b4 ☆
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Description:
Tool to work with public-inbox and patch archives
Type: Formula  |  Latest Version: 0.14.3@1  |  Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: patches mailing-list kernel git development
Install: brew install b4
About:
b4 is a specialized command-line utility designed for interacting with public-inbox mailing lists and patch archives. It streamlines the process of fetching, organizing, and applying patches sent to Linux kernel and other open-source project mailing lists. The tool's primary value is simplifying complex email-based workflows for developers.
Key Features:
  • Fetches and aggregates patch series from public-inbox archives
  • Handles signed-off-by chains and patch metadata validation
  • Integrates with Git for seamless patch application and review
  • Supports searching and exploring mailing list threads
Use Cases:
  • Applying patch series received via Linux kernel mailing list
  • Reviewing and testing contributions from public-inbox archives
  • Managing patch workflows for projects using email-based development
Alternatives:
  • git-pw – git-pw interacts with Patchwork web UIs, while b4 works directly with email archives
  • am – Standard git am handles individual emails, b4 automates fetching and threading
License: GPL-2.0-or-later
Dependencies: certifi, cffi, libsodium, python@3.14
Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, sonoma, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Dec 5, 2025 10:07pm 1 VERSION_BUMP d1873d87
Oct 27, 2025 11:42pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 801f0ae3
Sep 13, 2025 1:40pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 01612dc0
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