git-quiltimport

git quiltimport [options...] [commit]

--patches <dir>
    Set directory for Quilt patches and series file. Default: patches/ or .pc/patches.

--patch <patch>
    Import single specified patch file as a commit. Repeatable for multiples.

git-quiltimport is a Git porcelain command that imports Quilt-managed patches or series files into Git as separate commits. Quilt is a toolset for managing large numbers of patches, commonly used in Linux kernel development for organizing changes before submission.

The command scans standard Quilt directories like patches/ or .pc/patches for a series file listing patches and an applied-patches or status file. It applies unapplied patches sequentially on top of a base commit (default: HEAD), creating Git commits that preserve original patch authors, dates, subjects, and metadata.

Specify a custom directory with --patches or import a single patch via --patch. Positional arguments allow multiple directories or files. This bridges Quilt workflows to Git, enabling version control features like branching and merging while retaining patch history. Ideal for kernel devs migrating patches to Git trees.

Patches must apply cleanly; failures halt the process with details for manual fixes.

Patches must apply cleanly to base commit; no automatic 3-way merge support. Fails on conflicts, requiring manual resolution. Ignores already-applied patches.

git quiltimport
Imports from default directory on current HEAD.

git quiltimport --patches my-patches/ v2.6.39
Imports onto commit v2.6.39.

git quiltimport --patch foo.patch
Imports single patch.

Added in Git 1.7.0.rc0 (January 2010) to ease Linux kernel workflows using Quilt before Git integration.

quilt(1), git-am(1), git-apply(1), git-format-patch(1)