# "format-patch" command doesn't support SSH signing

4 messages from 2021-11-23 to 2021-11-24. Participants: Marcos Alano, Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason, Johannes Schindelin, Junio C Hamano.
Thread: https://gitlist.dev/t/56966

## Marcos Alano, 2021-11-23 13:04

Subject: "format-patch" command doesn't support SSH signing
Message-ID: <710dc612-0e3f-bf10-b123-f9443e605d00@gmail.com>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/710dc612-0e3f-bf10-b123-f9443e605d00%40gmail.com

```
Hello,

I was trying to generate a patch to send to a project (Linux 
specifically) but when I generate the patch using "format-patch" I saw 
there was no "Signed-Off" line, but my commit is signed using SSH. My 
git version is the latest, 2.34.

Thank you.


```

## Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason, 2021-11-23 16:02

Subject: Re: "format-patch" command doesn't support SSH signing
Message-ID: <211123.86wnkyuaeq.gmgdl@evledraar.gmail.com>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/211123.86wnkyuaeq.gmgdl%40evledraar.gmail.com
In-Reply-To: <710dc612-0e3f-bf10-b123-f9443e605d00@gmail.com>

```

On Tue, Nov 23 2021, Marcos Alano wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I was trying to generate a patch to send to a project (Linux
> specifically) but when I generate the patch using "format-patch" I saw 
> there was no "Signed-Off" line, but my commit is signed using SSH. My
> git version is the latest, 2.34.

The Signed-off-by in commit messages doesn't have anything to do with
SSH, GPG etc. signing, it's just a way of signaling that you're the
author of the change, and/or can certify it as being includable in the
project for authorship & copyright reasons. It's mostly used in
linux.git and git.git, see a "git grep Signed-off-by" in those for more
details.

```

## Johannes Schindelin, 2021-11-23 16:14

Subject: Re: "format-patch" command doesn't support SSH signing
Message-ID: <nycvar.QRO.7.76.6.2111231712510.63@tvgsbejvaqbjf.bet>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/nycvar.QRO.7.76.6.2111231712510.63%40tvgsbejvaqbjf.bet
In-Reply-To: <710dc612-0e3f-bf10-b123-f9443e605d00@gmail.com>

```
Hi Marcos,

On Tue, 23 Nov 2021, Marcos Alano wrote:

> I was trying to generate a patch to send to a project (Linux specifically) but
> when I generate the patch using "format-patch" I saw there was no "Signed-Off"
> line, but my commit is signed using SSH. My git version is the latest, 2.34.

A "Sign-off" is a convention for the commit message, but _signing a
commit_ is a cryptographic signature. They are two different things.

You can add the "Signed-off-by:" trailers via `git format-patch`'s
`--signoff` option:
https://git-scm.com/docs/git-format-patch#Documentation/git-format-patch.txt---signoff

Ciao,
Johannes

```

## Junio C Hamano, 2021-11-24 00:49

Subject: Re: "format-patch" command doesn't support SSH signing
Message-ID: <xmqqczmq5qdx.fsf@gitster.g>
URL: https://gitlist.dev/e/xmqqczmq5qdx.fsf%40gitster.g
In-Reply-To: <710dc612-0e3f-bf10-b123-f9443e605d00@gmail.com>

```
Marcos Alano <marcoshalano@gmail.com> writes:

> I was trying to generate a patch to send to a project (Linux
> specifically) but when I generate the patch using "format-patch" I saw 
> there was no "Signed-Off" line, but my commit is signed using SSH. My
> git version is the latest, 2.34.

Sign-off in Linux kernel project is to certify that you have the
right to contribute the change to the project under Developers
certificate of origin.  I believe in thier project, the document
in Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst describes the
process (look for "Sign your work")

The "commit -s" signing has nothing to do with it.  It may prove it
was written by the key holder, but it does not prevent the key
holder to steal intellectual property from their employer and
contribute it as if it is their own, and Sign-off exists as a
separate procedure to have you raise your right hand and swear that
your contribution is kosher wrt DCO.



```
