Sending email by using git-send-email

Question

I am supposed to be using git-send-email command to send out patches to the community. I am not sure how to use it properly. I have to send around 5 patches to the linux-wireless mail forum. Do I need to commit the code via git first and then send out a mail using git-send-email? I am also supposed to send a cover letter along with this. Not sure of what the cover-letter means and how to do it. Can someone help me out?

Answer 1

1. Finish your branch

2. Use git format-patch: for example:

       git format-patch --cover-letter --output-directory patches \
           --thread=shallow main..branch-name
   

   • You get a cover letter; you get a directory instead of a mess of files in your current directory; “shallow” threading seems to be generally recommended

3. Use git send-email patches

   • But—and here’s the difficult part—you have to have set up your Git to be able to send email in some way. This is the part that takes 97% of the time.