[PATCH v5] doc: process: clarify scope of applying-patches as legacy reference

[Oscar Alejandro Sánchez Lucero via B4 Relay]

From: Oscar Alejandro Sánchez Lucero <aleszlucero@xxxxxxxxx>

The applying-patches.rst document describes the manual manipulation of
source trees using the traditional 'patch' and 'diff' utilities. While
technically accurate for non-Git or constrained environments, it can
create friction for new contributors seeking the primary Git-based
workflows.

Update the opening note to explicitly state that this document serves
as a reference for legacy or constrained workflows. Provide a direct
cross-reference to howto.rst to steer contributors toward the standard
Git infrastructure.

Signed-off-by: Oscar Alejandro Sánchez Lucero <aleszlucero@xxxxxxxxx>
---
Update the applying-patches.rst document to clarify that it serves as a
reference for legacy or constrained workflows where Git infrastructure
is unavailable, redirecting new contributors to standard Git-based tools.
---
Changes in v5:
- EDITME: describe what is new in this series revision.
- EDITME: use bulletpoints and terse descriptions.
- Link to v4: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20261105-doc-patch-fix-v4-1-3eb49e363f64@xxxxxxxxx

Changes in v4:
- Restored missing blank line, cleaned template markers, dropped duplicated alias, and updated links across versions v1 to v4.
---
 Documentation/process/applying-patches.rst | 10 ++++++++--
 1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/Documentation/process/applying-patches.rst b/Documentation/process/applying-patches.rst
index c269f5e1a0a3..70142c8ec9a3 100644
--- a/Documentation/process/applying-patches.rst
+++ b/Documentation/process/applying-patches.rst
@@ -8,8 +8,14 @@ Original by:
 
 .. note::
 
-   This document is obsolete.  In most cases, rather than using ``patch``
-   manually, you'll almost certainly want to look at using Git instead.
+   This document focuses on the legacy method of manually manipulating source 
+   trees using the traditional ``patch`` and ``diff`` utilities. 
+
+   For the standard Git-based workflow used to clone the repository and work 
+   with kernel patches, please refer to Documentation/process/howto.rst.
+
+   The information below is maintained as a reference for constrained 
+   environments or legacy workflows where Git infrastructure is unavailable.
 
 A frequently asked question on the Linux Kernel Mailing List is how to apply
 a patch to the kernel or, more specifically, what base kernel a patch for

---
base-commit: 05441d697f7f9a927264f4058cbbc6a03dfcac9d
change-id: 20261104-doc-patch-fix-0241ebee9254

Best regards,
-- 
Oscar Alejandro Sánchez Lucero <aleszlucero@xxxxxxxxx>