Patches
=======

   I am always grateful for any patches sent in.  Much of the
flexibility and portability of the code is due to other people.  Please
do not hesitate to send me any changes you have found necessary or
useful.

   When sending a patch, please send the output of the Unix `diff'
program invoked with the `-c' option (if you have the GNU version of
`diff', use the `-p' option).  Always invoke `diff' with the original
file first and the modified file second.

   If your `diff' does not support `-c' (or you don't have `diff'),
send a complete copy of the modified file (if you have just changed a
single function, you can just send the new version of the function).
In particular, please do not send `diff' output without the `-c'
option, as it is useless.

   If you have made a number of changes, it is very convenient for me if
you send each change as a separate mail message.  Sometimes I will think
that one change is useful but another one is not.  If they are in
different messages it is much easier for me to apply one but not the
other.

   I rarely apply the patches directly.  Instead I work my way through
the hunks and apply each one separately.  This ensures that the naming
remains consistent, and that I understand all the code.

   If you can not follow all these rules, then don't.  But if you do, it
makes it more likely that I will incorporate your changes.  I am not
paid for my UUCP work, and my available time is unfortunately very
restricted.  The package is important to me, and I do what I can, but I
can not do all that I would like, much less all that everybody else
would like.

   Finally, please do not be offended if I do not reply to messages for
some time, even a few weeks.  I am often behind on my mail, and if I
think your message deserves a considered reply I will often put it aside
until I have time to deal with it.