Procedure / HOWTO create patch files?

[Joseph M Dupre (AVAB Inc.)]

What is the prefered method to create patch files for buildroot / 
uClibc / Bustbox etc?

Must they be made from current svn or is a current snapshot 
acceptable?

GNU.org reccomends:
cvs diff -c3p
or
diff -c3p <olddir> <newdir>

What options for diff are prefered? How does one do this directly via 
svn?

I've fixed some problems in the MDT package config/make files in 
buildroot that I'd like to contribute, but have never made a patch 
file before so any pointers, tips, tricks, or references are helpful 
to me.

- Joe