How to use the command `git send-email` (with examples)

git send-email is a Git command that allows you to send a collection of patches as emails. It is particularly useful when collaborating with others and submitting patches for review.

Use case 1: Send the last commit in the current branch

Code:

git send-email -1

Motivation: This use case is handy when you want to quickly send the latest commit in your current branch to someone for review or as a patch.

Explanation: The -1 option instructs git send-email to send the last commit in the current branch.

Example output: The last commit is sent as an email to the recipient(s) specified.

Use case 2: Send a given commit

Code:

git send-email -1 commit

Motivation: Sometimes, you may want to send a specific commit to someone for review or as a standalone patch. This use case allows you to do just that.

Explanation: By specifying the commit’s identifier after the -1 option, git send-email will send the specified commit as an email.

Example output: The specified commit is sent as an email to the recipient(s) specified.

Use case 3: Send multiple commits in the current branch

Code:

git send-email -10

Motivation: When you have multiple commits that need to be reviewed or shared as patches, it can be tedious to send them individually. This use case allows you to send a specified number of recent commits in the current branch.

Explanation: The -10 option instructs git send-email to send the last 10 commits in the current branch, starting from the most recent one.

Example output: The last 10 commits are sent as individual emails to the recipient(s) specified.

Use case 4: Send an introductory email message for the patch series

Code:

git send-email -number_of_commits --compose

Motivation: When sending a series of patches, it is often helpful to include a brief introductory message that provides context or an overview of the changes. This use case allows you to compose such an email message.

Explanation: To use this use case, replace number_of_commits with the actual number of commits you want to send. The --compose option tells git send-email to open an editor where you can write the introductory email message.

Example output: An editor opens, allowing you to compose the email message. Once you save and exit the editor, git send-email sends the specified number of commits as emails, with the composed message as the introductory email for the patch series.

Use case 5: Review and edit the email message for each patch you’re about to send

Code:

git send-email -number_of_commits --annotate

Motivation: Occasionally, you may need to review and make changes to the email message for each individual patch before sending them. This use case allows you to annotate and modify the email message for each patch in a series.

Explanation: Replace number_of_commits with the actual number of commits you want to send. The --annotate option prompts git send-email to open an editor for each patch, allowing you to review and edit the email message before sending it.

Example output: An editor opens for each patch in the series, allowing you to review and modify the email message. Once you save and exit the editor, git send-email sends each patch, including the modified message, as individual emails.

Conclusion:

With the git send-email command, you can conveniently send patches as emails for easy collaboration and code review. Whether you want to send a single commit, multiple commits, a patch series with an introductory message, or review/edit email messages for each patch, git send-email provides the necessary functionality to streamline the process.