documentation bug: git send-email: manpage says that I will be prompted for everything, but this is not true

Askar Safin· Feb 17, 2025, 11:23 UTC · lore

Hi. Manpage and reality disagree, so we have bug either in manpage, either in "git send-email".

Manpage for "git send-email" (v2.47.2) says:

=== The header of the email is configurable via command-line options. If not specified on the command line, the user will be prompted with a ReadLine enabled interface to provide the necessary information ===

Also the manpage has this part, which states this again:
===
--subject=<string>
           Specify the initial subject of the email thread. Only necessary if --compose is also set. If --compose is not set, this will be prompted for.
===

But in reality "git send-email" simply gives error in case some headers are absent:

# echo hello > /tmp/aaa # git send-email /tmp/aaa /tmp/aaa No subject line in /tmp/aaa? at /usr/lib/git-core/git-send-email line 845.

So, please, fix either manpage or git.

My git version is 2.47.2, my OS is debian sid x86_64, running in Docker. git is installed via debian repos. My git config is so (password is ommited, of course):

===
[user]
        name = Askar Safin
        email = safinaskar@zohomail.com

[sendemail]
        smtpServer = smtp.zoho.com
        smtpServerPort = 587
        smtpEncryption = tls
        smtpUser = safinaskar
        smtpPass = (password ommited)
        from = "Askar Safin <safinaskar@zohomail.com>"
        suppresscc = self
===

My $TERM variable is equal to "xterm"

-- Askar Safin https://types.pl/@safinaskar