Shavedpatch

Shavedpatch is a term used in software patch management to describe a minimal delta patch that contains only the changes necessary to update a software component from one version to another, with unrelated changes removed. The patch is created by shaving away extraneous hunks, files, or context from a larger patch, producing a lean patch that can be applied by standard patching tools while preserving correct state.

Origin and use: The term draws on the metaphor of shaving away excess material. It is used in environments where bandwidth, storage, or deployment time is at a premium, such as embedded systems, containers, and large-scale deployments. Shavedpatches are typically generated by patch generation tools that support delta minimization or by workflows that compare versioned trees and extract only the differing components.

Technical considerations: Shavedpatches focus on file-level changes or binary deltas and may remove metadata or unrelated changes to minimize size. Some patch formats support partial application, while others require reconstituting the patch from a base state. The effectiveness depends on the patch tool, the project’s versioning discipline, and the coherence of dependencies.

Limitations: If the target system has diverged from the base version, applying a shavedpatch can fail or cause inconsistent state. Maintaining shaved patches also adds tooling and testing overhead to ensure that patches remain valid across releases.

See also: delta patch, patch management, binary diff, patching tools.