git-request-pull

Produce a request summarizing the changes between the v1.1 release and a specified branch

$ git request-pull [v1.1] [https://example.com/project] [branch_name]

$ git request-pull [v0.1] [https://example.com/project] [foo:bar]

git request-pull <start> <url> [<branch>]

<start>
    The commit-ish (e.g., commit ID, branch name, or tag) that defines the common ancestor or starting point of the changes. This commit should ideally be present in the recipient's repository.

<url>
    The URL of the Git repository that contains the changes you are requesting to be pulled from. This URL must be accessible to the recipient.

[<branch>]
    Optional. The name of the branch in the specified <url> from which the changes should be pulled. If omitted, the command defaults to the HEAD of the remote repository.

The git-request-pull command generates a summary of changes suitable for emailing to a project maintainer, instructing them on how to pull contributions from a specified repository. It calculates the diff between a start commit (typically one already known to the maintainer) and the HEAD of a branch within a given URL.

The output includes the exact git pull command for the maintainer to use, a concise shortlog of the changes, and a diffstat. This functionality is crucial for facilitating contributions in a distributed, email-centric workflow, allowing contributors to easily package and present their changes for integration without requiring the maintainer to manually inspect diffs or fetch the entire remote repository beforehand.

git-request-pull produces an informational summary for an email-based workflow, not an interactive pull request mechanism found on web platforms like GitHub or GitLab. It assumes the specified <url> is publicly accessible or accessible to the recipient for a successful pull. The <start> commit must be an ancestor of, or reachable from, the specified <branch> (or HEAD if <branch> is omitted) in the remote repository.

The command's output is structured to provide all relevant information for a maintainer to perform a pull operation. It typically includes:

- The exact git pull command the recipient can execute.
- A summary of commits (similar to git shortlog).
- A statistical summary of file changes (diffstat).

This format is designed to be easily copy-pasted into an email.

The git-request-pull command reflects Git's origins as a decentralized version control system primarily designed for email-based patch exchange and integration. It predates and serves a different purpose than modern web-based 'pull request' interfaces. It automates the generation of the necessary information (the git pull command, shortlog, and diffstat) for a maintainer to manually integrate changes sent via email. While still functional, its direct usage for submitting contributions has largely been overshadowed by the convenience of integrated web platforms.

git-pull(1), git-fetch(1), git-log(1), git-shortlog(1), git-diff(1)