Randy Dunlap sent a patch to the Linux kernel mailing list described as adding "info about various email clients and their applicability in being used to send Linux kernel patches." The first revision generated quite a bit of discussion, quickly resulting in a second version, and eventually a third version that Andrew Morton referred to as "soon to be merged". In addition to some general suggestions about emailing patches, it also offers some specific configuration suggestions for a number of popular email clients. It begins:

"Patches for the Linux kernel are submitted via email, preferably as inline text in the body of the email. Some maintainers accept attachments, but then the attachments should have content-type 'text/plain'. However, attachments are generally frowned upon because it makes quoting portions of the patch more difficult in the patch review process.

"Email clients that are used for Linux kernel patches should send the patch text untouched. For example, they should not modify or delete tabs or spaces, even at the beginning or end of lines."