patch 2.7 in slackware 13.37 and 14.0 has quite serious bugs
 

The latest version of patch 2.7 has a bug which will cause file lost when applying git generated diff. I have already been hurt by this bug.

http://article.gmane.org/gmane.comp.gnu.patch.bugs/380

The git repository of patch seems have fixed this problem. (git://git.savannah.gnu.org/patch.git)

281537bcd92 "In a git-style diff, make sure not to unlink the original
by accident" fixed the problem.

99f263876 "Fix file truncation when switching from git diff to non-git
diff", seems serious enough to be considered for updating the patch program.

Those will be patched soon.

Thanks!

Very punny =)

It seems they jumped the gun on releasing patch even after so many years.