Add a section about b4, an actively maintained and widely packaged CLI
tool for contributing to patch-based development projects.

Signed-off-by: Manos Pitsidianakis <manos.pitsidianakis@linaro.org>
---
 docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst | 40 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--
 1 file changed, 38 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst b/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst
index f7917b899f6892ef74908fe8f1399b6ae5a30324..5160813ca8cf12c0547b88586059487d1e90fe18 100644
--- a/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst
+++ b/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst
@@ -235,6 +235,38 @@ to another list.) ``git send-email`` (`step-by-step setup guide
 works best for delivering the patch without mangling it, but
 attachments can be used as a last resort on a first-time submission.
 
+.. _use_b4:
+
+Use B4
+~~~~~~
+
+The `b4`_ tool, used for Linux kernel development, can also be used for QEMU
+development. It is packaged in most distros and PyPi. The QEMU source tree
+includes a ``b4`` project configuration file at the root: ``.b4-config``.
+
+Example workflow to prepare a patch series:
+
+1. Start with a clean checkout of the ``master`` branch.
+2. Create a new series with a topical branch name using ``b4 prep -n descriptive-name``.
+   ``b4`` will create a ``b4/descriptive-name`` branch and switch to it.
+3. Commit your changes, following this page's guidelines about proper commit messages etc.
+4. Write a descriptive cover later with ``b4 prep --edit-cover``.
+5. Add maintainer and reviewer CCs with ``b4 prep --auto-to-cc``. You can make
+   changes to Cc: and To: recipients by editing the cover letter.
+6. Run patch checks with ``b4 prep --check``.
+7. Optionally review the patches with ``b4 send --dry-run`` which will print the
+   raw patches in standard output.
+
+To send the patches, you can:
+
+- Setup ``git-send-email`` and use ``b4 send``, or
+- Export the patches to files using ``b4 send -o OUTPUT_DIR`` and send them manually.
+
+For more details, consult the `b4 documentation`_.
+
+.. _b4 documentation: https://b4.docs.kernel.org/
+.. _b4: https://github.com/mricon/b4/
+
 .. _use_git_publish:
 
 Use git-publish
@@ -418,7 +450,7 @@ Retrieve an existing series
 ---------------------------
 
 If you want to apply an existing series on top of your tree, you can simply use
-`b4 <https://github.com/mricon/b4>`__.
+`b4`_.
 
 ::
 
@@ -533,7 +565,11 @@ summary belongs. The `git-publish
 <https://github.com/stefanha/git-publish>`__ script can help with
 tracking a good summary across versions. Also, the `git-backport-diff
 <https://github.com/codyprime/git-scripts>`__ script can help focus
-reviewers on what changed between revisions.
+reviewers on what changed between revisions. The ``b4`` tool automatically
+generates a version history section in the cover letter, including links to the
+previous versions on `Lore`_.
+
+.. _Lore: https://lore.kernel.org/
 
 .. _tips_and_tricks:
 

---
base-commit: f96b157ebb93f94cd56ebbc99bc20982b8fd86ef
change-id: 20250717-docs_add_b4_section-fc37e538b20b

--
γαῖα πυρί μιχθήτω

Hi Manos,

Nice, I use a lot b4 and I think many QEMU devs use it as well :)

On 7/17/25 10:53, Manos Pitsidianakis wrote:
> Add a section about b4, an actively maintained and widely packaged CLI
> tool for contributing to patch-based development projects.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Manos Pitsidianakis <manos.pitsidianakis@linaro.org>
> ---
>   docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst | 40 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--
>   1 file changed, 38 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
> 
> diff --git a/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst b/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst
> index f7917b899f6892ef74908fe8f1399b6ae5a30324..5160813ca8cf12c0547b88586059487d1e90fe18 100644
> --- a/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst
> +++ b/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst
> @@ -235,6 +235,38 @@ to another list.) ``git send-email`` (`step-by-step setup guide
>   works best for delivering the patch without mangling it, but
>   attachments can be used as a last resort on a first-time submission.
>   
> +.. _use_b4:
> +
> +Use B4
> +~~~~~~
> +
> +The `b4`_ tool, used for Linux kernel development, can also be used for QEMU
> +development. It is packaged in most distros and PyPi. The QEMU source tree
> +includes a ``b4`` project configuration file at the root: ``.b4-config``.
> +
> +Example workflow to prepare a patch series:
> +
> +1. Start with a clean checkout of the ``master`` branch.
> +2. Create a new series with a topical branch name using ``b4 prep -n descriptive-name``.
> +   ``b4`` will create a ``b4/descriptive-name`` branch and switch to it.
> +3. Commit your changes, following this page's guidelines about proper commit messages etc.
> +4. Write a descriptive cover later with ``b4 prep --edit-cover``.

Nit: You meant "cover letter" here maybe?

Otherwise:

Reviewed-by: Gustavo Romero <gustavo.romero@linaro.org>


Cheers,
Gustavo

> +5. Add maintainer and reviewer CCs with ``b4 prep --auto-to-cc``. You can make
> +   changes to Cc: and To: recipients by editing the cover letter.
> +6. Run patch checks with ``b4 prep --check``.
> +7. Optionally review the patches with ``b4 send --dry-run`` which will print the
> +   raw patches in standard output.
> +
> +To send the patches, you can:
> +
> +- Setup ``git-send-email`` and use ``b4 send``, or
> +- Export the patches to files using ``b4 send -o OUTPUT_DIR`` and send them manually.
> +
> +For more details, consult the `b4 documentation`_.
> +
> +.. _b4 documentation: https://b4.docs.kernel.org/
> +.. _b4: https://github.com/mricon/b4/
> +
>   .. _use_git_publish:
>   
>   Use git-publish
> @@ -418,7 +450,7 @@ Retrieve an existing series
>   ---------------------------
>   
>   If you want to apply an existing series on top of your tree, you can simply use
> -`b4 <https://github.com/mricon/b4>`__.
> +`b4`_.
>   
>   ::
>   
> @@ -533,7 +565,11 @@ summary belongs. The `git-publish
>   <https://github.com/stefanha/git-publish>`__ script can help with
>   tracking a good summary across versions. Also, the `git-backport-diff
>   <https://github.com/codyprime/git-scripts>`__ script can help focus
> -reviewers on what changed between revisions.
> +reviewers on what changed between revisions. The ``b4`` tool automatically
> +generates a version history section in the cover letter, including links to the
> +previous versions on `Lore`_.
> +
> +.. _Lore: https://lore.kernel.org/
>   
>   .. _tips_and_tricks:
>   
> 
> ---
> base-commit: f96b157ebb93f94cd56ebbc99bc20982b8fd86ef
> change-id: 20250717-docs_add_b4_section-fc37e538b20b
> 
> --
> γαῖα πυρί μιχθήτω
> 
> 

On Thu, Jul 17, 2025 at 9:48 PM Gustavo Romero
<gustavo.romero@linaro.org> wrote:
>
> Hi Manos,
>
> Nice, I use a lot b4 and I think many QEMU devs use it as well :)
>
> On 7/17/25 10:53, Manos Pitsidianakis wrote:
> > Add a section about b4, an actively maintained and widely packaged CLI
> > tool for contributing to patch-based development projects.
> >
> > Signed-off-by: Manos Pitsidianakis <manos.pitsidianakis@linaro.org>
> > ---
> >   docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst | 40 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--
> >   1 file changed, 38 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
> >
> > diff --git a/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst b/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst
> > index f7917b899f6892ef74908fe8f1399b6ae5a30324..5160813ca8cf12c0547b88586059487d1e90fe18 100644
> > --- a/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst
> > +++ b/docs/devel/submitting-a-patch.rst
> > @@ -235,6 +235,38 @@ to another list.) ``git send-email`` (`step-by-step setup guide
> >   works best for delivering the patch without mangling it, but
> >   attachments can be used as a last resort on a first-time submission.
> >
> > +.. _use_b4:
> > +
> > +Use B4
> > +~~~~~~
> > +
> > +The `b4`_ tool, used for Linux kernel development, can also be used for QEMU
> > +development. It is packaged in most distros and PyPi. The QEMU source tree
> > +includes a ``b4`` project configuration file at the root: ``.b4-config``.
> > +
> > +Example workflow to prepare a patch series:
> > +
> > +1. Start with a clean checkout of the ``master`` branch.
> > +2. Create a new series with a topical branch name using ``b4 prep -n descriptive-name``.
> > +   ``b4`` will create a ``b4/descriptive-name`` branch and switch to it.
> > +3. Commit your changes, following this page's guidelines about proper commit messages etc.
> > +4. Write a descriptive cover later with ``b4 prep --edit-cover``.
>
> Nit: You meant "cover letter" here maybe?
>
> Otherwise:
>
> Reviewed-by: Gustavo Romero <gustavo.romero@linaro.org>

Oops, that's what I get for not using "smart" spell checkers :)

Thanks! Will resend a v2 with the typo fixed.


>
> Cheers,
> Gustavo
>
> > +5. Add maintainer and reviewer CCs with ``b4 prep --auto-to-cc``. You can make
> > +   changes to Cc: and To: recipients by editing the cover letter.
> > +6. Run patch checks with ``b4 prep --check``.
> > +7. Optionally review the patches with ``b4 send --dry-run`` which will print the
> > +   raw patches in standard output.
> > +
> > +To send the patches, you can:
> > +
> > +- Setup ``git-send-email`` and use ``b4 send``, or
> > +- Export the patches to files using ``b4 send -o OUTPUT_DIR`` and send them manually.
> > +
> > +For more details, consult the `b4 documentation`_.
> > +
> > +.. _b4 documentation: https://b4.docs.kernel.org/
> > +.. _b4: https://github.com/mricon/b4/
> > +
> >   .. _use_git_publish:
> >
> >   Use git-publish
> > @@ -418,7 +450,7 @@ Retrieve an existing series
> >   ---------------------------
> >
> >   If you want to apply an existing series on top of your tree, you can simply use
> > -`b4 <https://github.com/mricon/b4>`__.
> > +`b4`_.
> >
> >   ::
> >
> > @@ -533,7 +565,11 @@ summary belongs. The `git-publish
> >   <https://github.com/stefanha/git-publish>`__ script can help with
> >   tracking a good summary across versions. Also, the `git-backport-diff
> >   <https://github.com/codyprime/git-scripts>`__ script can help focus
> > -reviewers on what changed between revisions.
> > +reviewers on what changed between revisions. The ``b4`` tool automatically
> > +generates a version history section in the cover letter, including links to the
> > +previous versions on `Lore`_.
> > +
> > +.. _Lore: https://lore.kernel.org/
> >
> >   .. _tips_and_tricks:
> >
> >
> > ---
> > base-commit: f96b157ebb93f94cd56ebbc99bc20982b8fd86ef
> > change-id: 20250717-docs_add_b4_section-fc37e538b20b
> >
> > --
> > γαῖα πυρί μιχθήτω
> >
> >
>