How do we apply JIRA patches?

I'm sceered to download all the available patches...

Do they apply themselves automatically? Do I have to do anything special? Where do I save the patch to? Help!

They are patches that Linden Lab will apply to their client for you to download at a later date.

Many were developed by residents studying the open sourced client.

So does this mean that I should NOT download these patches? Or that I even am able to?

You have as much right as anyone else to download the client source code, make yourself a compilation/link environment to make a binary client that you can run, incorporate the patches into your source code, and run the whole thing. You can also make other alterations to that client software to make it do whatever you want it to do. Just be aware that you will need a fair amount of C++ skill to do all that.

The current process is that LL evaluate these patches and incorporate them into the client source so that you will get the benefit of them on the next client update, knowing that you are getting officially sanctioned software.

If you don't understand how C++ works, you can still make valuable contribution by confirming the need for the items on the jira.

Oryx,
When all the patches are debugged (/me smirks), the Lindens will make a New Version of the Viewer available to everyone.

Unless you WANT to test them, there's no reason to download the patches.

If you're having technical difficulties in SL, post the problem in the Technical Issues forum for mac or pc. Chances are the answer is there.

Thanks for the answers!

I'm a tard when it comes to programming, so I'll just wait around for LL to make the updates.