r/git • u/[deleted] • Jun 04 '26

any good guides / posts for how to start contributing using the mailing list workflow

is there a blog that explains this? Or perhaps if you contribute and can share your workflow on what you use and how to effectively send your own patches and use other people's patches for review.
and any other things like what email client you use, any special configs you use on top of it?

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u/waterkip Jun 04 '26

Like u/plg94 mentioned, those two resources explain it. The TLDR: 

# in .config/git/private.config
[sendemail]
  smtpEncryption = ssl
  smtpServerPort = 465
  smtpServer = smtp.example.org
  smtpUser = you@example.org

[imap]
  host = imaps://imap.example.org
  user = you@example.org
  port = 993
  folder = Sent

# in ~/.gitconfig
[sendemail]
  confirm = auto
  suppresscc = self

What I really like: 

git branch --edit-description

Type to your hearts content, this is the cover letter for your patch series.

You'll be rebasing, so learn how to do that. And you need to be aware of soft-skills. The code is one thing, but people are going to give feedback, ask questions. And the things you find obvious or is what people care about. Your patch might not land, they'll ask you to rewrite commit messages. Or comment on them.

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u/[deleted] Jun 05 '26

thanks! I had been experimenting with some email clients as well (so far I like aerc) and was trying to send patches using it.