Re: [PATCH v3] doc: process: clarify scope of applying-patches as legacy reference

From: Weijie Yuan

Date: Thu Nov 05 2026 - 03:14:23 EST


Oscar Alejandro Sánchez Lucero <aleszlucero@xxxxxxxxx> writes:

> 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>
> ---
> Signed-off-by: AleSZLucero <aleszlucero@xxxxxxxxx>
> ---
> Changes in v3:
> - EDITME: describe what is new in this series revision.
> - EDITME: use bulletpoints and terse descriptions.
> - Link to v2: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20261104-doc-patch-fix-v2-1-3601fc35c505@xxxxxxxxx
>
> Changes in v2:
> - EDITME: describe what is new in this series revision.
> - EDITME: use bulletpoints and terse descriptions.
> - Link to v1: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20261104-doc-patch-fix-v1-1-617cb9f4cd47@xxxxxxxxx
> ---

You may want to modify the EDITMEs. ;-)

> Documentation/process/applying-patches.rst | 11 ++++++++---
> 1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)
>
> diff --git a/Documentation/process/applying-patches.rst b/Documentation/process/applying-patches.rst
> index c269f5e1a0a3..59d16b4e0889 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 - This document is obsolete.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.

Yes, further explained the note added by Jon.

But I guess Jon's commit message is clear enough? --

"This is ancient stuff and we don't do things this way anymore. In the
absence of simply deleting the document, at least add a warning to it."
(commit 67972a539e9f, "docs: Add a warning to applying-patches.rst")

It seems that there is no that great necessity for revisions, from my
perspective of reading experience. Thanks.