[p4] patch process and branching model

[Dan Bloch]

I've run into this at almost every company I've worked.

Cumulative patches are easier to develop, easier to test, and easier to
support.  You want cumulative patches.

Every bug fix has the potential to introduce a new bug, so your customers
want atomic patches.

If you have a strong enough negotiating position, you provide cumulative
patches, and you only have to support known patch levels.  If you don't, you
provide atomic patches, and you have to support a different configuration
for each customer.

Simple.

Regards,
Dan