September 2011 Summaries

GitHub was highlighted in a segment on San Francisco's local CBS news discussing proposed bike legislation, with GitHub being represented by an employee known as @kamzilla. The segment underscores GitHub's support of biking to work as a forward-thinking company, as noted by Chris Wanstrath, also known by his handle @defunkt.

GitHub has updated its blog RSS feed to a new URL at http://github.com/blog.atom, encouraging users to update their feed readers to stay informed about GitHub developments. The previous feed, hosted on Feedburner, will only be available for another 30 days before it becomes inactive. This change was announced by Chris Wanstrath, also known by his handle @defunkt.

Today marks the release of two new GitHub plugins for the Maven build system, designed to enhance the workflow by integrating GitHub's functionalities. The Downloads Plugin facilitates the uploading of build artifacts as GitHub downloads upon successful build completion, with an option to bind it to the install phase, as evidenced by the detailed logging of artifact uploads and deletions. Meanwhile, the Site Plugin allows for the creation and upload of a Maven-generated site to a project's gh-pages branch, making use of the GitHub Data API to manage blobs, commits, and branch updates, all of which can be bound to the site phase. Both plugins leverage the GitHub Java API 1.1.0 library, and detailed configuration options are available in the README, with an example project provided for users to begin experimenting with the plugins.

Greg Borenstein and Devin Chalmers have launched Drift, an always-versioned text editor for the iPad that utilizes GitHub Gists, now available on the App Store. Drift demonstrates how to build a native app using a third-party API, despite Greg and Devin having no official ties to GitHub. Their app faced multiple rejections from Apple due to rule 11.13, which prohibits apps from directing users to external sites for purchases or subscriptions, even if the app remains functional without a paid account. Devin’s detailed narrative of their journey is recommended for developers interested in creating API-based applications for the Apple App Store.

The newly introduced Issues Dashboard provides a consolidated view of all issues across various projects, similar to the existing Pull Request Dashboard. This feature allows users to filter and manage issues by repository, assignment, creation, and those being watched, offering a more organized approach to issue tracking. The dashboard aims to streamline issue management by ensuring that open issues are easily accessible and can be promptly addressed, thus improving project efficiency. Authored by Brian Lopez, this tool encourages users to maintain better oversight and resolution of issues within their repositories.

GitHub is hosting a series of Office Hours events, allowing users to ask questions about Git and GitHub in a public forum. These sessions will be held on a web-based chat platform using Campfire infrastructure, with no pre-registration required. Participation is limited to the first 100 people who join the chat room between 4pm and 5pm MDT on September 28th or October 7th. Updates regarding the event's URL or infrastructure will be posted on the blog, as communicated by Matthew J. McCullough.

RubyConf is taking place this week, and several GitHub team members will be attending, including notable speakers @mojombo and @holman, who are scheduled to present on Saturday. GitHub is also sponsoring the inaugural &Block Party, organized by GitHub Spiritual Guru @jbarnette. Attendees are encouraged to visit the &Block Party website for more information, with the event kicking off on Thursday at 6:30 pm.

A group of GitHub employees, including Anaïs Betts, plans to meet in Seattle on Saturday, October 1st, and they are inviting others to join them for drinks at Linda’s Tavern, located at 707 E. Pine St., starting at 8pm. The event is an opportunity to enjoy complimentary beers and engage in conversations with fellow tech enthusiasts and hackers.

The free "The Basics of GitHub" class, taught by GitHub Git Trainer Matthew McCullough, quickly reached its 100-person capacity for its initial September sessions, prompting additional offerings on October 11th and 24th. Designed for newcomers to Git and GitHub, this one-hour live webinar provides foundational knowledge on using Git at the command line, through GitHub for Mac, or within Eclipse via eGit. It demonstrates the capabilities of GitHub as a robust version control tool and web application for developers, designers, and managers in both open-source and commercial settings. The classes, hosted on GoToWebinar, are free but require advance registration due to limited seating on a first-come, first-served basis.

GitHub hosted a social event in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, September 26th, at 8 PM, inviting attendees to join them for drinks at Five Seasons Brewery Westside. The event took place on the upstairs patio of the brewery located at 1000 Marietta St NW #204, Atlanta, GA 30318, and was organized by Matt Todd.

Matthew J. McCullough, who is known as the "Trainer of everything Git" at GitHub, is enthusiastically expanding the range and frequency of Git training events and conferences. He highlights the popularity of these events, noting that many, like the Strange Loop in St. Louis and JavaZone in Norway, often sell out well in advance. Upcoming European workshops, including Software Architect in London and Øredev in Malmö, still have limited availability, inviting potential attendees to reserve their spots. McCullough expresses excitement about the growing opportunities to engage with participants through these educational sessions.

The 2011 Git User’s Survey invites participants to contribute to the Git community by sharing their experiences and preferences through a questionnaire, aiming to enhance the community's overall awesomeness. All questions are optional, allowing for anonymous participation if desired. The survey will remain open until October 3, 2011, after which the results will be made available on the Git wiki.

GitHub is hosting another meetup in Helsinki this week, coinciding with the Frozen Rails conference, where they will also host the conference after-party. The event invites attendees, whether or not they are participating in Frozen Rails, to join for drinks on Wednesday, September 21, at 20:00 at the venue Le Bonk. Zach Holman encourages community members and GitHub enthusiasts to attend and enjoy the gathering.

An American-style drink-up event is scheduled to take place at Mike's Place in Tel Aviv, starting at 7 PM, with attendees encouraged to arrive on time to enjoy drinks sponsored by GitHub. While it's common for Israelis to arrive fashionably late, it's advised to be there by 8 PM at the latest to fully participate. The event promises a casual, social atmosphere and will continue throughout the night, providing an opportunity for attendees to mingle and enjoy the evening.

The third post in a series about PyCodeConf speakers showcases several notable contributors to the Python community and their open-source projects. Daniel Greenfeld, known for co-creating Django Packages, has developed tools like Django Uni-form for form rendering and Django Party Pack for beginner best practices, and will discuss collaboration in Python. Avery Pennarun, an entrepreneur with projects like the proxy server sshuttle and build system Redo, will address misconceptions about Python's speed. Dustin Sallings, co-founder of Couchbase, offers tools like Py-GitHub and TwitterSpy, and will speak on a topic called Breakdancer. Tracy Osborn, a designer who used Django for her startup WeddingLovely, will share her experiences in launching a web business. Raymond Hettinger, from Sauce Labs, known for his contributions to Python, will discuss what makes Python exceptional. Attendees are encouraged to explore these projects and join the event in Miami.

The second post in a three-part series on PyCodeConf speakers highlights several influential figures in the Python community and their open-source projects. Armin Ronacher, a founding member of the Pocoo team, is known for developing Flask and Werkzeug, and his talk is titled "Cherry-picking for Huge Success." Leah Culver, co-founder of Convore and co-author of OAuth, created Django-Elsewhere and the Python-OAuth library and will speak on using Backbone.js and Django for a faster web UI. David Beazley, author of the Python Essential Reference, developed PLY, a Python Lex-Yacc parsing tool, and his presentation focuses on "Embracing the GIL." Craig Kerstiens, founder of Registry Stop, created Python Google Analytics and will discuss "The State of Packaging and Dependency Management." Kenneth Reitz, an open-source architect, developed Requests and Clint, and his talk is on "API Design and Pragmatic Python." The post encourages readers to engage with these projects and join the conference in Miami.

PyCodeConf is generating excitement in the office with its upcoming event in Miami, which will feature a lineup of notable speakers and discussions on the future of Python. This event will highlight several influential figures in the Python community, including Alex Gaynor, a core developer for Django and PyPy, who will discuss the evolution of PyPy; Gary Bernhardt, known for his work in Python and Ruby, who will address programming language biases; Audrey Roy, a co-creator of Django Packages, who will explore open source innovations; Travis Oliphant, a key figure in scientific computing with Python, who will talk about the future of Python and NumPy; and Jesse Noller, a Python Software Foundation board member, who will discuss the intricacies of organizing conferences. Attendees are encouraged to explore these speakers' projects and register for the event to engage with this vibrant community.

GitHub is hosting a social event in Anaheim, California, coinciding with the Build Windows Event, taking place at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar near the Anaheim Convention Center. Scheduled for Tuesday, September 13th, at 8:00 pm, attendees can enjoy complimentary drinks and a lively atmosphere at the Disneyland Hotel venue. This gathering, organized by Kevin Sawicki, offers participants a chance to unwind and network in a vibrant setting.

Over the past year, GitHub has enhanced its email notifications for pull requests to provide more detailed information, addressing the inadequacy of previous sparse emails that offered minimal context. The updated emails now include a comprehensive overview of the pull request, featuring a commit summary, a list of changed files, and links to the unified diff and patch versions. This allows users to merge, view, comment, or interact with the pull requests more efficiently, either through the command line or directly online. The improvements aim to enhance the user experience, with further enhancements planned for the future, as indicated by Scott Chacon.

Zach Holman's three-part series provides an insightful look into the working culture at GitHub, emphasizing the company's unconventional approaches to productivity and creativity. The series, titled "Hours are Bullshit," "Be Asynchronous," and "Creativity is Important," delves into the flexible work environment that prioritizes results over strict schedules, encourages asynchronous communication to accommodate diverse workflows, and values creativity as a critical component of innovation. Written by PJ Hyett, the series paints a picture of a workplace that challenges traditional corporate norms to foster a more dynamic and effective team.

The upcoming Drinkup event in San Francisco will take place at the Tipsy Pig, located at 2231 Chestnut Street in the Marina district, on Thursday, September 8th at 8 PM. Attendees are invited to enjoy drinks and engaging conversations. The event details were shared by Kami Richey, who goes by the handle @kamzilla.

Redesigned commit blocks have been introduced across the site, featuring enhancements like displaying full commit messages with a +… button and adopting the Git commit message model that includes a one-line summary followed by an optional detailed description. This approach aligns with Tim Pope's guidelines for effective commit messages, emphasizing a capitalized, concise summary of 50 characters or less, additional explanatory text wrapped at about 72 characters, and the importance of separating the summary from the body with a blank line to avoid issues with tools like rebase. The use of present tense in writing commit messages is encouraged to match the format generated by commands such as git merge and git revert, and while bullet points are acceptable, they should follow general formatting conventions. These new standards aim to improve the appearance of commit messages on GitHub, and for users of GitHub for Mac, the platform automatically formats messages to adhere to these guidelines.

Kami Richey is hosting a dual ticket giveaway for two upcoming conferences: GOTO Amsterdam and RubyShift in Ukraine. GOTO Amsterdam, occurring from October 13-15, features 16 tracks and 40 presentations, plus a training day, while RubyShift, a single-track Ruby conference, is set for October 22-23 in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine. Interested participants can enter the giveaway by forking a specific gist and answering questions related to the desired conference. The contests for both conferences remain open until September 12, with winners announced on September 14.

Matthew McCullough, a GitHub Git Trainer, is offering a free, one-hour live webinar titled "The Basics of Using GitHub," aimed at newcomers who want to learn Git and GitHub essentials without delving into GitHub Help pages. The initial session, which quickly filled its 100 available slots, will take place on September 14th at 10:00 am MDT, with a second opportunity on September 28th for those who missed out. The course will guide participants in setting up Git through various methods and provide an overview of GitHub's capabilities as a version control tool and web application for developers, designers, and managers in both open source and commercial settings. Classes will continue to be offered regularly, every one to four weeks, based on demand, and registrations are managed on a first-come, first-serve basis using the GoToWebinar platform.

Matthew McCullough from GitHub is attending the JavaZone conference in Oslo and is hosting an open invitation GitHub drink-up event. The gathering is set to take place at Cafe Con Bar, located at Brugata 11, at 8:30 PM on Sunday, September 11th, coinciding with the sold-out Git workshop at the conference. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss Git and GitHub while enjoying drinks, making it a social extension of the conference.

GitHub is hosting a drinkup event in Helsinki, Finland, coinciding with the first Reaktor Dev Day. The gathering will take place at Bar Cuba on Friday, September 2, and attendees are invited to join at 7 p.m. for free beer, including a special GitHub beer. This event, written about by Scott Chacon, encourages participants to bring friends and enjoy the festivities at the after-party venue located at Erottajankatu 4, 00120 Helsinki.