July 2014 Summaries

GitHub Pages has been upgraded to support the latest version of Jekyll, an open-source static site generator, offering enhancements such as native Sass and CoffeeScript support, improved Markdown handling with Kramdown, and the ability to publish diverse document types with Collections. This update also allows the integration of JSON data into Liquid templates and introduces several time-saving features like front-matter defaults and filtering options. Users are encouraged to explore over 300 new features and changes since Jekyll version 1.5.1, with instructions provided for updating local build environments. Ben Balter, who has played a significant role in various capacities at GitHub, highlights these improvements as part of ongoing efforts to offer a more seamless and secure platform for developers worldwide.

GitHub has revamped its Issues feature to enhance user experience by making search, filtering, and management of issues and pull requests more intuitive and efficient. The updated interface includes a new search box that allows filtering by author, label, milestone, and state, alongside advanced search terms for precision. Users can now track the evolution of issues with better insights into changes such as title updates and milestone progress. The integration of the Deployments API enhances visibility of pull requests across various environments. Additionally, new pages for labels and milestones offer a comprehensive view of project health, while various smaller updates include notifications for issue assignments, distinct tabs for issues and pull requests, and improved task list progress tracking. Enhanced functionality also includes new keyboard shortcuts and the ability to manage multiple pull requests simultaneously. Comprehensive guides and documentation support users in mastering the new features, aiming to streamline workflow and increase productivity.

GitHub users can now toggle between viewing the source code and the rendered map representation of GeoJSON and TopoJSON files, enhancing the platform's functionality for those who need to access the underlying data. This feature, introduced after enabling the viewing of such map files, has already inspired users to create numerous innovative maps on GitHub.

GitHub's annual data challenge invites participants to create innovative visualizations or analyses using publicly available GitHub data, with entries due by August 25, 2014. The competition encourages creative interpretations and requires submissions to include code or documentation explaining the data used and the process undertaken. Participants can utilize various data sources, such as GitHub's API, the GitHub Archive, Google BigQuery, and GHTorrent. Entries will be judged on innovation, accuracy, and completeness, with the top three winners announced in mid-September. The grand prize includes an all-expenses-paid trip to a data visualization course by expert Edward Tufte, while second and third place winners receive cash prizes of $500 and $250, respectively. Winning entries and profiles will be featured on GitHub's blog, and inquiries can be directed to [email protected].

Attendees of the upcoming OSCON conference are invited to join a Pub Quiz Night hosted by the event organizers and Fastly on Wednesday, July 23, 2014, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm at Spirit of 77 in Portland, Oregon. The event promises an evening of bar bites, beers, and a chance to showcase open-source knowledge, even for those not attending the conference. Participants do not need to have a team for the quiz, as assistance will be provided to form one, but space is limited, so RSVPs are required.

GitHub has released a significant update for GitHub for Mac, aiming to streamline navigation and enhance the focus on cloned repositories. The update introduces a simplified sidebar that groups repositories by origin and a new toolbar for quickly creating, cloning, and publishing repositories. Users can now filter local and GitHub-associated repositories easily and experience fewer steps when cloning from GitHub or GitHub Enterprise. The update also improves branch management with a relocated branch popover featuring a "Recent Branches" section and a dedicated popover for creating new branches from existing ones. The update is available automatically for users with OS X 10.8 or later, while feedback is welcomed by the developers.

GitHub has expanded its payment options by integrating PayPal alongside credit cards for personal plans and organization accounts, thanks to collaboration with Braintree and their new APIs. This addition aims to simplify the payment process for users signing up, upgrading, or switching from credit card payments, enhancing accessibility for users globally. For further details on using PayPal for GitHub, users are directed to the GitHub Help pages.

GitHub Enterprise's latest release introduces several new features aimed at enhancing speed, flexibility, and security for large companies deploying GitHub in their environments. Notable updates include smarter server-side caching for faster Git operations, an Activity Dashboard for comprehensive project data visualization, improved LDAP configuration, and advanced settings for blocking force pushes. Additional enhancements cover organization and team management, mobile functionality, two-factor authentication reports, webhook improvements, and enhanced security features like forward secrecy and authenticated encryption ciphers. The update also brings UI improvements across several aspects, including wikis and 3D file rendering, and includes a patch for an initial release issue. Users can download the update from the Enterprise website, with a 45-day free trial available for new users.

GitHub HQ is hosting a Patchwork night on Thursday, July 10th, where beginners can receive hands-on assistance with Git and GitHub, culminating in a merged pull request on an open-source project and contributions to their GitHub graph. The event welcomes both newcomers and those interested in mentoring, with GitHub members like @muan, @mikemcquaid, and @michaeltwofish available to answer questions. Participants will enjoy a presentation by @alysonla about her open-source journey, along with food, drinks, and the opportunity to meet new people. No prior coding experience is necessary, and the evening promises to be both educational and social, encouraging ongoing engagement with open-source communities.

GitHub enthusiasts can now purchase Octocat Glencairn glasses from the GitHub shop, with the release marking the phasing out of the Octobiwan mug, which will be discounted and sold until September. Any remaining mugs by that time will be donated to charity, providing a last opportunity for fans to acquire them. The announcement, made by Brandi Firestine, humorously notes that the glasses do not come with infinite whisky.