bug#66450: 29.1; Debbugs/Gnus sometimes corrupt git formatted patches

[Eric Abrahamsen <eric@ericabrahamsen.net>]

On 10/12/23 18:52 PM, Michael Albinus wrote:
> Maxim Cournoyer <maxim.cournoyer@gmail.com> writes:
>
>> Hello,
>
> Hi Maxim,
>
>> While working via Emacs Debbugs, I noticed that applying a patch would
>> fail, and that this only occurred when fetching and saving the patch via
>> Debbugs/Gnus.  Below is a reproducer:
>>
>> 1. mkdir -p src && cd src && git clone https://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/guix.git
>> 2. cd guix && git checkout core-updates
>> 3. in emacs: M-x debbugs-gnu-bugs RET 65479 RET
>> 4. Navigate to the message with [PATCH core-updates v3 10/63] in its
>> subject
>> 5. M-x cd RET ~/src/guix
>> 6. Try to apply the patch by pressing: | RET git am
>> 7. Notice that it fails with a patch corrupted message
>> 8. Save the patch message to a file via: O f /tmp/bad.txt
>> 9. Save a pristine version from Mumi:
>> wget https://issues.guix.gnu.org/issue/65479/raw/164 -O/tmp/good.txt
>>
>> 10. From your shell in the Guix checkout: git am --abort; git am <
>> /tmp/bad.txt
>> Observe:
>>
>> Applying: gnu: docbook: Remove leftovers.
>> error: corrupt patch at line 97
>> Patch failed at 0001 gnu: docbook: Remove leftovers.
>> hint: Use 'git am --show-current-patch=diff' to see the failed patch
>> When you have resolved this problem, run "git am --continue".
>> If you prefer to skip this patch, run "git am --skip" instead.
>> To restore the original branch and stop patching, run "git am --abort".
>>
>>
>> 11. git am --abort; git am < /tmp/good.txt
>>
>> It'll fail also because we haven't applied patches 1 to 9, but note the
>> error is not about a corrupted patch.
>
> Eric has told you already what's up from gnus pov.
>
> The debbugs manual gives you a further approach: debbugs-gnu-apply-patch
> (M-m). Read it at (info "(debbugs-ug) Applying Patches")
>
> The documentation speaks about the Emacs repository, but I believe it
> should be possible also to apply it to GUIX with proper setting of
> debbugs-gnu-trunk-directory. If not pls tell me; we could adapt it then.
> There is, for example, a minibuffer prompt "Emacs repository location: "
> which should work anyway.

We're all learning something! I didn't know debbugs did all this, and
will use it for Emacs development in the future. I'd been bouncing back
and forth between Gnus and debbugs, neither one quite seemed to have an
edge on the other, but I think this settles it. Thanks for the
information!

Eric