Node:Making Patches, Previous:Merging with patch, Up:Top

## Tips for Making and Using Patches

Use some common sense when making and using patches. For example, when sending bug fixes to a program's maintainer, send several small patches, one per independent subject, instead of one large, harder-to-digest patch that covers all the subjects.

Here are some other things you should keep in mind if you are going to distribute patches for updating a software package.

- Tips for Patch Producers: Advice for making patches.
- Tips for Patch Consumers: Advice for using patches.
- Avoiding Common Mistakes: Avoiding common mistakes when using `patch`.
- Generating Smaller Patches: How to generate smaller patches.