April 2015 Summaries

At Microsoft Build 2015, significant advancements were announced for integrating GitHub with Microsoft tools, particularly with the introduction of GitHub Enterprise 2.2.0 and its compatibility with Visual Studio 2015. This integration enhances the workflow for developers using the Microsoft stack by allowing GitHub Enterprise to be hosted locally via Hyper-V or on the cloud with Microsoft Azure, with a 45-day trial available for Azure hosting. The new GitHub Extension for Visual Studio facilitates seamless interaction with GitHub repositories directly within the IDE, enabling tasks such as logging in, cloning, creating, and publishing repositories without leaving the environment. Additionally, the Microsoft Developer Assistant for Visual Studio 2015 was introduced to allow developers to search for GitHub code directly from the platform. Beyond these integrations, GitHub Enterprise 2.2.0 includes features like PDF rendering, mobile web notifications, quick pull requests, and support for the Xen hypervisor, with further details available in the release notes.

Git's release of version 2.4.0 introduces several key updates, focusing on cleanups, bug fixes, and minor improvements, while also adding notable features like the --atomic option for git push, which allows for atomic updates of multiple branches, reducing the risk of partial updates, particularly useful for automated tools. This release also enhances the push-to-deploy feature, with a push-to-checkout hook for customizing actions on the remote server and support for pushing to an "unborn branch," thus streamlining deployment processes. Additionally, the inverted grep feature in git log allows users to exclude certain patterns in search queries, enabling more sophisticated query combinations. Other enhancements include a more detailed git status with a double --verbose option, improved git log --decorate output, and a new configuration setting for push.followTags. The update also includes over 400 commits from 76 contributors, reflecting a wide range of minor improvements aimed at enhancing Git's functionality.

GitHub Pages, GitHub's static-site hosting service, has evolved from a basic shell script to a sophisticated OAuth application capable of handling over a quarter million requests per minute. This transformation involved several strategic improvements over six months, including extensive testing, the use of public APIs, and a focus on user-driven changes to minimize disruption. The team emphasized enhancing user communication by providing clearer error messages and preventive health checks, optimizing the service for its primary use case, and ensuring cross-team collaboration for infrastructure upgrades. Additionally, GitHub's commitment to supporting open source projects like Jekyll, which powers GitHub Pages, underscores the business sense of contributing to open source communities. These efforts have led to exponential growth in the number of sites and successful site builds, reflecting the service's enhanced reliability and user satisfaction.

CodeConf 2015, GitHub's premier open-source event, is scheduled for June 25-26 in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Bell Tower. The conference is currently accepting proposals for talks until May 10th, aiming to highlight new voices within the open-source community through engaging sessions designed to provoke thought and inspire different perspectives on the ecosystem. Attendees will also experience Nashville's cultural offerings, including local cuisine and artists, culminating in a celebration at the historic Country Music Hall of Fame. Early bird tickets are available, with prices set to increase on May 25, and updates regarding the event can be followed on Twitter via @codeconf.

In a recently concluded challenge inspired by the theme "the game has changed," participants were invited to fork a game repository and create innovative browser-playable games. The submissions, all open source and accessible for further modification, span a variety of genres and styles, including a dystopian-themed platformer, a cooperative multiplayer game, interactive fiction, infinite runners, and creative takes on classic games like Tetris and SkiFree. Each game offers unique gameplay experiences, such as slicing vegetables through typing, deploying code blocks into applications, or navigating a maze without succumbing to its perils. The initiative, led by Lee Reilly, aims to foster community engagement in game development by encouraging users to continue enhancing these games, whether by making them more challenging, adding personal touches, or incorporating new features.

In 2014, GitHub released its first transparency report detailing the legal requests it received, including subpoenas, court orders, search warrants, national security orders, and takedown requests. The report categorizes these requests into two main types: disclosure requests, which require disclosing user information, and takedown requests, which involve removing or blocking content. While GitHub handles subpoenas and other disclosure requests with heightened privacy concerns, it strives to be as transparent as possible, despite often being legally restricted from notifying affected users. The report highlights that only a small fraction of GitHub's 8 million active accounts were impacted by such requests. Additionally, GitHub addresses takedown requests under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and government requests, such as those from foreign authorities like Russia's Roskomnadzor, by blocking content regionally when necessary and posting notices publicly. GitHub remains committed to transparency by continually updating its practices and releasing annual reports to inform users about how legal requests could affect their projects.

DotNetFringe is scheduled to take place next week in Portland, where local GitHub contributors such as @haacked, @ammeep, and @shiftkey will be present. They are inviting attendees and local residents to join them after the conference for discussions centered around Git, GitHub, and open source topics. The post-event gathering is set for April 14, a Tuesday, at 7:00 PM at Rontoms, located at 600 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214. The announcement was written by Brendan Forster, also known by the handle @shiftkey.

Git Large File Storage (LFS) is an open-source extension designed to facilitate the integration of large binary files, such as audio samples and videos, into Git workflows by replacing them with text pointers and storing the actual file contents on remote servers like GitHub.com. This tool addresses the limitations of traditional version control systems in handling large files, offering a streamlined process that is easy to download, configure, and compatible with all major platforms under the MIT license. GitHub.com is planning to incorporate Git LFS support by default in all repositories and is currently offering early access to selective users, with an initial free allocation of 1 GB for both file storage and monthly bandwidth, while additional resources can be purchased if needed.

Git's tenth anniversary will be celebrated in Paris at La Gaîté Lyrique on April 8-9, featuring discussions on the future of Git with industry experts from companies such as Google, Twitter, Atlassian, and Microsoft. The conference will be hosted by GitHub's Scott Chacon, and the event will also include a celebratory gathering at La Cartonnerie with cocktails and entertainment. The event supports the Software Freedom Conservancy, and there are limited tickets remaining for those interested in attending.

Patchwork is hosting a hack night on April 13, 2015, at Notman House in Montréal, coinciding with PyCon, inviting both locals and visitors to learn Git and GitHub through a hands-on, self-paced workshop. The event is open to beginners with no coding experience, offering guidance from community mentors to help participants achieve their first merged pull request and gain confidence in contributing to open source projects. The evening will feature a story about starting in open source, group tutorials, and a lightning talk by Anna Filina, co-founder of ConFoo. Mentors with prior experience in merging pull requests are encouraged to attend and assist newcomers. Registration is required, and attendees will receive tutorial details via email, with food and refreshments provided.

Patchwork Wellington is hosting a hack night on April 14, 2015, co-organized with BizDojo at the Project: Blank Canvas space in Wellington, New Zealand, to teach Git and GitHub to beginners in a hands-on workshop format. The event, supported by Open Source Open Society, welcomes attendees regardless of their coding experience and provides community mentors to guide participants through a self-paced learning experience. Attendees will engage in activities like completing a merged pull request and earning a contribution graph square, fostering involvement in the open-source community. The evening features a "Hello World" tutorial, small group sessions, and a concluding lightning talk by @kellective from Rails Girls Wellington. Participants can RSVP as attendees or mentors, and the gathering promises snacks, refreshments, and opportunities to make new friends while learning collaboratively.

Brandi Firestine reflects on the nostalgia of participating in one's first open source project, evoking memories of early contributions with a reference to GitHub's initial motto. The sentiment is encapsulated in a shirt available at the GitHub Shop, serving as a tangible reminder of the sense of accomplishment and community experienced during those formative experiences in open source development.