Re: [PATCH v2 2/2] docs: submitting-patches: make LKML a list of last resort again

[Lee Jones <lee@kernel.org>]

On Tue, 20 Oct 2026, Konstantin Ryabitsev wrote:

> Commit 77167b966b7e ("docs: submitting-patches: clarify the role of
> LKML") changed the documentation to say that all patches should be sent
> to LKML by default, because get_maintainer.pl always suggested it.
> 
> Now that get_maintainer.pl only falls back to THE REST when no other
> matching section provides a mailing list, update the documentation to
> match: send patches to the subsystem-specific list, and use LKML only
> when there isn't one.
> 
> Suggested-by: Petr Pavlu <petr.pavlu@suse.com>
> Signed-off-by: Konstantin Ryabitsev <konstantin@linuxfoundation.org>
> ---
>  Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst | 9 ++++++---
>  1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)
> 
> diff --git a/Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst b/Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst
> index 7ae79452e1b4..b4a2750599a7 100644
> --- a/Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst
> +++ b/Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst
> @@ -239,9 +239,12 @@ patches as arguments to scripts/get_maintainer.pl).  If you cannot find a
>  maintainer for the subsystem you are working on, Andrew Morton
>  (akpm@linux-foundation.org) serves as a maintainer of last resort.
>  
> -linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org should be used by default for all patches, but the
> -volume on that list has caused a number of developers to tune it out.  Please
> -do not spam unrelated lists and unrelated people, though.
> +You should also normally choose at least one mailing list to receive a copy of
> +your patch set.  Look in the MAINTAINERS file for a subsystem-specific list;
> +your patch will probably get more attention there.
> +linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org functions as a list of last resort for patches
> +that do not have a subsystem-specific list.  Please do not spam unrelated lists
> +and unrelated people, though.
>  
>  Many kernel-related lists are hosted at kernel.org; you can find a list
>  of them at https://subspace.kernel.org.  There are kernel-related lists

Makes sense.  Banning Gmail addresses would be less than ideal.

Reviewed-by: Lee Jones <lee@kernel.org>

-- 
Lee Jones