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Contributing to Open Source on GitHub

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Re: Contributing to Open Source on GitHub

#3

Post by lawl »

I think it's interesting how GitHub is trying to push open source contribution. However, we shouldn't rely too much on GitHub for (open source) collaboration. Git is decentral after all. Open source should remain too.

Re: Contributing to Open Source on GitHub

#4

Post by akerl_ »

lawl wrote: post #3

I think it's interesting how GitHub is trying to push open source contribution. However, we shouldn't rely too much on GitHub for (open source) collaboration. Git is decentral after all. Open source should remain too.

Properly used, GitHub doesn't stop git from being decentralized.

Re: Contributing to Open Source on GitHub

#5

Post by danso »

akerl_ wrote: post #4
lawl wrote: post #3

I think it's interesting how GitHub is trying to push open source contribution. However, we shouldn't rely too much on GitHub for (open source) collaboration. Git is decentral after all. Open source should remain too.

Properly used, GitHub doesn't stop git from being decentralized.

A surprising number of developers don't really understand that...which is partially a problem of how complex things generally are in development, and partially a result of how good Github has become.

Case in point: During the whole Julie Horvath controversy, a few anti-Github developers started a campaign to create awareness of the harmful effects of Github's culture (or something)...but they created their standalone site using Github Pages:

https://github.com/CultureOffset/cultureoffset.github.com

I pointed out, independent of how I felt about Horvath or Github, that not only does it send a terrible message to run a boycotting campaign on the service you want to boycott...it is completely unnecessary, thanks to how git actually works and the many other great build tools/stacks to do static web development in under 24 hours. However, I got reamed for being an asshole and "man-splaining" things.

But really, as useful as Github is, every dev should spend some time on thinking through what underlies Github, and how to get by without it...especially if you intend on protesting Github.

Re: Contributing to Open Source on GitHub

#6

Post by jacalata »

danso wrote: post #5
akerl_ wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Properly used, GitHub doesn't stop git from being decentralized.

A surprising number of developers don't really understand that...which is partially a problem of how complex things generally are in development, and partially a result of how good Github has become. Case in point: During the whole Julie Horvath controversy, a few anti-Github developers started a campaign to create awareness of the harmful effects of Github's culture (or something)...but they created their standalone…

I don't think that was a boycotting campaign - it basically says "we recognise you might want/need to keep using GitHub, so if you want to make a positive contribution to better culture/whatever then here are ways to do so without changing your workflow". It was like airplane companies advertising carbon offsets.

Re: Contributing to Open Source on GitHub

#7

Post by danso »

jacalata wrote: post #6
danso wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A surprising number of developers don't really understand that...which is partially a problem of how complex things generally are in development, and partially a result of how good Github has become. Case in point: During the whole Julie Horvath controversy, a few anti-Github developers started a campaign to create awareness of the harmful effects of Github's culture (or something)...but they created their standalone…

I don't think that was a boycotting campaign - it basically says "we recognise you might want/need to keep using GitHub, so if you want to make a positive contribution to better culture/whatever then here are ways to do so without changing your workflow". It was like airplane companies advertising carbon offsets.

Yeah, but the concept of "offset" implies that there is something essentially poisonous to counteract. You may have to continue doing some of these poisonous activities...but you're acknowledging that the consequences of them are negative, period.

"Offsets" may not be literally a boycott, but the message is the same. And if at all possible, the organizers of such should avoid creating more "poison" to "offset"...in this case, if you wanted to put your name as a pledge, you had to have a Github account, and you had to use Github's services...which, in the end, helps to perpetuate Github.

But the kicker is that using Github as a necessary evil is not necessary at all, thanks to the great work of open-source developers...

(and yes, the question of, what the hell does "offseting" Github's culture even mean is a whole separate mind-dislocation, but not worth debating in this thread)

Re: Contributing to Open Source on GitHub

#10

Post by yesiamyourdad »

shurcooL wrote: post #8

What should I do if the open source project I want to contribute to isn't on GitHub?

Most of the advice about reading the docs is relevant. GitHub didn't invent those conventions, the whole README/CONTRIBUTING/LICENSE thing has been around for a long time. I remember being so impressed with Perl back in the mid 90's because it was so freakin simple to install, get up and running, and get help when you needed it.

After that, you should email the lead dev(s) and ask how you can contribute. Many projects have a mailing list and that's usually the best place to start.

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