Documentation/git-send-email.txt

   1 git-send-email(1)
   2 =================
   3
   4 NAME
   5 ----
   6 git-send-email - Send a collection of patches as emails
   7
   8
   9 SYNOPSIS
  10 --------
  11 [verse]
  12 'git send-email' [options] <file|directory|rev-list options>...
  13
  14
  15 DESCRIPTION
  16 -----------
  17 Takes the patches given on the command line and emails them out.
  18 Patches can be specified as files, directories (which will send all
  19 files in the directory), or directly as a revision list.  In the
  20 last case, any format accepted by linkgit:git-format-patch[1] can
  21 be passed to git send-email.
  22
  23 The header of the email is configurable by command line options.  If not
  24 specified on the command line, the user will be prompted with a ReadLine
  25 enabled interface to provide the necessary information.
  26
  27 There are two formats accepted for patch files:
  28
  29 1. mbox format files
  30 +
  31 This is what linkgit:git-format-patch[1] generates.  Most headers and MIME
  32 formatting are ignored.
  33
  34 2. The original format used by Greg Kroah-Hartman's 'send_lots_of_email.pl'
  35 script
  36 +
  37 This format expects the first line of the file to contain the "Cc:" value
  38 and the "Subject:" of the message as the second line.
  39
  40
  41 OPTIONS
  42 -------
  43
  44 Composing
  45 ~~~~~~~~~
  46
  47 --annotate::
  48         Review and edit each patch you're about to send. See the
  49         CONFIGURATION section for 'sendemail.multiedit'.
  50
  51 --bcc=<address>::
  52         Specify a "Bcc:" value for each email. Default is the value of
  53         'sendemail.bcc'.
  54 +
  55 The --bcc option must be repeated for each user you want on the bcc list.
  56
  57 --cc=<address>::
  58         Specify a starting "Cc:" value for each email.
  59         Default is the value of 'sendemail.cc'.
  60 +
  61 The --cc option must be repeated for each user you want on the cc list.
  62
  63 --compose::
  64         Invoke a text editor (see GIT_EDITOR in linkgit:git-var[1])
  65         to edit an introductory message for the patch series.
  66 +
  67 When '--compose' is used, git send-email will use the From, Subject, and
  68 In-Reply-To headers specified in the message. If the body of the message
  69 (what you type after the headers and a blank line) only contains blank
  70 (or GIT: prefixed) lines the summary won't be sent, but From, Subject,
  71 and In-Reply-To headers will be used unless they are removed.
  72 +
  73 Missing From or In-Reply-To headers will be prompted for.
  74 +
  75 See the CONFIGURATION section for 'sendemail.multiedit'.
  76
  77 --from=<address>::
  78         Specify the sender of the emails.  If not specified on the command line,
  79         the value of the 'sendemail.from' configuration option is used.  If
  80         neither the command line option nor 'sendemail.from' are set, then the
  81         user will be prompted for the value.  The default for the prompt will be
  82         the value of GIT_AUTHOR_IDENT, or GIT_COMMITTER_IDENT if that is not
  83         set, as returned by "git var -l".
  84
  85 --in-reply-to=<identifier>::
  86         Make the first mail (or all the mails with `--no-thread`) appear as a
  87         reply to the given Message-Id, which avoids breaking threads to
  88         provide a new patch series.
  89         The second and subsequent emails will be sent as replies according to
  90         the `--[no]-chain-reply-to` setting.
  91 +
  92 So for example when `--thread` and `--no-chain-reply-to` are specified, the
  93 second and subsequent patches will be replies to the first one like in the
  94 illustration below where `[PATCH v2 0/3]` is in reply to `[PATCH 0/2]`:
  95 +
  96   [PATCH 0/2] Here is what I did...
  97     [PATCH 1/2] Clean up and tests
  98     [PATCH 2/2] Implementation
  99     [PATCH v2 0/3] Here is a reroll
 100       [PATCH v2 1/3] Clean up
 101       [PATCH v2 2/3] New tests
 102       [PATCH v2 3/3] Implementation
 103 +
 104 Only necessary if --compose is also set.  If --compose
 105 is not set, this will be prompted for.
 106
 107 --subject=<string>::
 108         Specify the initial subject of the email thread.
 109         Only necessary if --compose is also set.  If --compose
 110         is not set, this will be prompted for.
 111
 112 --to=<address>::
 113         Specify the primary recipient of the emails generated. Generally, this
 114         will be the upstream maintainer of the project involved. Default is the
 115         value of the 'sendemail.to' configuration value; if that is unspecified,
 116         and --to-cmd is not specified, this will be prompted for.
 117 +
 118 The --to option must be repeated for each user you want on the to list.
 119
 120 --8bit-encoding=<encoding>::
 121         When encountering a non-ASCII message or subject that does not
 122         declare its encoding, add headers/quoting to indicate it is
 123         encoded in <encoding>.  Default is the value of the
 124         'sendemail.assume8bitEncoding'; if that is unspecified, this
 125         will be prompted for if any non-ASCII files are encountered.
 126 +
 127 Note that no attempts whatsoever are made to validate the encoding.
 128
 129
 130 Sending
 131 ~~~~~~~
 132
 133 --envelope-sender=<address>::
 134         Specify the envelope sender used to send the emails.
 135         This is useful if your default address is not the address that is
 136         subscribed to a list. In order to use the 'From' address, set the
 137         value to "auto". If you use the sendmail binary, you must have
 138         suitable privileges for the -f parameter.  Default is the value of the
 139         'sendemail.envelopesender' configuration variable; if that is
 140         unspecified, choosing the envelope sender is left to your MTA.
 141
 142 --smtp-encryption=<encryption>::
 143         Specify the encryption to use, either 'ssl' or 'tls'.  Any other
 144         value reverts to plain SMTP.  Default is the value of
 145         'sendemail.smtpencryption'.
 146
 147 --smtp-domain=<FQDN>::
 148         Specifies the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) used in the
 149         HELO/EHLO command to the SMTP server.  Some servers require the
 150         FQDN to match your IP address.  If not set, git send-email attempts
 151         to determine your FQDN automatically.  Default is the value of
 152         'sendemail.smtpdomain'.
 153
 154 --smtp-pass[=<password>]::
 155         Password for SMTP-AUTH. The argument is optional: If no
 156         argument is specified, then the empty string is used as
 157         the password. Default is the value of 'sendemail.smtppass',
 158         however '--smtp-pass' always overrides this value.
 159 +
 160 Furthermore, passwords need not be specified in configuration files
 161 or on the command line. If a username has been specified (with
 162 '--smtp-user' or a 'sendemail.smtpuser'), but no password has been
 163 specified (with '--smtp-pass' or 'sendemail.smtppass'), then the
 164 user is prompted for a password while the input is masked for privacy.
 165
 166 --smtp-server=<host>::
 167         If set, specifies the outgoing SMTP server to use (e.g.
 168         `smtp.example.com` or a raw IP address).  Alternatively it can
 169         specify a full pathname of a sendmail-like program instead;
 170         the program must support the `-i` option.  Default value can
 171         be specified by the 'sendemail.smtpserver' configuration
 172         option; the built-in default is `/usr/sbin/sendmail` or
 173         `/usr/lib/sendmail` if such program is available, or
 174         `localhost` otherwise.
 175
 176 --smtp-server-port=<port>::
 177         Specifies a port different from the default port (SMTP
 178         servers typically listen to smtp port 25, but may also listen to
 179         submission port 587, or the common SSL smtp port 465);
 180         symbolic port names (e.g. "submission" instead of 587)
 181         are also accepted. The port can also be set with the
 182         'sendemail.smtpserverport' configuration variable.
 183
 184 --smtp-server-option=<option>::
 185         If set, specifies the outgoing SMTP server option to use.
 186         Default value can be specified by the 'sendemail.smtpserveroption'
 187         configuration option.
 188 +
 189 The --smtp-server-option option must be repeated for each option you want
 190 to pass to the server. Likewise, different lines in the configuration files
 191 must be used for each option.
 192
 193 --smtp-ssl::
 194         Legacy alias for '--smtp-encryption ssl'.
 195
 196 --smtp-user=<user>::
 197         Username for SMTP-AUTH. Default is the value of 'sendemail.smtpuser';
 198         if a username is not specified (with '--smtp-user' or 'sendemail.smtpuser'),
 199         then authentication is not attempted.
 200
 201
 202 Automating
 203 ~~~~~~~~~~
 204
 205 --to-cmd=<command>::
 206         Specify a command to execute once per patch file which
 207         should generate patch file specific "To:" entries.
 208         Output of this command must be single email address per line.
 209         Default is the value of 'sendemail.tocmd' configuration value.
 210
 211 --cc-cmd=<command>::
 212         Specify a command to execute once per patch file which
 213         should generate patch file specific "Cc:" entries.
 214         Output of this command must be single email address per line.
 215         Default is the value of 'sendemail.cccmd' configuration value.
 216
 217 --[no-]chain-reply-to::
 218         If this is set, each email will be sent as a reply to the previous
 219         email sent.  If disabled with "--no-chain-reply-to", all emails after
 220         the first will be sent as replies to the first email sent.  When using
 221         this, it is recommended that the first file given be an overview of the
 222         entire patch series. Disabled by default, but the 'sendemail.chainreplyto'
 223         configuration variable can be used to enable it.
 224
 225 --identity=<identity>::
 226         A configuration identity. When given, causes values in the
 227         'sendemail.<identity>' subsection to take precedence over
 228         values in the 'sendemail' section. The default identity is
 229         the value of 'sendemail.identity'.
 230
 231 --[no-]signed-off-by-cc::
 232         If this is set, add emails found in Signed-off-by: or Cc: lines to the
 233         cc list. Default is the value of 'sendemail.signedoffbycc' configuration
 234         value; if that is unspecified, default to --signed-off-by-cc.
 235
 236 --suppress-cc=<category>::
 237         Specify an additional category of recipients to suppress the
 238         auto-cc of:
 239 +
 240 --
 241 - 'author' will avoid including the patch author
 242 - 'self' will avoid including the sender
 243 - 'cc' will avoid including anyone mentioned in Cc lines in the patch header
 244   except for self (use 'self' for that).
 245 - 'bodycc' will avoid including anyone mentioned in Cc lines in the
 246   patch body (commit message) except for self (use 'self' for that).
 247 - 'sob' will avoid including anyone mentioned in Signed-off-by lines except
 248    for self (use 'self' for that).
 249 - 'cccmd' will avoid running the --cc-cmd.
 250 - 'body' is equivalent to 'sob' + 'bodycc'
 251 - 'all' will suppress all auto cc values.
 252 --
 253 +
 254 Default is the value of 'sendemail.suppresscc' configuration value; if
 255 that is unspecified, default to 'self' if --suppress-from is
 256 specified, as well as 'body' if --no-signed-off-cc is specified.
 257
 258 --[no-]suppress-from::
 259         If this is set, do not add the From: address to the cc: list.
 260         Default is the value of 'sendemail.suppressfrom' configuration
 261         value; if that is unspecified, default to --no-suppress-from.
 262
 263 --[no-]thread::
 264         If this is set, the In-Reply-To and References headers will be
 265         added to each email sent.  Whether each mail refers to the
 266         previous email (`deep` threading per 'git format-patch'
 267         wording) or to the first email (`shallow` threading) is
 268         governed by "--[no-]chain-reply-to".
 269 +
 270 If disabled with "--no-thread", those headers will not be added
 271 (unless specified with --in-reply-to).  Default is the value of the
 272 'sendemail.thread' configuration value; if that is unspecified,
 273 default to --thread.
 274 +
 275 It is up to the user to ensure that no In-Reply-To header already
 276 exists when 'git send-email' is asked to add it (especially note that
 277 'git format-patch' can be configured to do the threading itself).
 278 Failure to do so may not produce the expected result in the
 279 recipient's MUA.
 280
 281
 282 Administering
 283 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 284
 285 --confirm=<mode>::
 286         Confirm just before sending:
 287 +
 288 --
 289 - 'always' will always confirm before sending
 290 - 'never' will never confirm before sending
 291 - 'cc' will confirm before sending when send-email has automatically
 292   added addresses from the patch to the Cc list
 293 - 'compose' will confirm before sending the first message when using --compose.
 294 - 'auto' is equivalent to 'cc' + 'compose'
 295 --
 296 +
 297 Default is the value of 'sendemail.confirm' configuration value; if that
 298 is unspecified, default to 'auto' unless any of the suppress options
 299 have been specified, in which case default to 'compose'.
 300
 301 --dry-run::
 302         Do everything except actually send the emails.
 303
 304 --[no-]format-patch::
 305         When an argument may be understood either as a reference or as a file name,
 306         choose to understand it as a format-patch argument ('--format-patch')
 307         or as a file name ('--no-format-patch'). By default, when such a conflict
 308         occurs, git send-email will fail.
 309
 310 --quiet::
 311         Make git-send-email less verbose.  One line per email should be
 312         all that is output.
 313
 314 --[no-]validate::
 315         Perform sanity checks on patches.
 316         Currently, validation means the following:
 317 +
 318 --
 319                 *       Warn of patches that contain lines longer than 998 characters; this
 320                         is due to SMTP limits as described by http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt.
 321 --
 322 +
 323 Default is the value of 'sendemail.validate'; if this is not set,
 324 default to '--validate'.
 325
 326 --force::
 327         Send emails even if safety checks would prevent it.
 328
 329
 330 CONFIGURATION
 331 -------------
 332
 333 sendemail.aliasesfile::
 334         To avoid typing long email addresses, point this to one or more
 335         email aliases files.  You must also supply 'sendemail.aliasfiletype'.
 336
 337 sendemail.aliasfiletype::
 338         Format of the file(s) specified in sendemail.aliasesfile. Must be
 339         one of 'mutt', 'mailrc', 'pine', 'elm', or 'gnus'.
 340
 341 sendemail.multiedit::
 342         If true (default), a single editor instance will be spawned to edit
 343         files you have to edit (patches when '--annotate' is used, and the
 344         summary when '--compose' is used). If false, files will be edited one
 345         after the other, spawning a new editor each time.
 346
 347 sendemail.confirm::
 348         Sets the default for whether to confirm before sending. Must be
 349         one of 'always', 'never', 'cc', 'compose', or 'auto'. See '--confirm'
 350         in the previous section for the meaning of these values.
 351
 352 EXAMPLE
 353 -------
 354 Use gmail as the smtp server
 355 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 356 To use 'git send-email' to send your patches through the GMail SMTP server,
 357 edit ~/.gitconfig to specify your account settings:
 358
 359         [sendemail]
 360                 smtpencryption = tls
 361                 smtpserver = smtp.gmail.com
 362                 smtpuser = yourname@gmail.com
 363                 smtpserverport = 587
 364
 365 Once your commits are ready to be sent to the mailing list, run the
 366 following commands:
 367
 368         $ git format-patch --cover-letter -M origin/master -o outgoing/
 369         $ edit outgoing/0000-*
 370         $ git send-email outgoing/*
 371
 372 Note: the following perl modules are required
 373       Net::SMTP::SSL, MIME::Base64 and Authen::SASL
 374
 375 SEE ALSO
 376 --------
 377 linkgit:git-format-patch[1], linkgit:git-imap-send[1], mbox(5)
 378
 379 GIT
 380 ---
 381 Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite