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Setting Up Git Send-Email ​

This guide covers configuring git send-email to send patch emails directly from the command line using Gmail SMTP with credentials stored in pass.

Prerequisites ​

  • Git installed
  • pass password manager configured
  • A Gmail account with 2FA enabled

1. Install Git Send-Email ​

Debian/Ubuntu:

bash
sudo apt install git-email

On macOS and termux, git-email is bundled with git — no separate package needed.

2. Install Required Perl Modules ​

bash
cpan -i App::cpanminus
cpanm --notest Authen::SASL Net::SMTP::SSL MIME::Base64

The --notest flag skips running tests to speed up installation.

3. Create a Gmail App Password ​

  1. Go to your Google Account settings
  2. Navigate to Security → 2-Step Verification and enable it if not already on
  3. Go to Security → App passwords
  4. Select "Mail" and "Linux" (or "Other") and click Generate
  5. Copy the 16-character password that appears

4. Store the Password in Pass ​

bash
pass insert app/gmail-smtp

Paste your Gmail App Password when prompted.

The sendemail config and the credential helper that pulls from pass are already set up in git/.gitconfig.

5. Usage ​

Send a Single Patch ​

bash
git format-patch -1 HEAD
git send-email --to recipient@example.com 0001-your-patch.patch

Send Multiple Patches ​

bash
git format-patch origin/main
git send-email --to recipient@example.com *.patch

Send with a Cover Letter ​

bash
git format-patch --cover-letter -3 HEAD
# edit the cover letter file
git send-email --to recipient@example.com *.patch

Reply to an Existing Thread ​

bash
git send-email \
  --in-reply-to="<message-id@mail.gmail.com>" \
  --to recipient@example.com \
  0001-patch.patch

6. Dry Run ​

Preview what will be sent without actually sending:

bash
git send-email --dry-run --to recipient@example.com *.patch

Troubleshooting ​

"5.7.8 Username and Password not accepted" error:

Verify your App Password is correctly stored in pass:

bash
pass app/gmail-smtp

"Cannot load Net::SMTP::SSL" error:

bash
cpanm --notest Net::SMTP::SSL

TLS handshake error:

bash
git config --global sendemail.smtpsslverify false

Use this for debugging only — re-enable it afterwards.

References ​

Released under the MIT License.

Copyright © Gouranga Das Samrat