Commit c594a50d authored by Randy Dunlap's avatar Randy Dunlap Committed by Linus Torvalds

[PATCH] Docs update: typos, corrections and additions to applying-patches.txt

Typos/corrections.

A few extra additions on top of Randy's fixes.
Signed-off-by: default avatarRandy Dunlap <rdunlap@xenotime.net>
Signed-off-by: default avatarJesper Juhl <jesper.juhl@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: default avatarAndrew Morton <akpm@osdl.org>
Signed-off-by: default avatarLinus Torvalds <torvalds@osdl.org>
parent a6d3fe77
...@@ -3,8 +3,7 @@ ...@@ -3,8 +3,7 @@
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
Original by: Jesper Juhl, August 2005 Original by: Jesper Juhl, August 2005
Last update: 2005-12-02 Last update: 2006-01-05
A frequently asked question on the Linux Kernel Mailing List is how to apply A frequently asked question on the Linux Kernel Mailing List is how to apply
...@@ -77,7 +76,7 @@ instead: ...@@ -77,7 +76,7 @@ instead:
If you wish to uncompress the patch file by hand first before applying it If you wish to uncompress the patch file by hand first before applying it
(what I assume you've done in the examples below), then you simply run (what I assume you've done in the examples below), then you simply run
gunzip or bunzip2 on the file - like this: gunzip or bunzip2 on the file -- like this:
gunzip patch-x.y.z.gz gunzip patch-x.y.z.gz
bunzip2 patch-x.y.z.bz2 bunzip2 patch-x.y.z.bz2
...@@ -95,7 +94,7 @@ Common errors when patching ...@@ -95,7 +94,7 @@ Common errors when patching
--- ---
When patch applies a patch file it attempts to verify the sanity of the When patch applies a patch file it attempts to verify the sanity of the
file in different ways. file in different ways.
Checking that the file looks like a valid patch file, checking the code Checking that the file looks like a valid patch file & checking the code
around the bits being modified matches the context provided in the patch are around the bits being modified matches the context provided in the patch are
just two of the basic sanity checks patch does. just two of the basic sanity checks patch does.
...@@ -122,7 +121,7 @@ outright and leaves a file with a .rej extension (a reject file). You can ...@@ -122,7 +121,7 @@ outright and leaves a file with a .rej extension (a reject file). You can
read this file to see exactly what change couldn't be applied, so you can read this file to see exactly what change couldn't be applied, so you can
go fix it up by hand if you wish. go fix it up by hand if you wish.
If you don't have any third party patches applied to your kernel source, but If you don't have any third-party patches applied to your kernel source, but
only patches from kernel.org and you apply the patches in the correct order, only patches from kernel.org and you apply the patches in the correct order,
and have made no modifications yourself to the source files, then you should and have made no modifications yourself to the source files, then you should
never see a fuzz or reject message from patch. If you do see such messages never see a fuzz or reject message from patch. If you do see such messages
...@@ -137,7 +136,7 @@ If patch stops and presents a "File to patch:" prompt, then patch could not ...@@ -137,7 +136,7 @@ If patch stops and presents a "File to patch:" prompt, then patch could not
find a file to be patched. Most likely you forgot to specify -p1 or you are find a file to be patched. Most likely you forgot to specify -p1 or you are
in the wrong directory. Less often, you'll find patches that need to be in the wrong directory. Less often, you'll find patches that need to be
applied with -p0 instead of -p1 (reading the patch file should reveal if applied with -p0 instead of -p1 (reading the patch file should reveal if
this is the case - if so, then this is an error by the person who created this is the case -- if so, then this is an error by the person who created
the patch but is not fatal). the patch but is not fatal).
If you get "Hunk #2 succeeded at 1887 with fuzz 2 (offset 7 lines)." or a If you get "Hunk #2 succeeded at 1887 with fuzz 2 (offset 7 lines)." or a
...@@ -168,13 +167,17 @@ the patch will in fact apply it. ...@@ -168,13 +167,17 @@ the patch will in fact apply it.
A message similar to "patch: **** unexpected end of file in patch" or "patch A message similar to "patch: **** unexpected end of file in patch" or "patch
unexpectedly ends in middle of line" means that patch could make no sense of unexpectedly ends in middle of line" means that patch could make no sense of
the file you fed to it. Either your download is broken or you tried to feed the file you fed to it. Either your download is broken, you tried to feed
patch a compressed patch file without uncompressing it first. patch a compressed patch file without uncompressing it first, or the patch
file that you are using has been mangled by a mail client or mail transfer
agent along the way somewhere, e.g., by splitting a long line into two lines.
Often these warnings can easily be fixed by joining (concatenating) the
two lines that had been split.
As I already mentioned above, these errors should never happen if you apply As I already mentioned above, these errors should never happen if you apply
a patch from kernel.org to the correct version of an unmodified source tree. a patch from kernel.org to the correct version of an unmodified source tree.
So if you get these errors with kernel.org patches then you should probably So if you get these errors with kernel.org patches then you should probably
assume that either your patch file or your tree is broken and I'd advice you assume that either your patch file or your tree is broken and I'd advise you
to start over with a fresh download of a full kernel tree and the patch you to start over with a fresh download of a full kernel tree and the patch you
wish to apply. wish to apply.
...@@ -200,10 +203,10 @@ do the additional steps since interdiff can get things wrong in some cases. ...@@ -200,10 +203,10 @@ do the additional steps since interdiff can get things wrong in some cases.
Another alternative is `ketchup', which is a python script for automatic Another alternative is `ketchup', which is a python script for automatic
downloading and applying of patches (http://www.selenic.com/ketchup/). downloading and applying of patches (http://www.selenic.com/ketchup/).
Other nice tools are diffstat which shows a summary of changes made by a Other nice tools are diffstat, which shows a summary of changes made by a
patch, lsdiff which displays a short listing of affected files in a patch patch; lsdiff, which displays a short listing of affected files in a patch
file, along with (optionally) the line numbers of the start of each patch file, along with (optionally) the line numbers of the start of each patch;
and grepdiff which displays a list of the files modified by a patch where and grepdiff, which displays a list of the files modified by a patch where
the patch contains a given regular expression. the patch contains a given regular expression.
...@@ -228,8 +231,8 @@ The -mm kernels live at ...@@ -228,8 +231,8 @@ The -mm kernels live at
In place of ftp.kernel.org you can use ftp.cc.kernel.org, where cc is a In place of ftp.kernel.org you can use ftp.cc.kernel.org, where cc is a
country code. This way you'll be downloading from a mirror site that's most country code. This way you'll be downloading from a mirror site that's most
likely geographically closer to you, resulting in faster downloads for you, likely geographically closer to you, resulting in faster downloads for you,
less bandwidth used globally and less load on the main kernel.org servers - less bandwidth used globally and less load on the main kernel.org servers --
these are good things, do use mirrors when possible. these are good things, so do use mirrors when possible.
The 2.6.x kernels The 2.6.x kernels
...@@ -237,14 +240,14 @@ The 2.6.x kernels ...@@ -237,14 +240,14 @@ The 2.6.x kernels
These are the base stable releases released by Linus. The highest numbered These are the base stable releases released by Linus. The highest numbered
release is the most recent. release is the most recent.
If regressions or other serious flaws are found then a -stable fix patch If regressions or other serious flaws are found, then a -stable fix patch
will be released (see below) on top of this base. Once a new 2.6.x base will be released (see below) on top of this base. Once a new 2.6.x base
kernel is released, a patch is made available that is a delta between the kernel is released, a patch is made available that is a delta between the
previous 2.6.x kernel and the new one. previous 2.6.x kernel and the new one.
To apply a patch moving from 2.6.11 to 2.6.12 you'd do the following (note To apply a patch moving from 2.6.11 to 2.6.12, you'd do the following (note
that such patches do *NOT* apply on top of 2.6.x.y kernels but on top of the that such patches do *NOT* apply on top of 2.6.x.y kernels but on top of the
base 2.6.x kernel - if you need to move from 2.6.x.y to 2.6.x+1 you need to base 2.6.x kernel -- if you need to move from 2.6.x.y to 2.6.x+1 you need to
first revert the 2.6.x.y patch). first revert the 2.6.x.y patch).
Here are some examples: Here are some examples:
...@@ -266,7 +269,7 @@ $ mv linux-2.6.11.1 linux-2.6.12 # rename source dir ...@@ -266,7 +269,7 @@ $ mv linux-2.6.11.1 linux-2.6.12 # rename source dir
The 2.6.x.y kernels The 2.6.x.y kernels
--- ---
Kernels with 4 digit versions are -stable kernels. They contain small(ish) Kernels with 4-digit versions are -stable kernels. They contain small(ish)
critical fixes for security problems or significant regressions discovered critical fixes for security problems or significant regressions discovered
in a given 2.6.x kernel. in a given 2.6.x kernel.
...@@ -277,9 +280,14 @@ versions. ...@@ -277,9 +280,14 @@ versions.
If no 2.6.x.y kernel is available, then the highest numbered 2.6.x kernel is If no 2.6.x.y kernel is available, then the highest numbered 2.6.x kernel is
the current stable kernel. the current stable kernel.
note: the -stable team usually do make incremental patches available as well
as patches against the latest mainline release, but I only cover the
non-incremental ones below. The incremental ones can be found at
ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/incr/
These patches are not incremental, meaning that for example the 2.6.12.3 These patches are not incremental, meaning that for example the 2.6.12.3
patch does not apply on top of the 2.6.12.2 kernel source, but rather on top patch does not apply on top of the 2.6.12.2 kernel source, but rather on top
of the base 2.6.12 kernel source. of the base 2.6.12 kernel source .
So, in order to apply the 2.6.12.3 patch to your existing 2.6.12.2 kernel So, in order to apply the 2.6.12.3 patch to your existing 2.6.12.2 kernel
source you have to first back out the 2.6.12.2 patch (so you are left with a source you have to first back out the 2.6.12.2 patch (so you are left with a
base 2.6.12 kernel source) and then apply the new 2.6.12.3 patch. base 2.6.12 kernel source) and then apply the new 2.6.12.3 patch.
...@@ -345,12 +353,12 @@ The -git kernels ...@@ -345,12 +353,12 @@ The -git kernels
repository, hence the name). repository, hence the name).
These patches are usually released daily and represent the current state of These patches are usually released daily and represent the current state of
Linus' tree. They are more experimental than -rc kernels since they are Linus's tree. They are more experimental than -rc kernels since they are
generated automatically without even a cursory glance to see if they are generated automatically without even a cursory glance to see if they are
sane. sane.
-git patches are not incremental and apply either to a base 2.6.x kernel or -git patches are not incremental and apply either to a base 2.6.x kernel or
a base 2.6.x-rc kernel - you can see which from their name. a base 2.6.x-rc kernel -- you can see which from their name.
A patch named 2.6.12-git1 applies to the 2.6.12 kernel source and a patch A patch named 2.6.12-git1 applies to the 2.6.12 kernel source and a patch
named 2.6.13-rc3-git2 applies to the source of the 2.6.13-rc3 kernel. named 2.6.13-rc3-git2 applies to the source of the 2.6.13-rc3 kernel.
...@@ -393,12 +401,12 @@ You should generally strive to get your patches into mainline via -mm to ...@@ -393,12 +401,12 @@ You should generally strive to get your patches into mainline via -mm to
ensure maximum testing. ensure maximum testing.
This branch is in constant flux and contains many experimental features, a This branch is in constant flux and contains many experimental features, a
lot of debugging patches not appropriate for mainline etc and is the most lot of debugging patches not appropriate for mainline etc., and is the most
experimental of the branches described in this document. experimental of the branches described in this document.
These kernels are not appropriate for use on systems that are supposed to be These kernels are not appropriate for use on systems that are supposed to be
stable and they are more risky to run than any of the other branches (make stable and they are more risky to run than any of the other branches (make
sure you have up-to-date backups - that goes for any experimental kernel but sure you have up-to-date backups -- that goes for any experimental kernel but
even more so for -mm kernels). even more so for -mm kernels).
These kernels in addition to all the other experimental patches they contain These kernels in addition to all the other experimental patches they contain
......
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