To apply a patch hunk by hunk (interactively) like git add --patch, you can use the --interactive or -i flag with git apply. However, git apply does not natively support an interactive mode like git add -p or git checkout -p.

Workaround: Use git checkout -p or git stash -p

If you want to selectively apply parts of a patch, the best approach is to use:

1. git checkout -p (or git restore -p in newer Git versions)

• This lets you interactively apply or discard hunks from a patch file.
• Example:

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  git checkout -p <branch> -- <file>  # For changes from a branch

  or

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  git stash show -p <stash> | git checkout -p --reverse -- <file>  # For stashed changes

2. git stash apply -p

• If your patch is stashed, you can apply it interactively:

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  git stash apply -p

3. git diff + Manual Editing

• If you have a patch file (e.g., changes.patch), you can:
  1. Apply it normally:

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     git apply --check changes.patch  # Test if it applies cleanly
     git apply changes.patch

  2. If you want to selectively apply hunks, edit the patch file manually (remove unwanted hunks) and then apply it.

4. Use git add -p After Applying

• If you want to stage only some of the applied changes:

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  git apply changes.patch
  git add -p  # Interactively stage hunks

Why Not git apply --interactive?

• git apply is designed for non-interactive patch application. It either applies the entire patch or fails.
• For interactive hunk selection, Git relies on commands like checkout -p, stash -p, or add -p.

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