I’ve tried studying the output using the “very verbose (console)” option, and in the two cases the output is identical (besides a different number of scales).
Output for inpainting with the mask selected:
[gmic]-0./ Start G'MIC interpreter.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/ Set local variable local='/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/update179.gmic'.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/ Import custom commands from file '/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/update179.gmic' (added 2919 commands, total 4809).
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/ Input image at position 0, with values (47,104,111,109,101,47,112,118,101,105(...),108,97,110,100,47,46,103,109,105,99) (1 image 22x1x1x1).
[gmic]-1./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/ Input image at position 1, with values (104,116,116,112,58,47,47,103,109,105,(...)116,101,49,55,57,46,103,109,105,99,1) (1 image 30x1x1x1).
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/ Set local variable file_hotchocolate='/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/hotchocolate.gmic'.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/ Input raw file '/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/hotchocolate.gmic' with type 'uchar' at position 0 (1 image 1x1x1x1).
[gmic]-1./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/ Set local variable c='32'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/ Remove image [0] (0 images left).
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/ Set local variable is_too_old='0'.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/ Remove image [] (0 images left).
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/ Input image at position 0, with values (47,104,111,109,101,47,112,118,101,105(...)111,108,97,116,101,46,103,109,105,99) (1 image 47x1x1x1).
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Set local variable strin1='#@gimp : Sep = separator(), note = not(...)erle.users.greyc.fr">David Tschumperl'.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Set local variable strin2='#@gimp : Sep = separator(), note = not(...)erle.users.greyc.fr">David Tschumperl'.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Set local variable strout='#@gimp : Sep = separator(), note = not(...)p://goo.gl/PTcydp</a> ]</i></small>"}'.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Set local variable filename='/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/update179.gmic'.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Input raw file '/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/update179.gmic' with type 'uchar' at position 0 (1 image 32x1x1x1).
[gmic]-1./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Split image [0] in 'discard' mode, according to value sequence '10'.
[gmic]-3./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Set local variable is_marked='0'.
[gmic]-3./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Remove images [0,1,2] (0 images left).
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Remove image [] (0 images left).
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/ *** Error (file '/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/update179.gmic', line #15251) *** Command '-i': gmic::fopen(): Failed to open file '/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/gimp_filter_sources' with mode 'rb'.
[gmic]-3./ End G'MIC interpreter.
[gmic_gimp]./update/ Filter file '/home/pveierland/.gmic' not found.
[gmic_gimp]./preview/ -v 0 -gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview 0,9,10,5,1,255,0,0,255,0,0
[gmic]-1./ Start G'MIC interpreter.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable R='255'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable G='0'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable B='0'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable A='255'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Select color (255,0,0,255) in image [0], with tolerance 0.
[gmic]-2./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/*if/ Dilate image [1] with kernel of size 3 and neumann boundary conditions.
[gmic]-2./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set random generator seed to 0.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Inpaint image [0] with mask [1], using a multiscale patchmatch algorithm with auto-scales, 9x9 patches, 10 iterations per scale and blending size 5.
> Process scale 1/4 -> 12.5%
> Process scale 2/4 -> 25%
> Process scale 3/4 -> 50%
> Process scale 4/4 -> 100%
[gmic]-2./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Remove image [1] (1 image left).
[gmic]-1./ End G'MIC interpreter.
[gmic_gimp]./apply/ -v 0 -gimp_inpaint_patchmatch 0,9,10,5,1,255,0,0,255,0,0
[gmic]-1./ Start G'MIC interpreter.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable R='255'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable G='0'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable B='0'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable A='255'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Select color (255,0,0,255) in image [0], with tolerance 0.
[gmic]-2./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set random generator seed to 0.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Inpaint image [0] with mask [1], using a multiscale patchmatch algorithm with auto-scales, 9x9 patches, 10 iterations per scale and blending size 5.
> Process scale 1/4 -> 12.5%
> Process scale 2/4 -> 25%
> Process scale 3/4 -> 50%
> Process scale 4/4 -> 100%
[gmic]-2./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Remove image [1] (1 image left).
[gmic]-1./ End G'MIC interpreter.
Output for inpainting without the mask selected:
[gmic]-0./ Start G'MIC interpreter.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/ Set local variable local='/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/update179.gmic'.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/ Import custom commands from file '/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/update179.gmic' (added 2919 commands, total 4809).
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/ Input image at position 0, with values (47,104,111,109,101,47,112,118,101,105(...),108,97,110,100,47,46,103,109,105,99) (1 image 22x1x1x1).
[gmic]-1./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/ Input image at position 1, with values (104,116,116,112,58,47,47,103,109,105,(...)116,101,49,55,57,46,103,109,105,99,1) (1 image 30x1x1x1).
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/ Set local variable file_hotchocolate='/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/hotchocolate.gmic'.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/ Input raw file '/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/hotchocolate.gmic' with type 'uchar' at position 0 (1 image 1x1x1x1).
[gmic]-1./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/ Set local variable c='32'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/ Remove image [0] (0 images left).
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/ Set local variable is_too_old='0'.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/ Remove image [] (0 images left).
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/ Input image at position 0, with values (47,104,111,109,101,47,112,118,101,105(...)111,108,97,116,101,46,103,109,105,99) (1 image 47x1x1x1).
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Set local variable strin1='#@gimp : Sep = separator(), note = not(...)erle.users.greyc.fr">David Tschumperl'.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Set local variable strin2='#@gimp : Sep = separator(), note = not(...)erle.users.greyc.fr">David Tschumperl'.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Set local variable strout='#@gimp : Sep = separator(), note = not(...)p://goo.gl/PTcydp</a> ]</i></small>"}'.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Set local variable filename='/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/update179.gmic'.
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Input raw file '/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/update179.gmic' with type 'uchar' at position 0 (1 image 32x1x1x1).
[gmic]-1./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Split image [0] in 'discard' mode, according to value sequence '10'.
[gmic]-3./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Set local variable is_marked='0'.
[gmic]-3./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Remove images [0,1,2] (0 images left).
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/_gimp_filter_sources/*if/*local/ Remove image [] (0 images left).
[gmic]-0./gimp_filter_sources/*if/*if/gimp_filter_sources/*local/ *** Error (file '/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/update179.gmic', line #15251) *** Command '-i': gmic::fopen(): Failed to open file '/home/pveierland/.config/gmic/gimp_filter_sources' with mode 'rb'.
[gmic]-3./ End G'MIC interpreter.
[gmic_gimp]./update/ Filter file '/home/pveierland/.gmic' not found.
[gmic_gimp]./preview/ -v 0 -gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview 0,9,10,5,1,255,0,0,255,0,0
[gmic]-1./ Start G'MIC interpreter.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable R='255'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable G='0'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable B='0'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable A='255'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Select color (255,0,0,255) in image [0], with tolerance 0.
[gmic]-2./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/*if/ Dilate image [1] with kernel of size 3 and neumann boundary conditions.
[gmic]-2./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set random generator seed to 0.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Inpaint image [0] with mask [1], using a multiscale patchmatch algorithm with auto-scales, 9x9 patches, 10 iterations per scale and blending size 5.
> Process scale 1/5 -> 6.25%
> Process scale 2/5 -> 12.5%
> Process scale 3/5 -> 25%
> Process scale 4/5 -> 50%
> Process scale 5/5 -> 100%
[gmic]-2./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch_preview/gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Remove image [1] (1 image left).
[gmic]-1./ End G'MIC interpreter.
[gmic_gimp]./apply/ -v 0 -gimp_inpaint_patchmatch 0,9,10,5,1,255,0,0,255,0,0
[gmic]-1./ Start G'MIC interpreter.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable R='255'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable G='0'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable B='0'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set local variable A='255'.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Select color (255,0,0,255) in image [0], with tolerance 0.
[gmic]-2./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Set random generator seed to 0.
[gmic]-1./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Inpaint image [0] with mask [1], using a multiscale patchmatch algorithm with auto-scales, 9x9 patches, 10 iterations per scale and blending size 5.
> Process scale 1/7 -> 1.5625%
> Process scale 2/7 -> 3.125%
> Process scale 3/7 -> 6.25%
> Process scale 4/7 -> 12.5%
> Process scale 5/7 -> 25%
> Process scale 6/7 -> 50%
> Process scale 7/7 -> 100%
[gmic]-2./gimp_inpaint_patchmatch/*repeat/*local/ Remove image [1] (1 image left).
[gmic]-1./ End G'MIC interpreter.
Using debugging output will likely explain the difference, but the amount of debug output is massive and difficult to read.