Re: [PATCH v2 0/1] Add add-maintainer.py script

From: Neil Armstrong
Date: Fri Aug 18 2023 - 04:34:13 EST


On 16/08/2023 19:15, Guru Das Srinagesh wrote:
Thanks for the comments, Krzysztof.

On Aug 15 2023 23:06, Krzysztof Kozlowski wrote:
On 10/08/2023 20:55, Guru Das Srinagesh wrote:
On Aug 03 2023 01:23, Guru Das Srinagesh wrote:
When pushing patches to upstream, the `get_maintainer.pl` script is used to
determine whom to send the patches to. Instead of having to manually process
the output of the script, add a wrapper script to do that for you.

The add-maintainer.py script adds maintainers (and mailing lists) to a patch,
editing it in-place.

Could I request reviews from the other maintainers as well, please? Just to see
if I should continue working on this script or if the `b4` tool obviates the
need for such a script.

I send a bit of patches but I use very simple workflow. It is really
simple, so simple, that I was always surprised how people can make their
life difficult with some complicated process to send patches... and then
obviously skip some maintainers, because of that process.

Exactly - this script aims to solve precisely that problem. It fills the gap
between running `get_maintainers.pl` and having to manually edit its output to
add "To: " and "Cc: " and somehow incorporate it in the body of the patch(es).

With this script, the workflow would be as simple as:

1. Generate patches using `git format-patch`
2. Run `add-maintainer.py` on the above patches
3. `git send-email` the patches.

That's it - no need to manually work with email addresses.
I almost always feed git send-email with addresses from
scripts/get_maintainers.pl. This tool would not bring any benefits to my
simple workflow.

In the light of the 3-step workflow I've envisioned above, could you please
elaborate why not? If anything, it will only save a developer's time.

For newcomers, OTOH, I would either recommend simple workflow or just
use b4. Why? Because if you cannot use git-send-email, then it means
your email setup will make your life difficult and adding maintainers to
existing patch won't help you.

You've mentioned a "simple workflow" many times - could you please share more
details on the steps you follow in your workflow for sending patches?

This tool depends on the command line and shell interface of
scripts/get_maintainers.pl which is another reason why it might not be a
good idea.

Could you please elaborate on why depending on the output of
`get_maintainer.pl` is a bad idea? It's what everyone uses, no?

My opinion is that it would be a better idea to add a new output mode
to scripts/get_maintainer.pl than adding another script on top of it.

Or document somewhere how to use get_maintainer.pl with git-format-patch
without any additional scripts.

Neil


Thank you.

Guru Das.