August 2016 Summaries

GitHub Universe is an upcoming event featuring a diverse lineup of speakers and panels that highlight innovative uses of technology across various industries. The event will include notable figures such as Roman Mars, the creator of the popular podcast 99% Invisible, and the duo Ross Goodwin and Oscar Sharp, known for creating the world's first A.I. screenwriter for the sci-fi short film Sunspring. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from Machisté Quintana and Devin Foley about Slack's use of the Electron framework, and Hui Ding will share insights into Instagram's development tools that support its massive user growth. The event will also feature interactive panels with representatives from companies like Bloomberg, HPE, Walmart, IBM, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, and Carnegie Mellon University, offering insights into open-source methodologies and community activity on GitHub. This gathering underscores the broader exploration of software beyond just code, highlighting innovation and collaboration in the tech industry.

GitHub has updated its Privacy Statement to provide clearer insights into how it uses data and how third parties may handle users' public information, while maintaining its existing practices of not selling personal data or allowing third-party tracking on its platform. The updated statement emphasizes GitHub’s commitment to user privacy by explaining that researchers and archivists can use public data, and third parties must respect user choices. Additionally, GitHub has applied for certification with the EU–US Privacy Shield Framework, ensuring compliance with EU data protection standards for transferring data from the EU to the US, and extends these protections to all users globally, offering access to a free independent arbitration provider for privacy disputes. Users are encouraged to review the new Privacy Statement and reach out with any questions.

GitHub Universe, held from September 13-15 in San Francisco, is an event that brings together a diverse group of developers, open source advocates, systems and operations administrators, and entrepreneurs. The event features interactive experiences created by sponsors, ranging from food trucks to local artist installations, emphasizing creativity over traditional sales pitches. Sponsors play a significant role in shaping the event, including organizing the after party at the historic Masonic named The Big Bang, where artist and actor COMMON will headline a benefit concert for Black Girls Code, open to both attendees and the public. The event encourages sponsor creativity at venues like Pier 70 and the Masonic, with opportunities still available for new sponsors to contribute to the magic of the occasion.

Modern developers at MailChimp are breaking away from traditional stereotypes by working in collaborative, innovative environments that value creativity across all teams. Utilizing GitHub, MailChimp fosters an atmosphere where employees' diverse skill sets contribute to the company's innovative output, allowing for seamless collaboration and idea iteration regardless of physical location. Senior Software Engineer Bill O’Neill highlights that any team member can propose changes to the code, which, after peer review, are automatically deployed to production, underscoring the company's commitment to creativity and open collaboration.

GitHub Pages has been upgraded to Jekyll 3.2, introducing over 100 improvements, including the addition of Gem-based themes such as the Minima theme, which can be easily implemented by adding a simple line to a site's configuration. This update simplifies the process by removing the need to manually copy templates or stylesheets into repositories. Although Minima is currently the only available theme, more themes are expected to be released for GitHub Pages. Users are encouraged to consult GitHub's help documentation for guidance on theme implementation and to reach out if they have complex Jekyll sites. Ben Balter, who has played a significant role in security and community management at GitHub, communicated this update and has previously contributed to the platform's efforts in privacy, compliance, and encouraging open-source practices among government organizations worldwide.

Thinkful's Fundamentals of Web Development course is now available to Student Developer Pack members, offering two weeks of personalized mentorship from professional software developers. This mentorship-centric approach has been shown to significantly boost student performance compared to traditional education methods. The course is designed to equip computer science majors and others with essential web development skills, covering topics such as HTML, CSS, jQuery, JavaScript, and AJAX. Access to this course is part of the Student Developer Pack, which provides students with free resources from various tech companies, making it easier for them to develop industry-ready skills and create impressive projects.

GitHub Pages has become a favored tool for publishing and maintaining documentation due to its recent improvements, allowing users to easily create websites directly from their repository's /docs folder. This platform is particularly beneficial for open-source projects as it simplifies the process of sharing well-curated documentation, which is crucial for fostering collaboration and providing guidance. By integrating with Jekyll, GitHub Pages supports writing in plain text or Markdown and offers tools like variables and templates, thus retaining flexibility without the complexity of traditional web publishing. Importantly, it enables documentation to reside alongside the code on GitHub, facilitating the use of GitHub's collaborative features like Issues and Pull Requests. Setting up a GitHub Pages site is straightforward: users can create a /docs/index.md file, commit changes, adjust repository settings, and GitHub Pages will convert and publish the content, offering a streamlined approach to documentation management.

Version 2.0 of the GitHub Extension for Visual Studio has been released, offering new features such as the ability to list and create pull requests directly within Visual Studio and the capability to create gists from your code for easier sharing and collaboration. The extension can be installed from multiple sources, including the Tools and Extensions gallery in Visual Studio, the releases page, and the GitHub website. This update also includes numerous enhancements and fixes detailed in the release notes. The development team is actively seeking user feedback to improve workflows for maintainers and contributors, encouraging users to share their experiences and suggestions for making coding and collaboration more efficient.

The tutorial authored by GitHub Campus Expert @NickTikhonov provides a step-by-step guide to creating a package for the Atom text editor, specifically a clone of the Sourcerer plugin, which converts English programming problems into code snippets sourced from StackOverflow. The package is developed using Atom's API and web technologies, specifically JavaScript's EcmaScript 6 standard. The guide walks through setting up the Atom environment, generating starter code, and implementing functionality such as toggling UI components, reversing text, downloading HTML content, and scraping code snippets using Cheerio. Additionally, the tutorial explains the use of Promises for asynchronous operations and incorporates the Google npm module to perform programmatic searches for relevant StackOverflow URLs. The final implementation allows users to input a programming problem in natural language, automatically search for an applicable StackOverflow page, and insert the corresponding code snippet into the Atom editor. The tutorial encourages further experimentation by forking the sourcefetch repository to add additional features.

GitHub Pages has streamlined the process of publishing websites by allowing users to select a content source directly from their repository settings. Users can now publish their site from the master branch or the /docs folder within the master branch, facilitating the management of both website content and documentation in a single location. This update is particularly beneficial for open-source project maintainers as it enables them to receive contributions for code and documentation in one pull request. Existing project pages that utilize the gh-pages branch will continue to function as before, along with user and organization pages published from the master branch. For more detailed information, users are encouraged to consult the documentation provided.

GitHub has enhanced its user-blocking functionality, allowing users to view their blocked list from the account settings page, search for and add new users to block, and unblock users accidentally blocked. Users can still block others directly from their profile pages if necessary. For further guidance on blocking users from personal or organizational accounts, the GitHub Help documentation provides additional information.

GitHub employs MySQL as its primary datastore, with metadata such as issues and comments stored in MySQL while repository data resides in Git. To manage high-load operations, GitHub uses MySQL replication with a single-writer-multiple-readers design and HAProxy for load balancing. This setup involves context-aware MySQL pools where backend servers autonomously decide their participation based on replication lag, reported via HTTP status codes. HAProxy interprets these codes to include or exclude servers from handling read requests. The system dynamically manages server pools to address replication lag and operational tasks, ensuring minimal downtime. A backup pool is utilized when the main pool's capacity is compromised, allowing for continued service albeit with potentially stale data. This approach leverages shell scripts and ChatOps integration for monitoring and manual intervention, offering a flexible and scalable solution to maintain data availability and integrity.

GitHub Universe in San Francisco is a three-day event celebrating the creativity and curiosity of the global software community, featuring keynotes, breakout sessions, and speakers discussing technical and team challenges in software development. Attendees will explore modern tools, processes, and cultures shaping the future of software, with sessions focusing on the impact of software on communities and businesses. The program includes advanced trainings, executive keynotes, and a concert benefiting Black Girls Code, emphasizing the role of developers in shaping the world.

Education.github.community is a newly launched forum designed to foster collaboration among educators and GitHub users, providing a platform to discuss technology education trends and share successes and opinions. It offers educators the opportunity to suggest improvements to GitHub Classroom, an open-source tool for managing assignments, and to explore new lesson plans for teaching GitHub. The forum encourages the integration of tools from the GitHub Student Developer Pack into educational curriculums and provides a space for new users to learn from experienced teachers. Members can also request a swag bag with educational materials and goodies for students, and the forum is open for introductions to facilitate easy participation.

GitHub's Integrations Directory has expanded to include over 15 categories, offering tools that support various stages of the development cycle, from API management to application monitoring. The platform encourages developers of all expertise levels to create and showcase integrations that enhance the development experience, citing examples like Gitter, AppVeyor, and ZenHub. To be listed in the directory, integrations must demonstrate solid growth, with at least 500 users via GitHub OAuth, and comply with technical requirements, terms of service, and privacy policies. Developers interested in listing their integrations can find guidelines on the requirements page and are encouraged to draft a listing in markdown format and contact GitHub via email for any questions.

GitHub now allows users to change the base branch of an open pull request, enabling comparisons against a different branch without needing to create a new pull request. This feature helps preserve the valuable work and discussions from the original pull request, ensuring continuity and efficiency in collaborative coding efforts. More details are available in their help guide, authored by Scott J. Goldman.

The Big Bang after party, part of a unique conference event hosted by GitHub, invites both conference attendees and the wider Bay Area community to enjoy a concert at the historic Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco on September 14. The event is free for Universe badge holders, while the general public can attend with a $40 donation, with proceeds supporting Black Girls Code (BGC), an organization dedicated to empowering young African-American girls through coding education. The headliner for the evening is COMMON, a renowned multi-Grammy Award-winning artist known for his impactful contributions to music, film, and social causes. The collaboration between GitHub and BGC underscores a shared commitment to increasing diversity in technology and providing opportunities for young girls from underrepresented communities to learn programming languages like Scratch and Ruby on Rails, aiming to equip them with skills needed for future tech job opportunities.

Patchwork is hosting an event in collaboration with Women in Linux at the First WaVE Venture Center in Tampa Bay on August 30, aimed at beginners learning Git and GitHub, as well as mentors eager to share their knowledge. The event, which runs from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, offers a relaxed, hands-on learning environment with community mentors available to assist participants as they work through self-directed modules on Git and GitHub. Attendees will gain practical experience, culminating in a merged pull request, while mentors will have the opportunity to guide new contributors. Those interested are encouraged to RSVP and create a GitHub account beforehand if they haven't already, and refreshments will be provided, with considerations for food allergies. The venue is wheelchair-accessible, ensuring inclusivity for all participants.

GitHub Universe is set to begin next month in San Francisco, with an emphasis on accessibility and an enriched experience for attendees through free tickets offered via Community Partners and scholarships. The Social Impact team at GitHub is collaborating with nonprofits to boost representation in the tech industry from underrepresented groups, although details about these partnerships will be revealed later. While all student scholarships have been awarded and the application period for General Scholarships has closed, it's important to note that these scholarships cover only the conference ticket, with recipients responsible for their travel and lodging expenses. The event will be held at Pier 70, and attendees are encouraged to make their own arrangements for accommodation and transportation.

GitHub Pages planned an upgrade to Jekyll 3.2 on August 23rd, introducing over 100 improvements, including themes that allow users to create visually appealing sites by simply adding a theme to their site’s configuration. While the transition was expected to be smooth for most users, those with complex Jekyll sites were advised to test their sites locally with the latest version before the upgrade date to ensure continued functionality. Ben Balter, who announced the upgrade, is GitHub's Chief of Staff for Security and has previously held roles that involved managing enterprise offerings and overseeing the platform's Trust and Safety efforts, contributing significantly to community management, privacy, compliance, and security initiatives on GitHub.

GitHub and Improving are hosting a Patchwork event in Dallas, designed for beginners to learn Git and GitHub through a hands-on, self-directed workshop. The event offers a casual atmosphere where participants can learn at their own pace with the support of community mentors, and it aims to empower newcomers by helping them achieve a merged pull request and gain confidence in open-source contributions. Scheduled for August 30th, the event encourages both learners and experienced mentors to attend, promising a night of coding, networking, and refreshments, with the venue being accessible and accommodations available for attendees with food allergies.

GitHub Universe is a comprehensive three-day event featuring community speakers, product training, and keynotes from GitHub leadership, including CEO Chris Wanstrath and VP of Social Impact Nicole Sanchez. Participants can attend breakout sessions led by experts from various fields, covering topics such as GitHub's latest developments, inner workings, and practical tips. The event includes a Training Day prior to the conference, where attendees can engage in in-depth learning sessions offered by GitHub’s Professional Services team for an additional fee. Discounts are available for teams purchasing multiple tickets, encouraging organizations to enhance their skills and knowledge alongside GitHub engineers and trainers. The event will be held at Pier 70 on September 14.

GitHub Enterprise 2.7 introduces several new features aimed at enhancing security and collaboration for developers and administrators. The update highlights GPG signature verification, which ensures the authenticity of commits and changes made by contributors, allowing teams to verify the source of code modifications. This release also includes significant API enhancements that enable more customized workflows and policy enforcement, along with improved collaboration tools such as assigning multiple people to issues, reordering task lists, and identifying edited comments. Users are encouraged to upgrade to take advantage of these new features, and additional resources are available for learning about the update and attending GitHub Universe for further insights into the platform's future developments.

Organization owners have the ability to reinstate members who have been removed, restoring their previous organization and team memberships, as well as their forks of private repositories, issue assignments, repository subscriptions, repository stars, and custom email routing settings. This process involves using the standard organization invitation flow to send an invitation email to the former member, allowing them to rejoin and have their previous settings reinstated.

GitHub has released gh-ost, an open-source, triggerless online schema migration tool for MySQL, designed to address the challenges of continuous database changes in production environments. Unlike existing tools that rely on triggers, gh-ost intercepts changes via binary logs, offering a lightweight, pauseable, and dynamically controllable solution that minimizes operational overhead and user impact. It allows for schema changes without the typical complications of lock contention or replication lag, providing features for real-time control and comprehensive auditing. Additionally, gh-ost supports various operation modes, including testing migrations on replicas, ensuring data integrity before applying changes to the master database. Released under the MIT license, gh-ost is actively maintained by GitHub's database infrastructure engineering team and invites community contributions for further improvements.