feat: handle missing optional patch tags for pr/ flow

- Add mbox_parser module to extract metadata from patch content
- Extract author/committer from From: and Date: headers when tags missing
- Extract commit message body as fallback for description tag
- Implement best-guess parent commit logic using committer timestamps
- Update patch_supports_commit_ids to accept mbox-parseable patches
- Enable patches without optional tags to appear as pr/ branches

8 files changed, 785 insertions, 56 deletions

diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 4fa46d9..256443e 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -33,6 +33,15 @@ dependencies = [
 ]
 
 [[package]]
+name = "android_system_properties"
+version = "0.1.5"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "819e7219dbd41043ac279b19830f2efc897156490d7fd6ea916720117ee66311"
+dependencies = [
+ "libc",
+]
+
+[[package]]
 name = "anstream"
 version = "0.6.21"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
@@ -176,6 +185,12 @@ dependencies = [
 ]
 
 [[package]]
+name = "autocfg"
+version = "1.5.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "c08606f8c3cbf4ce6ec8e28fb0014a2c086708fe954eaa885384a6165172e7e8"
+
+[[package]]
 name = "base64"
 version = "0.22.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
@@ -345,6 +360,19 @@ dependencies = [
 ]
 
 [[package]]
+name = "chrono"
+version = "0.4.43"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "fac4744fb15ae8337dc853fee7fb3f4e48c0fbaa23d0afe49c447b4fab126118"
+dependencies = [
+ "iana-time-zone",
+ "js-sys",
+ "num-traits",
+ "wasm-bindgen",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
+]
+
+[[package]]
 name = "cipher"
 version = "0.4.4"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
@@ -1078,6 +1106,30 @@ dependencies = [
 ]
 
 [[package]]
+name = "iana-time-zone"
+version = "0.1.65"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "e31bc9ad994ba00e440a8aa5c9ef0ec67d5cb5e5cb0cc7f8b744a35b389cc470"
+dependencies = [
+ "android_system_properties",
+ "core-foundation-sys",
+ "iana-time-zone-haiku",
+ "js-sys",
+ "log",
+ "wasm-bindgen",
+ "windows-core",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "iana-time-zone-haiku"
+version = "0.1.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "f31827a206f56af32e590ba56d5d2d085f558508192593743f16b2306495269f"
+dependencies = [
+ "cc",
+]
+
+[[package]]
 name = "icu_collections"
 version = "2.0.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
@@ -1467,6 +1519,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "async-trait",
  "auth-git2",
  "chacha20poly1305",
+ "chrono",
  "clap",
  "console",
  "dialoguer",
@@ -1616,6 +1669,15 @@ dependencies = [
 ]
 
 [[package]]
+name = "num-traits"
+version = "0.2.19"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "071dfc062690e90b734c0b2273ce72ad0ffa95f0c74596bc250dcfd960262841"
+dependencies = [
+ "autocfg",
+]
+
+[[package]]
 name = "once_cell"
 version = "1.21.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
@@ -3282,6 +3344,41 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "712e227841d057c1ee1cd2fb22fa7e5a5461ae8e48fa2ca79ec42cfc1931183f"
 
 [[package]]
+name = "windows-core"
+version = "0.62.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "b8e83a14d34d0623b51dce9581199302a221863196a1dde71a7663a4c2be9deb"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-implement",
+ "windows-interface",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
+ "windows-result 0.4.1",
+ "windows-strings 0.5.1",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "windows-implement"
+version = "0.60.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "053e2e040ab57b9dc951b72c264860db7eb3b0200ba345b4e4c3b14f67855ddf"
+dependencies = [
+ "proc-macro2",
+ "quote",
+ "syn",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "windows-interface"
+version = "0.59.3"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "3f316c4a2570ba26bbec722032c4099d8c8bc095efccdc15688708623367e358"
+dependencies = [
+ "proc-macro2",
+ "quote",
+ "syn",
+]
+
+[[package]]
 name = "windows-link"
 version = "0.1.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
@@ -3300,8 +3397,8 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "5b8a9ed28765efc97bbc954883f4e6796c33a06546ebafacbabee9696967499e"
 dependencies = [
  "windows-link 0.1.3",
- "windows-result",
- "windows-strings",
+ "windows-result 0.3.4",
+ "windows-strings 0.4.2",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -3314,6 +3411,15 @@ dependencies = [
 ]
 
 [[package]]
+name = "windows-result"
+version = "0.4.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "7781fa89eaf60850ac3d2da7af8e5242a5ea78d1a11c49bf2910bb5a73853eb5"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
+]
+
+[[package]]
 name = "windows-strings"
 version = "0.4.2"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
@@ -3323,6 +3429,15 @@ dependencies = [
 ]
 
 [[package]]
+name = "windows-strings"
+version = "0.5.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "7837d08f69c77cf6b07689544538e017c1bfcf57e34b4c0ff58e6c2cd3b37091"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
+]
+
+[[package]]
 name = "windows-sys"
 version = "0.52.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index eefba1a..71de413 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ anyhow = "1.0.98"
 async-trait = "0.1.88"
 auth-git2 = "0.5.8"
 chacha20poly1305 = "0.10.1"
+chrono = "0.4"
 clap = { version = "4.5.41", features = ["derive"] }
 console = "0.16.0"
 dialoguer = "0.12.0"
diff --git a/src/bin/ngit/sub_commands/checkout.rs b/src/bin/ngit/sub_commands/checkout.rs
index 19e39d0..87f1ff2 100644
--- a/src/bin/ngit/sub_commands/checkout.rs
+++ b/src/bin/ngit/sub_commands/checkout.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ use nostr_sdk::{EventId, FromBech32};
 use crate::{
     client::{Client, Connect, fetching_with_report, get_repo_ref_from_cache},
     git::{Repo, RepoActions, str_to_sha1},
-    git_events::{event_to_cover_letter, patch_supports_commit_ids},
+    git_events::{event_to_cover_letter, get_parent_commit_from_patch, patch_supports_commit_ids},
     repo_ref::get_repo_coordinates_when_remote_unknown,
 };
 
@@ -272,13 +272,12 @@ fn checkout_patch(
         );
     }
 
-    let proposal_base_commit = str_to_sha1(&tag_value(
-        most_recent_proposal_patch_chain_or_pr_or_pr_update
-            .last()
-            .context("there should be at least one patch")?,
-        "parent-commit",
-    )?)
-    .context("failed to get valid parent commit id from patch")?;
+    let last_patch = most_recent_proposal_patch_chain_or_pr_or_pr_update
+        .last()
+        .context("there should be at least one patch")?;
+
+    let proposal_base_commit = str_to_sha1(&get_parent_commit_from_patch(last_patch, Some(git_repo))?)
+        .context("failed to get valid parent commit id from patch")?;
 
     let (main_branch_name, _master_tip) = git_repo.get_main_or_master_branch()?;
 
diff --git a/src/bin/ngit/sub_commands/list.rs b/src/bin/ngit/sub_commands/list.rs
index 80eec21..133ac83 100644
--- a/src/bin/ngit/sub_commands/list.rs
+++ b/src/bin/ngit/sub_commands/list.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ use crate::{
     git::{Repo, RepoActions, str_to_sha1},
     git_events::{
         commit_msg_from_patch_oneliner, event_is_revision_root, event_to_cover_letter,
-        patch_supports_commit_ids,
+        get_parent_commit_from_patch, patch_supports_commit_ids,
     },
     repo_ref::get_repo_coordinates_when_remote_unknown,
 };
@@ -703,15 +703,14 @@ async fn launch_interactive() -> Result<()> {
             .get_checked_out_branch_name()?
             .eq(&cover_letter.get_branch_name_with_pr_prefix_and_shorthand_id()?);
 
-        let proposal_base_commit = str_to_sha1(&tag_value(
-            most_recent_proposal_patch_chain_or_pr_or_pr_update
-                .last()
-                .context(
-                    "there should be at least one patch as we have already checked for this",
-                )?,
-            "parent-commit",
-        )?)
-        .context("failed to get valid parent commit id from patch")?;
+        let last_patch = most_recent_proposal_patch_chain_or_pr_or_pr_update
+            .last()
+            .context(
+                "there should be at least one patch as we have already checked for this",
+            )?;
+
+        let proposal_base_commit = str_to_sha1(&get_parent_commit_from_patch(last_patch, Some(&git_repo))?)
+            .context("failed to get valid parent commit id from patch")?;
 
         let (main_branch_name, master_tip) = git_repo.get_main_or_master_branch()?;
 
diff --git a/src/lib/git/mod.rs b/src/lib/git/mod.rs
index 516d9e2..57e8403 100644
--- a/src/lib/git/mod.rs
+++ b/src/lib/git/mod.rs
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ pub trait RepoActions {
     /// returns vector ["name", "email", "unixtime", "offset"]
     /// eg ["joe bloggs", "joe@pm.me", "12176","-300"]
     fn get_commit_comitter(&self, commit: &Sha1Hash) -> Result<Vec<String>>;
+    fn get_commit_committer_time(&self, commit: &Sha1Hash) -> Result<i64>;
+    fn find_best_guess_parent_commit(&self, patch_timestamp: i64) -> Result<Option<Sha1Hash>>;
     fn get_commits_ahead_behind(
         &self,
         base_commit: &Sha1Hash,
@@ -339,6 +341,50 @@ impl RepoActions for Repo {
         Ok(git_sig_to_tag_vec(&sig))
     }
 
+    fn get_commit_committer_time(&self, commit_hash: &Sha1Hash) -> Result<i64> {
+        let commit = self
+            .git_repo
+            .find_commit(sha1_to_oid(commit_hash)?)
+            .context(format!("could not find commit {commit_hash}"))?;
+        let time = commit.committer().when().seconds();
+        Ok(time)
+    }
+
+    fn find_best_guess_parent_commit(&self, patch_timestamp: i64) -> Result<Option<Sha1Hash>> {
+        let (main_branch_name, _) = self
+            .get_main_or_master_branch()
+            .context("failed to get main/master branch")?;
+
+        let mut revwalk = self
+            .git_repo
+            .revwalk()
+            .context("failed to create revwalk")?;
+
+        revwalk
+            .push_ref(&format!("refs/heads/{}", main_branch_name))
+            .context("failed to push main branch to revwalk")?;
+
+        let mut best_commit: Option<(i64, Sha1Hash)> = None;
+
+        for oid_result in revwalk {
+            let oid = oid_result.context("failed to get oid from revwalk")?;
+            let commit = self
+                .git_repo
+                .find_commit(oid)
+                .context("failed to find commit")?;
+
+            let committer_time = commit.committer().when().seconds();
+
+            if committer_time < patch_timestamp
+                && (best_commit.is_none() || committer_time > best_commit.as_ref().unwrap().0)
+            {
+                best_commit = Some((committer_time, oid_to_sha1(&oid)));
+            }
+        }
+
+        Ok(best_commit.map(|(_, sha1)| sha1))
+    }
+
     fn get_refs(&self, commit: &Sha1Hash) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
         Ok(self
             .git_repo
@@ -542,16 +588,16 @@ impl RepoActions for Repo {
             })
             .collect();
 
-        let parent_commit_id = tag_value(
-            if let Ok(last_patch) = patches_to_apply.last().context("no patches") {
-                last_patch
-            } else {
+        let parent_commit_id = match patches_to_apply.last() {
+            Some(last_patch) => {
+                crate::git_events::get_parent_commit_from_patch(last_patch, Some(self))?
+            }
+            None => {
                 self.checkout(branch_name)
                     .context("no patches and so failed to create a proposal branch")?;
                 return Ok(vec![]);
-            },
-            "parent-commit",
-        )?;
+            }
+        };
 
         // check patches can be applied
         if !self.does_commit_exist(&parent_commit_id)? {
@@ -590,8 +636,23 @@ impl RepoActions for Repo {
 
         let parent_commit_id = if let Some(commit_id) = parent_commit_id_override.clone() {
             commit_id
+        } else if let Ok(parent) = tag_value(patch, "parent-commit") {
+            parent
         } else {
-            tag_value(patch, "parent-commit")?
+            let metadata = crate::mbox_parser::parse_mbox_patch(&patch.content)
+                .context("failed to parse patch for timestamp")?;
+            let timestamp = metadata.committer_timestamp.unwrap_or(metadata.author_timestamp);
+            
+            let best_guess = self
+                .find_best_guess_parent_commit(timestamp)
+                .context("failed to find best guess parent commit")?;
+
+            match best_guess {
+                Some(sha1) => sha1.to_string(),
+                None => bail!(
+                    "no parent-commit tag and could not determine best guess parent from patch timestamp"
+                ),
+            }
         };
 
         let parent_commit = self
@@ -623,10 +684,15 @@ impl RepoActions for Repo {
             None
         };
 
+        let author_data = extract_signature_data_with_fallback(&patch.tags, "author", &patch.content)?;
+        let committer_data = extract_signature_data_with_fallback(&patch.tags, "committer", &patch.content)?;
+        let author_sig = author_data.to_signature()?;
+        let committer_sig = committer_data.to_signature()?;
+
         let commit_buff = self.git_repo.commit_create_buffer(
-            &extract_sig_from_patch_tags(&patch.tags, "author")?,
-            &extract_sig_from_patch_tags(&patch.tags, "committer")?,
-            tag_value(patch, "description")?.as_str(),
+            &author_sig,
+            &committer_sig,
+            extract_description_from_patch(patch)?.as_str(),
             &tree,
             &[&parent_commit],
         )?;
@@ -897,7 +963,14 @@ fn git_sig_to_tag_vec(sig: &git2::Signature) -> Vec<String> {
     ]
 }
 
-fn extract_sig_from_patch_tags<'a>(tags: &'a Tags, tag_name: &str) -> Result<git2::Signature<'a>> {
+struct SignatureData {
+    name: String,
+    email: String,
+    timestamp: i64,
+    offset_minutes: i32,
+}
+
+fn extract_signature_data_from_tags(tags: &Tags, tag_name: &str) -> Result<SignatureData> {
     let v = tags
         .iter()
         .find(|t| !t.as_slice().is_empty() && t.as_slice()[0].eq(tag_name))
@@ -906,16 +979,64 @@ fn extract_sig_from_patch_tags<'a>(tags: &'a Tags, tag_name: &str) -> Result<git
     if v.len() != 5 {
         bail!("tag '{tag_name}' is incorrectly formatted")
     }
-    git2::Signature::new(
-        v[1].as_str(),
-        v[2].as_str(),
-        &git2::Time::new(
-            v[3].parse().context("tag time is incorrectly formatted")?,
-            v[4].parse()
-                .context("tag time offset is incorrectly formatted")?,
-        ),
-    )
-    .context("failed to create git signature")
+    Ok(SignatureData {
+        name: v[1].clone(),
+        email: v[2].clone(),
+        timestamp: v[3].parse().context("tag time is incorrectly formatted")?,
+        offset_minutes: v[4].parse().context("tag time offset is incorrectly formatted")?,
+    })
+}
+
+fn extract_signature_data_with_fallback(
+    tags: &Tags,
+    tag_name: &str,
+    patch_content: &str,
+) -> Result<SignatureData> {
+    if let Ok(data) = extract_signature_data_from_tags(tags, tag_name) {
+        return Ok(data);
+    }
+
+    let metadata = crate::mbox_parser::parse_mbox_patch(patch_content)
+        .context("failed to parse patch content for fallback metadata")?;
+
+    if tag_name == "author" {
+        Ok(SignatureData {
+            name: metadata.author_name,
+            email: metadata.author_email,
+            timestamp: metadata.author_timestamp,
+            offset_minutes: metadata.author_offset_minutes,
+        })
+    } else if tag_name == "committer" {
+        let timestamp = metadata.committer_timestamp.unwrap_or(metadata.author_timestamp);
+        Ok(SignatureData {
+            name: metadata.author_name,
+            email: metadata.author_email,
+            timestamp,
+            offset_minutes: metadata.author_offset_minutes,
+        })
+    } else {
+        bail!("unknown tag name for signature extraction: {}", tag_name)
+    }
+}
+
+impl SignatureData {
+    fn to_signature(&self) -> Result<git2::Signature<'_>> {
+        git2::Signature::new(
+            &self.name,
+            &self.email,
+            &git2::Time::new(self.timestamp, self.offset_minutes),
+        )
+        .context("failed to create git signature")
+    }
+}
+
+fn extract_description_from_patch(patch: &nostr::Event) -> Result<String> {
+    if let Ok(desc) = tag_value(patch, "description") {
+        return Ok(desc);
+    }
+
+    crate::mbox_parser::extract_description_from_patch(&patch.content)
+        .context("failed to extract description from patch content")
 }
 
 pub fn get_git_config_item(git_repo: &Option<&Repo>, item: &str) -> Result<Option<String>> {
@@ -1182,19 +1303,20 @@ mod tests {
             }
         }
 
-        mod extract_sig_from_patch_tags {
+        mod extract_signature_data_from_tags {
             use super::*;
 
             fn test(time: git2::Time) -> Result<()> {
+                let data = extract_signature_data_from_tags(
+                    &Tags::from_list(vec![nostr::Tag::custom(
+                        nostr::TagKind::Custom("author".to_string().into()),
+                        prep(&time)?,
+                    )]),
+                    "author",
+                )?;
+                let sig = data.to_signature()?;
                 assert_eq!(
-                    extract_sig_from_patch_tags(
-                        &Tags::from_list(vec![nostr::Tag::custom(
-                            nostr::TagKind::Custom("author".to_string().into()),
-                            prep(&time)?,
-                        )]),
-                        "author",
-                    )?
-                    .to_string(),
+                    sig.to_string(),
                     git2::Signature::new(NAME, EMAIL, &time)?.to_string(),
                 );
                 Ok(())
diff --git a/src/lib/git_events.rs b/src/lib/git_events.rs
index e907a9b..b39e797 100644
--- a/src/lib/git_events.rs
+++ b/src/lib/git_events.rs
@@ -40,6 +40,30 @@ pub fn get_commit_id_from_patch(event: &Event) -> Result<String> {
     }
 }
 
+pub fn get_parent_commit_from_patch(
+    event: &Event,
+    git_repo: Option<&Repo>,
+) -> Result<String> {
+    if let Ok(parent) = tag_value(event, "parent-commit") {
+        return Ok(parent);
+    }
+
+    let metadata = crate::mbox_parser::parse_mbox_patch(&event.content)
+        .context("failed to parse patch for timestamp")?;
+    let timestamp = metadata.committer_timestamp.unwrap_or(metadata.author_timestamp);
+
+    if let Some(repo) = git_repo {
+        if let Some(best_guess) = repo
+            .find_best_guess_parent_commit(timestamp)
+            .context("failed to find best guess parent commit")?
+        {
+            return Ok(best_guess.to_string());
+        }
+    }
+
+    bail!("no parent-commit tag and could not determine best guess parent")
+}
+
 pub fn get_event_root(event: &nostr::Event) -> Result<EventId> {
     Ok(EventId::parse(
         event
@@ -88,11 +112,27 @@ pub fn event_is_revision_root(event: &Event) -> bool {
 }
 
 pub fn patch_supports_commit_ids(event: &Event) -> bool {
-    event.kind.eq(&Kind::GitPatch)
-        && event
-            .tags
-            .iter()
-            .any(|t| !t.as_slice().is_empty() && t.as_slice()[0].eq("commit-pgp-sig"))
+    if !event.kind.eq(&Kind::GitPatch) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if event
+        .tags
+        .iter()
+        .any(|t| !t.as_slice().is_empty() && t.as_slice()[0].eq("commit-pgp-sig"))
+    {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    if event
+        .tags
+        .iter()
+        .any(|t| !t.as_slice().is_empty() && t.as_slice()[0].eq("parent-commit"))
+    {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    crate::mbox_parser::parse_mbox_patch(&event.content).is_ok()
 }
 
 pub fn event_is_valid_pr_or_pr_update(event: &Event) -> bool {
diff --git a/src/lib/mbox_parser.rs b/src/lib/mbox_parser.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40603b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/mbox_parser.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,452 @@
+use anyhow::{Context, Result, bail};
+use chrono::{DateTime, Datelike};
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub struct PatchMetadata {
+    pub commit_id: String,
+    pub author_name: String,
+    pub author_email: String,
+    pub author_timestamp: i64,
+    pub author_offset_minutes: i32,
+    pub committer_timestamp: Option<i64>,
+    pub subject: String,
+    pub body: String,
+}
+
+pub fn parse_mbox_patch(content: &str) -> Result<PatchMetadata> {
+    let commit_id = extract_commit_id_from_mbox(content)?;
+    let (author_name, author_email) = extract_author_from_from_header(content)?;
+    let (author_timestamp, author_offset_minutes) = extract_date_from_header(content)?;
+    let committer_timestamp = extract_committer_date_from_mbox(content)?;
+    let subject = extract_subject(content)?;
+    let body = extract_commit_message_body(content)?;
+
+    Ok(PatchMetadata {
+        commit_id,
+        author_name,
+        author_email,
+        author_timestamp,
+        author_offset_minutes,
+        committer_timestamp,
+        subject,
+        body,
+    })
+}
+
+fn extract_commit_id_from_mbox(content: &str) -> Result<String> {
+    if !content.starts_with("From ") {
+        bail!("patch does not start with 'From ' - not a valid mbox format");
+    }
+
+    let first_line = content.lines().next().context("patch content is empty")?;
+
+    let parts: Vec<&str> = first_line.split_whitespace().collect();
+    if parts.len() < 2 {
+        bail!("mbox 'From ' line does not contain a commit id");
+    }
+
+    Ok(parts[1].to_string())
+}
+
+fn extract_author_from_from_header(content: &str) -> Result<(String, String)> {
+    let from_line = content
+        .lines()
+        .find(|line| line.starts_with("From:"))
+        .context("patch does not contain a 'From:' header")?;
+
+    let from_value = from_line
+        .strip_prefix("From:")
+        .context("failed to strip 'From:' prefix")?
+        .trim();
+
+    parse_from_header_value(from_value)
+}
+
+fn parse_from_header_value(value: &str) -> Result<(String, String)> {
+    if let Some(start) = value.find('<') {
+        if let Some(end) = value.find('>') {
+            let email = value[start + 1..end].to_string();
+            let name_part = value[..start].trim();
+            let name = name_part.trim_matches('"').trim().to_string();
+            return Ok((name, email));
+        }
+    }
+
+    if value.contains('@') {
+        let email = value.trim().to_string();
+        let name = email.split('@').next().unwrap_or("unknown").to_string();
+        return Ok((name, email));
+    }
+
+    bail!("could not parse From header: {}", value)
+}
+
+fn extract_date_from_header(content: &str) -> Result<(i64, i32)> {
+    let date_line = content
+        .lines()
+        .find(|line| line.starts_with("Date:"))
+        .context("patch does not contain a 'Date:' header")?;
+
+    let date_value = date_line
+        .strip_prefix("Date:")
+        .context("failed to strip 'Date:' prefix")?
+        .trim();
+
+    parse_rfc2822_date(date_value)
+}
+
+fn parse_rfc2822_date(value: &str) -> Result<(i64, i32)> {
+    let parsed = DateTime::parse_from_rfc2822(value)
+        .context(format!("failed to parse RFC2822 date: {}", value))?;
+
+    let timestamp = parsed.timestamp();
+    let offset_minutes = parsed.offset().local_minus_utc() / 60;
+
+    Ok((timestamp, offset_minutes))
+}
+
+fn extract_committer_date_from_mbox(content: &str) -> Result<Option<i64>> {
+    let first_line = content.lines().next().context("patch content is empty")?;
+
+    let parts: Vec<&str> = first_line.split_whitespace().collect();
+
+    if parts.len() >= 6 {
+        let date_str = parts[3..6].join(" ");
+        if let Ok(dt) = DateTime::parse_from_rfc2822(&date_str) {
+            return Ok(Some(dt.timestamp()));
+        }
+    }
+
+    if parts.len() >= 7 {
+        let date_str = format!("{} {} {}", parts[3], parts[4], parts[5]);
+        if let Ok(dt) = chrono::DateTime::parse_from_str(&date_str, "%a %b %d") {
+            if let Ok(year) = parts[6].parse::<i32>() {
+                let with_year = dt.with_year(year);
+                if let Some(dt_with_year) = with_year {
+                    return Ok(Some(dt_with_year.timestamp()));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(None)
+}
+
+fn extract_subject(content: &str) -> Result<String> {
+    let subject_line = content
+        .lines()
+        .find(|line| line.starts_with("Subject:"))
+        .context("patch does not contain a 'Subject:' header")?;
+
+    let subject_value = subject_line
+        .strip_prefix("Subject:")
+        .context("failed to strip 'Subject:' prefix")?
+        .trim();
+
+    Ok(cleanup_subject(subject_value))
+}
+
+fn cleanup_subject(subject: &str) -> String {
+    let mut result = subject.to_string();
+
+    loop {
+        let trimmed = result.trim();
+
+        if trimmed.starts_with("Re:") || trimmed.starts_with("re:") {
+            result = trimmed[3..].trim().to_string();
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        if let Some(stripped) = trimmed.strip_prefix(':') {
+            result = stripped.trim().to_string();
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        if trimmed.starts_with('[') {
+            if let Some(end) = trimmed.find(']') {
+                result = trimmed[end + 1..].trim().to_string();
+                continue;
+            }
+        }
+
+        break;
+    }
+
+    result
+}
+
+fn extract_commit_message_body(content: &str) -> Result<String> {
+    let mut in_body = false;
+    let mut body_lines: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
+    let mut found_first_content = false;
+
+    for line in content.lines() {
+        if !in_body {
+            if line.is_empty() {
+                in_body = true;
+            }
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        if line.starts_with("diff --git ")
+            || line.starts_with("Index: ")
+            || line.starts_with("--- ")
+            || line.starts_with("From ")
+        {
+            break;
+        }
+
+        if line.starts_with("---") && line.trim().eq("---") {
+            break;
+        }
+
+        if line.starts_with("-- ") || line.starts_with("--\n") {
+            break;
+        }
+
+        if !found_first_content && line.trim().is_empty() {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        found_first_content = true;
+        body_lines.push(line.to_string());
+    }
+
+    while body_lines.last().is_some_and(|l| l.trim().is_empty()) {
+        body_lines.pop();
+    }
+
+    Ok(body_lines.join("\n").trim().to_string())
+}
+
+pub fn extract_description_from_patch(content: &str) -> Result<String> {
+    let subject = extract_subject(content)?;
+    let body = extract_commit_message_body(content)?;
+
+    if body.is_empty() {
+        Ok(subject)
+    } else {
+        Ok(format!("{}\n\n{}", subject, body))
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn sample_patch() -> String {
+        "\
+From 431b84edc0d2fa118d63faa3c2db9c73d630a5ae Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
+From: Joe Bloggs <joe.bloggs@pm.me>
+Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000
+Subject: [PATCH] add t2.md
+
+This is the commit message body.
+
+It can have multiple lines.
+
+---
+ t2.md | 1 +
+ 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+)
+ create mode 100644 t2.md
+
+diff --git a/t2.md b/t2.md
+new file mode 100644
+index 0000000..a66525d
+--- /dev/null
++++ b/t2.md
+@@ -0,0 +1 @@
++some content1
+\\ No newline at end of file
+--
+libgit2 1.9.1
+
+"
+        .to_string()
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_commit_id() {
+        let patch = sample_patch();
+        let result = extract_commit_id_from_mbox(&patch).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(result, "431b84edc0d2fa118d63faa3c2db9c73d630a5ae");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_author() {
+        let patch = sample_patch();
+        let (name, email) = extract_author_from_from_header(&patch).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(name, "Joe Bloggs");
+        assert_eq!(email, "joe.bloggs@pm.me");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_author_with_quoted_name() {
+        let patch = "\
+From abc123 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
+From: \"John (nickname) Doe\" <john.doe@example.com>
+Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000
+Subject: test
+
+Body
+";
+        let (name, email) = extract_author_from_from_header(patch).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(name, "John (nickname) Doe");
+        assert_eq!(email, "john.doe@example.com");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_author_email_only() {
+        let patch = "\
+From abc123 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
+From: john.doe@example.com
+Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000
+Subject: test
+
+Body
+";
+        let (name, email) = extract_author_from_from_header(patch).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(name, "john.doe");
+        assert_eq!(email, "john.doe@example.com");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_date() {
+        let patch = sample_patch();
+        let (timestamp, offset) = extract_date_from_header(&patch).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(timestamp, 0);
+        assert_eq!(offset, 0);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_date_with_timezone() {
+        let patch = "\
+From abc123 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
+From: Joe <joe@example.com>
+Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0500
+Subject: test
+
+Body
+";
+        let (timestamp, offset) = extract_date_from_header(patch).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(timestamp, -18000);
+        assert_eq!(offset, 300);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_subject() {
+        let patch = sample_patch();
+        let subject = extract_subject(&patch).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(subject, "add t2.md");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_subject_with_patch_prefix() {
+        let patch = "\
+From abc123 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
+From: Joe <joe@example.com>
+Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000
+Subject: [PATCH v2 3/5] fix: important bug
+
+Body
+";
+        let subject = extract_subject(patch).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(subject, "fix: important bug");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_subject_with_re_prefix() {
+        let patch = "\
+From abc123 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
+From: Joe <joe@example.com>
+Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000
+Subject: Re: [PATCH] fix: important bug
+
+Body
+";
+        let subject = extract_subject(patch).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(subject, "fix: important bug");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_body() {
+        let patch = sample_patch();
+        let body = extract_commit_message_body(&patch).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            body,
+            "This is the commit message body.\n\nIt can have multiple lines."
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_body_empty() {
+        let patch = "\
+From abc123 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
+From: Joe <joe@example.com>
+Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000
+Subject: test
+
+---
+ file.txt | 1 +
+diff --git a/file.txt b/file.txt
+";
+        let body = extract_commit_message_body(patch).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(body, "");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_full_metadata() {
+        let patch = sample_patch();
+        let metadata = parse_mbox_patch(&patch).unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            metadata.commit_id,
+            "431b84edc0d2fa118d63faa3c2db9c73d630a5ae"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(metadata.author_name, "Joe Bloggs");
+        assert_eq!(metadata.author_email, "joe.bloggs@pm.me");
+        assert_eq!(metadata.author_timestamp, 0);
+        assert_eq!(metadata.author_offset_minutes, 0);
+        assert_eq!(metadata.subject, "add t2.md");
+        assert_eq!(
+            metadata.body,
+            "This is the commit message body.\n\nIt can have multiple lines."
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extract_description_combines_subject_and_body() {
+        let patch = sample_patch();
+        let description = extract_description_from_patch(&patch).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            description,
+            "add t2.md\n\nThis is the commit message body.\n\nIt can have multiple lines."
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extract_description_subject_only() {
+        let patch = "\
+From abc123 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
+From: Joe <joe@example.com>
+Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000
+Subject: [PATCH] simple fix
+
+---
+ file.txt | 1 +
+";
+        let description = extract_description_from_patch(patch).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(description, "simple fix");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn cleanup_subject_strips_patch_prefixes() {
+        assert_eq!(cleanup_subject("[PATCH] test"), "test");
+        assert_eq!(cleanup_subject("[PATCH v2] test"), "test");
+        assert_eq!(cleanup_subject("[PATCH 1/3] test"), "test");
+        assert_eq!(cleanup_subject("[PATCH v2 1/3] test"), "test");
+        assert_eq!(cleanup_subject("Re: [PATCH] test"), "test");
+        assert_eq!(cleanup_subject("re: test"), "test");
+        assert_eq!(cleanup_subject(":test"), "test");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/mod.rs b/src/lib/mod.rs
index a09f866..b388b23 100644
--- a/src/lib/mod.rs
+++ b/src/lib/mod.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ pub mod git;
 pub mod git_events;
 pub mod list;
 pub mod login;
+pub mod mbox_parser;
 pub mod push;
 pub mod repo_ref;
 pub mod repo_state;