June 2014 Summaries

GitHub has introduced a new feature that allows users to revert pull requests easily without relying on Git commands, streamlining the process of rolling back changes. By clicking the Revert button, users can initiate the creation of a new pull request containing the reverted changes. This enhancement aims to simplify the workflow for developers who need to undo merged pull requests, with additional details available in the GitHub Help section.

Open source software development is expanding in Japan, exemplified by GREE's innovative use of GitHub Enterprise since 2012 to build a mobile social gaming platform that connects 230 million users worldwide. Highlighted in a recent episode of OctoTales, GREE's efforts showcase the integration of open-source practices into large-scale projects. To support GitHub users in Japan, resources such as a translated Git Cheat Sheet and Japanese-subtitled GitHub & Git Foundations videos are available, reflecting a commitment to making these tools more accessible to a Japanese-speaking audience.

Branches are a crucial component of collaboration in GitHub Flow, offering an efficient way to manage project development within a repository, and GitHub is enhancing branch management to make it more user-friendly. By clicking on the Branches tab at the top of any repository page, users can access an overview of all branches in their project, allowing them to filter for specific branches and identify the most active ones. The updated interface also clearly indicates necessary actions, such as cleaning up stale branches, addressing branches with failing tests, or initiating pull requests for newly pushed branches. For further assistance, users can refer to GitHub Help for detailed guides on creating, deleting, and viewing branches.

A meetup celebrating LGBT advocates in technology is scheduled at GitHub HQ on Thursday, June 26, during SF Pride Week, aiming to unite individuals leveraging technology to enhance the lives of the LGBT community. The event will feature notable speakers such as Monica Arrambide from The Maven Project, Kortney Ziegler from Trans*H4CK, and Matt Conn from GaymerX, who will discuss their organizations and projects while offering insights on how attendees can become involved. The meetup provides an opportunity for networking and celebrating Pride, and interested participants are encouraged to register for the event, which runs from 6 PM to 10 PM.

GitHub is hosting an event in Portsmouth, UK, at The White Swan on Tuesday, June 24th, from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, where attendees can meet Arfon Smith and enjoy a selection of cask ales, draught beers, and wines. Located at 26 Guildhall Walk, The White Swan, also known as Brewhouse and Kitchen, will serve as the venue for this gathering, providing an opportunity for community engagement and networking in a relaxed atmosphere.

Two years after GitHub began utilizing Octicons, their icon font, across various platforms including their own sites and Atom, they are now offering it for public download. This initiative, led by Cameron McEfee, encourages widespread adoption and use of Octicons, inviting others to incorporate them into their own projects by accessing them at octicons.github.com.

Gist is receiving a design update to align its appearance and functionality with GitHub.com, enhancing user experience with redesigned conversations, revisions view, user profiles, and navigation. The update also adds more options for cloning and embedding, among other improvements, aiming to make the platform more cohesive and user-friendly.

GitHub is hosting a meetup in London for attendees of Enterprise Apps World and Patchwork, taking place on Thursday, June 19th, at The Electricity Showrooms in Hoxton. The event, organized by Andrew Nesbitt and others, invites tech enthusiasts to join for socializing and networking, beginning at 7:30 pm in the basement bar, which features a light-up dancefloor. The venue is conveniently located near the Old Street tube station, and all are welcome to participate in the gathering.

GitHub has introduced a new feature that allows collaborators to lock conversations on issues or pull requests, enhancing control over discussions within repositories. By clicking a lock icon in the sidebar of an issue page, collaborators can prevent non-collaborators from commenting further, while still allowing repository collaborators to continue discussions if desired. This feature, announced by Zach Holman, aims to maintain a safe community environment on GitHub, complementing existing options to block or report users.

A Patchwork hack night is being hosted at the ustwo studio in London, offering a hands-on workshop designed to teach beginners about Git and GitHub in a collaborative environment. Scheduled for Wednesday, June 18th, from 6:30-8:30 pm, the event is open to all, regardless of coding experience, and aims to foster community involvement in open source projects. Attendees will have the opportunity to work with GitHub staff and community mentors, gain practical experience, and leave with a merged pull request and a new contribution on their graph. Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops with Git-it installed, and further instructions will be sent via email before the event.

Two years after its initial launch, GitHub for Windows has released a significant update designed to enhance user focus and streamline workflow when using Git and GitHub on Windows. The update emphasizes a distraction-free workspace by ensuring that users' work remains central, minimizing navigation through menus by making local repositories easily accessible from a left sidebar, which also categorizes repositories by origin for seamless switching between them. The new version includes additional GitHub features, such as choosing an ignore file template when creating a repository and the ability to include emojis and GIFs in commit messages. Existing users will receive the update automatically, while new users can download GitHub for Windows 2.0 from the official site.

The platform has expanded its image viewing and diffing capabilities to include PSD files, allowing users to view these files inline and use the platform's three image view modes to track changes in a commit. This enhancement treats PSD assets similarly to other images in repositories, offering a more comprehensive way to manage and review visual content. Users can find additional details in the help documentation provided by Mike Skalnik.