Jeff King [off-list ref] writes:
+test_expect_success 'format-patch --output' '
+ rm -fr outfile &&
+ git format-patch -3 --stdout HEAD >expect &&
+ git format-patch -3 --output=outfile HEAD &&
+ test_cmp expect outfile
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'format-patch --cover-letter --output' '
+ rm -fr outfile &&
+ git format-patch --cover-letter -3 --stdout HEAD >expect &&
+ git format-patch --cover-letter -3 --output=outfile HEAD &&
+ test_cmp expect outfile
+'
It is pleasing to see an obvious and clear demonstration that
"--output=X" is equivalent to "--stdout >X".