The patch utility is used to merge a diff file into your own source tree. This tool is only needed, if you want to apply a patch (diff file) from someone else (probably from the developer mailing list) to try out in your own private source tree.
![[Tip]](wsdg_graphics/tip.png) | Tip! |
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Unless you are in the rare case needing to apply a patch to your private source tree, you won't need the patch tool installed. |
You will find more instructions in Section 3.10, “Apply a patch from someone else” on how to use the patch tool.
Patch is available for most of the UNIX-like platforms and as the patch package from the Cygwin setup.
If GNU patch isn't already installed or available as a package for your platform, you can get it at: http://www.gnu.org/software/patch/patch.html.
After correct installation, typing at the bash command line prompt:
$
patch --version
should result in something like:
patch 2.5.8
Copyright (C) 1988 Larry Wall
Copyright (C) 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This program comes with NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
You may redistribute copies of this program
under the terms of the GNU General Public License.
For more information about these matters, see the file named COPYING.
written by Larry Wall and Paul Eggert
However, the version string may vary.
A native Win32 patch package can be obtained from http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/. The installation should be straightforward.
The Subversion client TortoiseSVN has a built-in patch feature, see Section 4.12.2, “Win32 native: TortoiseSVN”. The last time tested (Version 1.1.0), this feature failed to apply patches known to be ok.