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GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

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Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#101

Post by tekromancr »

pariahHN wrote: post #84
snlacks wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it's because people are offended at the use of the word master, in this case. I think, that it's symbolic. By making a point of getting rid of the word master, you're showing that black lives matter.

Are we going to get rid of every word that a plantation owner ever used to insult the slaves? For words that specifically have no purpose other than conveying hate, I can understand stamping them out. But master has quite a few other meanings, most of which I would think existed before institutionalized slavery of black people existed. Seems a bit unproductive to target it. They had supervisors - should we stop using…

I don't think "Let's reframe problematic work language in terms of kink-culture" is the slam-dunk rhetorical move you think it is.

Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#102

Post by kickopotomus »

zucker42 wrote: post #29
kickopotomus wrote: post #20

Honest question: are there people out there who are legitimately uncomfortable/upset about the usage of the terms "master" and "slave" in the context of technology? Or is this more so people trying to be too socially "woke" and assuming something to be offensive when it is not? Master/slave are pretty commonly used terms whenever we talk about things like distributed systems and communication buses. Essentially every…

Yes, there are legitimately people who believe the master-slave terminology trivializes American slavery. They are mostly in the U.S. and probably a minority of programmers but they exist. But in this case, there's not even a slave branch.

> Yes, there are legitimately people who believe the master-slave terminology trivializes American slavery.

I suppose this is something I don't understand. How do terms become trivial when used in separate contexts? They are simply descriptive terms. Furthermore, from an etymological standpoint, the term "master" has been used to signify preeminence since the 13th century. E.g. master's degree, master-key, master copy, etc. This is the meaning that seems more applicable to a version control system.

Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#103

Post by zucker42 »

m0xte wrote: post #93
NobodyNada wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So... 5 years from now will we have to constantly guess whether old repos are using “master” or “main”?

This. It is hard coded all over the place in thousands of things. In fact is it even git any more if the master branch isn't called master? Nope it's an incompatible fork by Microsoft purely by a chance encounter of irony.

Are you being sarcastic?

Where exactly do you depend on knowing the name of the default branch of an unnamed repository, and how do you handle cases where people delete the master branch.

Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#104

Post by thinkingemote »

floatingatoll wrote: post #39
protomyth wrote: post #25

What bugs me about crap like this is that it ignores world history, makes these people feel good about doing nothing of consequence, and takes attention away from things that will actually help. If you are going to help, actually do something that improves the lives of people. Maybe, you should really put some effort into beefing up the Computer Science programs in black high schools and colleges? You are Microsoft,…

A small symbolic thing is still worth doing, even if it doesn't directly improve the lives of people.

This doesn't even indirectly improve things.

What it does do is make a few people feel better because they are misinformed and so other things like education would be a better solution, something like "there's no need to feel bad about this word, and here's the logic about why."

Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#105

Post by waon »

zucker42 wrote: post #14

I'm a strong supporter of social justice. I don't really object to people putting in work to change language like that if they think it's important. Especially when the work required is minimal. That said, this is slightly ridiculous. Have customers seriously complained about the term "master"? And my impression was that the usage was more similar to "master copy" than "master of the plantation". Honestly, it's frust…

I feel the same way, and it’s depressing that people have to risk their reputation over this. If this was about people waving confederate flags or holding Nazi banners, we should do our best to keep those people out because these are symbols of ill intent used to send a clear message of hate towards minorities. But I have never seen people use the noun “master” as a symbol to spread hate. Moreover, I don’t think many people have even thought of slavery when referring to “master” in CS context before it was brought up in this manner.

But all this aside, this would’ve been a no-brainer if renaming the default branch didn’t have other real-world consequences. If it has a possible chance of making people happy, we should by all means do so. However, the proposed change is inevitably going to break many scripts out there that manipulate git repositories and forces additional work for countless people all over the industry. At this point, I think it’s reasonable to rethink whether this is actually going to improve the lives of anyone at all before proceeding.

Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#106

Post by nathanaldensr »

luckylion wrote: post #36

I've said it before, and I predict it now again: a language that is named after valuable mineral chunks that are often/usually/predominately mined by slave labor in predominately non-white countries is better thinking about a rebrand. Especially when it's basically ground zero for SJW activity in software development.

We're in a "six degrees of separation" between anything widely used in culture and something that can be deemed "racist." If you look, you will find something, no matter how stretched or tenuous the connection.

Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#107

Post by ojhughes »

silveraxe93 wrote: post #6

This is just so damn pointless. It will cause some "great" controversy, people will be called white supremacists for refusing to stop saying master. Now even if this catches on, then yeah OK I'll start naming my branches as main unless I want to make a political statement, which would just add to confusion when developing. Meanwhile these people will pat each other on the back, yell "yeah! We sure made a difference."…

Stop with the wrongthinking, you may be reported to your employer

Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#108

Post by m0xte »

zucker42 wrote: post #103
m0xte wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. It is hard coded all over the place in thousands of things. In fact is it even git any more if the master branch isn't called master? Nope it's an incompatible fork by Microsoft purely by a chance encounter of irony.

Are you being sarcastic? Where exactly do you depend on knowing the name of the default branch of an unnamed repository, and how do you handle cases where people delete the master branch.

git diff master..branch

Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#109

Post by ojhughes »

phkahler wrote: post #71
snlacks wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it's because people are offended at the use of the word master, in this case. I think, that it's symbolic. By making a point of getting rid of the word master, you're showing that black lives matter.

[flagged]

This sort of opinion is wrongthink. Very dangerous, best to keep your mouth shut and comply
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