git-imap-send

git imap-send [--quiet] [--verbose] [--no-thread] [--[no-]transfer-encoding] [--annotate] [--[no-]confirm] [...]

--quiet
    Be more quiet.

--verbose
    Be more verbose.

--no-thread
    Do not generate In-Reply-To and References headers to create a thread.

--[no-]transfer-encoding
    Enable or disable transfer encoding. By default, this is enabled.

--annotate
    Add a cover letter to each email sent as patch.

--[no-]confirm
    Confirm each message before queuing it to be sent. By default, the command does not require confirmation for each message.

...
    Read mail information from the specified files.

git-imap-send allows you to submit git patches directly from your repository via IMAP. It automates the process of preparing patches and sending them as email messages. It reads configuration from your `.gitconfig` file to determine your IMAP server settings and email address. The command prepares each commit as a separate patch file, then uploads them to a specified IMAP drafts folder, where you can later review and send them through your email client. This is useful for workflows where direct push access to a repository isn't available, and changes must be submitted as patches for review and application by others.

Essentially, it simplifies the process of integrating git with traditional email-based patch workflows.

The command relies on a properly configured `.gitconfig` for IMAP settings. Incorrect settings will prevent it from working. Also, large patches or frequent use may be affected by IMAP server limitations.

The command uses the following variables in the imap section of the git configuration file: folder, user and pass. Folder specifies where to save the drafts; user specifies the IMAP username; pass specifies the IMAP password.

Suppose you have a series of commits you want to send as patches. First, format them using git format-patch:

git format-patch -M -10 origin/master

This will generate patch files in your current directory. Then, use git imap-send to upload them to your IMAP drafts folder:

git imap-send *.patch

You can then review and send the emails via your email client.

git imap-send was developed as part of the core git suite to facilitate patch submission via email. It arose from the need to bridge the gap between distributed version control and traditional email-based workflows that some organizations or projects still rely on. Its usage has become more common as a method for contributing to projects where direct push access is restricted and code review processes rely on email.

git format-patch(1), git am(1), git send-email(1)