March 2016 Summaries

Over 100,000 people push to protected branches nearly 300,000 times weekly, prompting improvements to enhance this workflow. Two key updates have been introduced: one allows merging out-of-date pull requests by maintaining necessary status checks without requiring the pull request to be fully up-to-date, which alleviates burdens for teams handling frequent changes. The second improvement introduces user and team restrictions, permitting organizations to specify which members or teams can push to a protected branch, while administrators retain push privileges. These changes aim to enhance codebase safety by controlling access to protected branches, thus improving the management of active repositories.

Git Merge, a highly anticipated conference, is set to take place on April 5th in New York City, bringing together Git contributors, source control teams, and users from around the globe for a day filled with sessions, trainings, and networking opportunities. Although tickets are sold out, the event promises insightful talks from experts like Emma Jane Hogbin Westby, Charles Bailey, and Greg Kroah-Hartman, covering topics ranging from Git onboarding to the internal workings of Git LFS. Notable companies such as GitHub, Autodesk, and Microsoft will share how they leverage Git in their development processes. Attendees can also look forward to expert-led training sessions and an exciting afterparty at SpinNYC. For those unable to attend in person, live streaming of the main sessions will be available on the event's website. The conference is supported by sponsors including GitLab, Atlassian, and Bloomberg.

Sean Marcia, a developer known for his involvement in Ruby for Good and collaborations with George Mason University, shares insights from his journey into software development, highlighting the importance of community involvement and mentorship. He recounts his early fascination with computers and programming, emphasizing that a computer science degree isn't necessary to succeed in the field, with resources like online courses and boot camps now widely available. Sean fondly recalls his first significant programming experience with multi-user dungeons (MUDs) and credits mentors like Jim Henson and Mr. Rogers for inspiring him with their dedication to improving the world. He advocates for open-source contributions, suggesting documentation as an entry point, and stresses the value of community support in bringing impactful projects to life, such as saving pollinators with Ruby. Through Ruby for Good, Sean has witnessed projects that significantly improve nonprofit operations, like a ticket-tracking app that replaced a cumbersome voicemail system. He encourages developers to engage with local nonprofits, as these organizations often lack the technological resources they need.

Saved replies, a new feature now available on all repositories, streamlines the process of responding to Issues and Pull requests by allowing users to create, store, and reuse custom responses. This feature addresses the tediousness of frequently typing repetitive replies, as identified through community feedback and open-source projects. Users can set up and modify their saved replies through their personal settings, making it easier to efficiently manage common responses. Additional documentation is available for users seeking more detailed guidance on utilizing this feature.

Git 2.8.0 introduces a range of enhancements, including parallel fetching for submodules, which significantly speeds up the process by allowing multiple submodules to be fetched simultaneously. Users can now prevent Git from defaulting to guessed identities by requiring explicit configuration of user names and email addresses. The update also includes improvements for Windows, such as rewriting scripts in C for better performance and supporting both LF and CRLF line endings to reduce cross-platform friction. Security improvements address the CVE-2016-2324 vulnerability, with recommendations for users to upgrade to this version or later. Additionally, new features like the ability to disable clean and smudge filters, and commands to diagnose end-of-line issues or display configuration origins, enhance user control and troubleshooting capabilities. Support for cloning via the outdated rsync protocol has been removed, reflecting Git's ongoing evolution towards more efficient alternatives.

Atom, an open-source text editor, recently celebrated a significant milestone with one million active users in a month, tripling its user base from the previous year. This growth is attributed to the vibrant community that has actively contributed to Atom's development through feedback, suggestions, and innovative uses. Notable applications of Atom include tools like MuleSoft’s API Workbench, Jibo Robot’s SDK, and Facebook’s Nuclide, alongside individual contributions such as Atomic Chrome, Git Time Machine, and Activate Power Mode, which enhance functionality and user experience. The Atom team expresses gratitude for the community's contributions and anticipates further growth and innovation as they aim for the next million users.

A Patchwork hack night is being organized in Madison, Wisconsin, aiming to introduce beginners to Git and GitHub with the assistance of GitHub staff and local community mentors. Scheduled for April 6 at the Goodman Community Center, the event offers a casual, self-directed learning environment without formal tutorials, allowing participants to learn at their own pace with guidance available if needed. Attendees will have the opportunity to complete learning modules such as Introduction to Git, Introduction to GitHub, and Creating a Site with GitHub Pages, and will leave the event with practical experience, including a merged pull request and an addition to their contributions graph. Mentors are encouraged to assist newcomers, and the event promises an engaging atmosphere with food and refreshments provided. Participants are required to RSVP and are advised to create a GitHub account beforehand, with the venue being wheelchair-accessible and accommodating food allergies upon request.

GitHub Community Cast is a new initiative that highlights the diverse open-source projects and communities on GitHub, offering insights into their tools, workflows, and the individuals behind them. The podcast aims to inspire listeners by showcasing these projects, alongside providing updates and news from the broader GitHub community. The first episode includes an interview with Andy Miller from the Grav project, a cutting-edge flat-file CMS, and discusses recent GitHub features and community events. Listeners can access episodes through SoundCloud or subscribe to the podcast feed for regular updates.

Creating a strong community for a project relies heavily on shaping the new contributor experience, which involves guiding new participants from discovery to their first successful contribution. This process, known as the "new contributor on-ramp," encompasses six steps: discovering the community, setting up necessary tools, learning relevant skills, identifying tasks, receiving help, and feeling appreciated. Making a project discoverable is crucial and can be achieved through a well-crafted README.md file, a comprehensive project website, and active engagement on social media. Effective strategies include welcoming new visitors, establishing an inclusive environment, and showing potential contributors how they can participate. Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook can be utilized to raise awareness, while tools like Buffer can help manage content posting. Additional promotion can occur through interactive shows, interviews, and conference presentations. These foundational elements set the stage for a vibrant and sustainable community, with future series installments addressing the setup and learning phases.

At Git Merge, a conference dedicated to the Git community, participants will have the chance to engage with developers focused on the future of Git through a lineup of speakers and workshops. These workshops, lasting 60-90 minutes and running alongside general sessions, offer opportunities for attendees of all levels to enhance their Git skills, provided they have registered for the main event. Topics include navigating version control pitfalls, transitioning to Git LFS for new and existing projects, mastering git-imerge to minimize merge conflicts, and scripting in Git using different languages and tools. The event, set for April 5, 2016, in New York City, is poised to bring together a diverse group of Git enthusiasts eager to learn from world-class trainers.

GitHub has expanded its partnership with Udacity to offer members of the GitHub Student Developer Pack one month of free access to any of Udacity's Nanodegree programs, including options such as Android Developer and Data Analyst. These programs enable students to learn at their own pace from industry experts from companies like Google and Facebook and provide access to personalized coaching, code reviews, and career support, including a job guarantee through Nanodegree Plus. The Student Developer Pack, which offers free access to tools from 15 technology companies like Stripe and Unreal Engine, now makes it simpler for students to learn programming with professional resources.

Portland is hosting a Patchwork hack night on March 29, co-hosted with TaborSpace, aimed at beginners to Git and GitHub or those interested in mentoring others. This casual and informal workshop allows participants to learn at their own pace with support from community mentors and GitHub staff. Attendees can choose from various learning modules, including introductions to Git, GitHub, and creating a site with GitHub Pages, with no prior coding experience required. Newcomers will leave with practical skills, like making a merged pull request and enhanced confidence to engage with the open-source community, while mentors have the opportunity to guide and inspire future contributors. The event, held at Muir Hall, offers snacks, refreshments, and requires RSVPs for both attendees and mentors, with a suggestion to create a GitHub account before attending.

Receiving a pull request from an outside contributor on GitHub is a significant milestone, but managing them can become challenging as a project gains prominence. The post by Mike McQuaid discusses various scenarios where it might be necessary to close pull requests, such as when a submission is out of scope, breaks integration tests, or is submitted to an unmaintained project. It emphasizes the importance of clear communication and documentation, such as a CONTRIBUTING.md file, to guide contributors on acceptable changes. Additionally, it advises on handling situations where discussions deviate from their original intent or become unpleasant, recommending closure to maintain project health. The post encourages project maintainers to thoughtfully consider each pull request's impact and not merge them out of obligation, highlighting that a project's responsiveness to contributions is a marker of its vitality.

GitHub has introduced new features to enhance the code review process, aiming to make it faster and more flexible for users. These improvements include the ability to filter files by extensions or filenames, which allows experts to focus on specific types of code, such as Ruby, while ignoring others, like HTML or CSS. GitHub now supports both pull request-based reviews and commit-by-commit workflows, offering a new commits list and pagination, along with keyboard shortcuts to streamline navigation. Additionally, enhancements have been made to maintain context in discussions by providing deeper insights into line comments, even when changes have occurred. A timeline indicator has also been added to help developers quickly access new changes since their last review, ensuring that the review process remains efficient and comprehensive. These updates reflect GitHub's commitment to facilitating effective code review and fostering collaboration among development teams.

OSCON is set to take place in Austin from May 17 to 19, 2016, and will feature the return of the GitHub Open Source Alley, where open source projects can engage with conference attendees, showcase their work, and recruit new contributors. Selected projects will receive a table in the Open Source Alley next to GitHub’s booth, two complimentary OSCON passes for their contributors and maintainers, and dedicated presentation time at the GitHub booth to delve into their code and encourage participation. Interested participants must submit their applications by April 1, 2016, with the application form providing all necessary details and requirements for involvement.

Patchwork hack night, co-hosted by GitHub and the University of Texas, El Paso, is scheduled for March 18 and is designed for high school and university students or beginners eager to learn Git and GitHub. The event will feature GitHub experts @anaisftw and @electroniko, along with local mentors, to guide participants through self-directed learning modules in an informal and friendly setting. Attendees can choose from modules such as Introduction to Git, Introduction to GitHub, and Creating a Site with GitHub Pages, with no prior coding experience required. Participants will leave with a merged pull request, a contribution graph square, and newfound confidence to engage with the open-source community. Mentors will have the opportunity to share their expertise by helping newcomers succeed. The event will take place at the University of Texas El Paso, with food and refreshments provided, and participants are encouraged to RSVP and create a GitHub account beforehand.

CodeConf LA, scheduled for June 27-29, 2016, in Los Angeles, is set to offer three days of engaging discussions focused on systems engineering projects and practices within the open-source community. The event will feature over 30 sessions, including workshops, lightning talks, and speaker Q&A sessions, with an emphasis on exploring systems programming and application operations at scale. Early Bird tickets are available for $299, with prices increasing by $100 after April 9, and attendees are encouraged to consider purchasing scholarship tickets for members of underrepresented communities. The agenda will finalize in the coming months, with opportunities for participants to submit session proposals. The conference is conveniently located near key transport links, making it accessible for both local and out-of-town attendees.

GitHub has introduced Reactions to improve communication and reduce clutter in conversations around code, design, bugs, and new ideas. This feature allows users to express their feelings more efficiently by using specific emoji such as 👍, 👎, 😄, 😕, ❤, and 🎉, which are relevant to typical user interactions on the platform. Previously, including emoji in responses often led to long threads with little content, complicating discussions. The new Reactions feature is now available on all Issues and Pull Requests, and the GitHub team, led by Jake Boxer, is eager to see how the community will utilize this enhancement.

GitHub's Subversion bridge allows users to access Git repositories using Subversion clients, and recently underwent a significant re-architecture to adapt to infrastructure changes. The primary challenge was mapping Git commits to Subversion revision numbers, initially stored as serialized Ruby data structures, which became impractical due to infrastructure evolution. In 2015, the mapping was moved to the Git repository's object database, streamlining data handling and eliminating special cases. To ensure a smooth transition without impacting users, GitHub used the Scientist library to run both old and new implementations in parallel, allowing for real-world testing and comparison. The process involved creating new classes, such as MsgpackMapping and GitMapping, and conducting experiments to refine the new implementation incrementally. This method leveraged detailed logging, monitoring, and scripting to track performance and resolve mismatches, ultimately allowing GitHub to replace the old mapping system with a more efficient Git-backed solution for thousands of customers.

The annual Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco attracts tens of thousands of game developers, and alongside the official events, parties play an essential role in the experience. GitHub is hosting a party at their headquarters on Tuesday, March 15th, starting at 7 PM, to celebrate the diverse community of game developers, from hobbyists to pioneers in mobile and VR technology. Attendees are encouraged to bring their laptops to showcase their games and network with fellow enthusiasts, with drinks, Wi-Fi, and Octocat stickers provided. Admission requires a GDC badge or proof of registration, and guests must be 21 or older to drink, with ID required. The event's capacity is limited, so early arrival is recommended to ensure entry.

GitHub Desktop for Windows and Mac now features enhanced functionality for mentioning team members, referencing Issues, and incorporating emojis in commit messages and Pull Requests, similar to the capabilities available on the GitHub website. Users can bring collaborators into discussions by using @ followed by their username, reference Issues by typing #, and add emojis by enclosing their names with colons. These updates aim to streamline collaboration and communication within the GitHub Desktop application.

GitHub Pages announced the discontinuation of support for Textile in Jekyll sites starting May 1st, 2016, urging users to convert their sites to Markdown. The transition involves either manually editing a few Textile pages or using tools like pandoc for bulk conversion, with a specific script called tomd designed to handle some of pandoc's limitations. The manual conversion involves changing syntax for elements such as headings, links, and lists, while the automated method requires installing pandoc and tomd, which can convert .textile files to .md and store backups. The conversion process may still present issues like lost CSS references and mixed HTML/Textile formatting, and Windows users will need additional utilities like cygwin to execute the script effectively.