh
+++ b/t/t4014-format-patch.sh
@@ -1558,6 +1558,39 @@ test_expect_success 'format patch ignores color.ui' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'cover letter with config subject' '
+	test_config branch.rebuild-1.description "config subject
+
+body" &&
+	test_config format.inferCoverSubject true &&
+	git checkout rebuild-1 &&
+	git format-patch --stdout --cover-letter master >actual &&
+	grep "^Subject: \[PATCH 0/2\] config subject$" actual &&
+	grep "^body" actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cover letter with command-line subject' '
+	test_config branch.rebuild-1.description "command-line subject
+
+body" &&
+	git checkout rebuild-1 &&
+	git format-patch --stdout --cover-letter --infer-cover-subject master >actual &&
+	grep "^Subject: \[PATCH 0/2\] command-line subject$" actual &&
+	grep "^body" actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'cover letter with command-line --no-infer-cover-subject overrides config' '
+	test_config branch.rebuild-1.description "config subject
+
+body" &&
+	test_config format.inferCoverSubject true &&
+	git checkout rebuild-1 &&
+	git format-patch --stdout --cover-letter --no-infer-cover-subject master >actual &&
+	grep "^Subject: \[PATCH 0/2\] \*\*\* SUBJECT HERE \*\*\*$" actual &&
+	grep "^config subject" actual &&
+	grep "^body" actual
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'cover letter using branch description (1)' '
 	git checkout rebuild-1 &&
 	test_config branch.rebuild-1.description hello &&
-- 
2.23.0.248.g3a9dd8fb08
Previous: Eric SunshineNext: Eric Sunshine
Message 9 of 91 in “format-patch: learn --infer-cover-subject option”
  1. 0/4 format-patch: learn --infer-cover-subject optionDenton Liu, Aug 19, 2019
  2. 1/4 t4014: clean up styleDenton Liu, Aug 19, 2019
  3. Eric SunshineAug 20, 2019
  4. 2/4 Doc: add more detail for git-format-patchDenton Liu, Aug 19, 2019
  5. Eric SunshineAug 20, 2019
  6. Denton LiuAug 20, 2019
  7. 3/4 config/format.txt: make clear the default value of format.coverLetterDenton Liu, Aug 19, 2019
  8. Eric SunshineAug 20, 2019
  9. 4/4 format-patch: learn --infer-cover-letter optionDenton Liu, Aug 19, 2019
  10. Eric SunshineAug 20, 2019
  11. 00/13 format-patch: learn --infer-cover-subject option (also t4014 cleanup)Denton Liu, Aug 20, 2019
  12. 01/13 t4014: drop unnecessary blank lines from test casesDenton Liu, Aug 20, 2019
  13. 02/13 t4014: s/expected/expect/Denton Liu, Aug 20, 2019
  14. Eric SunshineAug 20, 2019
  15. 03/13 t4014: move closing sq onto its own lineDenton Liu, Aug 20, 2019
  16. 04/13 t4014: use sq for test case namesDenton Liu, Aug 20, 2019
  17. 05/13 t4014: remove spaces after redirect operatorsDenton Liu, Aug 20, 2019
  18. 06/13 t4014: use indentable here-docsDenton Liu, Aug 20, 2019
  19. 07/13 t4014: drop redirections to /dev/nullDenton Liu, Aug 20, 2019
  20. 08/13 t4014: use test_line_count() where possibleDenton Liu, Aug 20, 2019
  21. 09/13 t4014: remove confusing pipe in check_threading()Denton Liu, Aug 20, 2019
  22. 10/13 t4014: stop losing return codes of git commandsDenton Liu, Aug 20, 2019
  23. Denton LiuAug 20, 2019
  24. Johannes SixtAug 20, 2019
  25. 11/13 Doc: add more detail for git-format-patchDenton Liu, Aug 20, 2019
  26. Junio C HamanoAug 21, 2019
  27. 12/13 config/format.txt: specify default value of format.coverLetterDenton Liu, Aug 20, 2019
  28. 13/13 format-patch: learn --infer-cover-subject optionDenton Liu, Aug 20, 2019
  29. Junio C HamanoAug 21, 2019
  30. Denton LiuAug 23, 2019
  31. Philip OakleyAug 23, 2019
  32. Junio C HamanoAug 23, 2019
  33. Denton LiuAug 24, 2019
  34. Philip OakleyAug 24, 2019
  35. Junio C HamanoAug 26, 2019
  36. Junio C HamanoAug 26, 2019
  37. Junio C HamanoAug 26, 2019
  38. Junio C HamanoAug 22, 2019
  39. Denton LiuAug 23, 2019
  40. Junio C HamanoAug 23, 2019
  41. 00/13 format-patch: clean up tests and documentationDenton Liu, Aug 24, 2019
  42. 01/13 t4014: drop unnecessary blank lines from test casesDenton Liu, Aug 24, 2019
  43. 02/13 t4014: s/expected/expect/Denton Liu, Aug 24, 2019
  44. 03/13 t4014: move closing sq onto its own lineDenton Liu, Aug 24, 2019
  45. 04/13 t4014: use sq for test case namesDenton Liu, Aug 24, 2019
  46. 05/13 t4014: remove spaces after redirect operatorsDenton Liu, Aug 24, 2019
  47. 06/13 t4014: use indentable here-docsDenton Liu, Aug 24, 2019
  48. 07/13 t4014: drop redirections to /dev/nullDenton Liu, Aug 24, 2019
  49. 08/13 t4014: let sed open its own filesDenton Liu, Aug 24, 2019
  50. Eric SunshineAug 26, 2019
  51. 09/13 t4014: use test_line_count() where possibleDenton Liu, Aug 24, 2019
  52. 10/13 t4014: remove confusing pipe in check_threading()Denton Liu, Aug 24, 2019
  53. 11/13 t4014: stop losing return codes of git commandsDenton Liu, Aug 24, 2019
  54. 12/13 Doc: add more detail for git-format-patchDenton Liu, Aug 24, 2019
  55. Junio C HamanoAug 26, 2019
  56. Junio C HamanoAug 26, 2019
  57. 13/13 config/format.txt: specify default value of format.coverLetterDenton Liu, Aug 24, 2019
  58. Denton LiuAug 24, 2019
  59. Junio C HamanoAug 26, 2019
  60. 00/13 format-patch: clean up tests and documentationDenton Liu, Aug 27, 2019
  61. 01/13 t4014: drop unnecessary blank lines from test casesDenton Liu, Aug 27, 2019
  62. 02/13 t4014: s/expected/expect/Denton Liu, Aug 27, 2019
  63. 03/13 t4014: move closing sq onto its own lineDenton Liu, Aug 27, 2019
  64. 04/13 t4014: use sq for test case namesDenton Liu, Aug 27, 2019
  65. 05/13 t4014: remove spaces after redirect operatorsDenton Liu, Aug 27, 2019
  66. 06/13 t4014: use indentable here-docsDenton Liu, Aug 27, 2019
  67. 07/13 t4014: drop redirections to /dev/nullDenton Liu, Aug 27, 2019
  68. 08/13 t4014: let sed open its own filesDenton Liu, Aug 27, 2019
  69. 09/13 t4014: use test_line_count() where possibleDenton Liu, Aug 27, 2019
  70. 10/13 t4014: remove confusing pipe in check_threading()Denton Liu, Aug 27, 2019
  71. 11/13 t4014: stop losing return codes of git commandsDenton Liu, Aug 27, 2019
  72. 12/13 Doc: add more detail for git-format-patchDenton Liu, Aug 27, 2019
  73. 13/13 config/format.txt: specify default value of format.coverLetterDenton Liu, Aug 27, 2019
  74. Denton LiuSep 4, 2019
  75. Junio C HamanoSep 5, 2019
  76. Denton LiuSep 5, 2019
  77. 0/3 format-patch: learn --cover-from-description optionDenton Liu, Oct 11, 2019
  78. 1/3 format-patch: remove erroneous and conditionDenton Liu, Oct 11, 2019
  79. 2/3 format-patch: use enum variablesDenton Liu, Oct 11, 2019
  80. Junio C HamanoOct 12, 2019
  81. 3/3 format-patch: teach --cover-from-description optionDenton Liu, Oct 11, 2019
  82. Junio C HamanoOct 12, 2019
  83. 4/3 fixup! format-patch: teach --cover-from-description optionDenton Liu, Oct 11, 2019
  84. Junio C HamanoOct 12, 2019
  85. 0/3 format-patch: learn --cover-from-description optionDenton Liu, Oct 14, 2019
  86. 1/3 format-patch: change erroneous and conditionDenton Liu, Oct 14, 2019
  87. Junio C HamanoOct 15, 2019
  88. Denton LiuOct 15, 2019
  89. 2/3 format-patch: use enum variablesDenton Liu, Oct 14, 2019
  90. 3/3 format-patch: teach --cover-from-description optionDenton Liu, Oct 14, 2019
  91. Junio C HamanoOct 15, 2019

Read the whole thread, see it on lore, or plain text.

$ cat FOOTERMessages come from the public archive at lore.kernel.org/git, fetched every hour. The front page is chosen and written each morning by an AI editor and can be wrong; the threads themselves are the record. About and API. For agents: an MCP server at https://gitlist.dev/mcp, and any thread, story or person page as Markdown by adding .md to its URL (or sending Accept: text/markdown). Details in /llms.txt.