So creating a new repo on GitHub, you get a set of getting started steps. They changed the default branchname to “main” from “master” due to its connotations with slavery.

When I create a new repo now, the initial getting started steps recommend creating a branch named “master” as opposed to “main” as it was a while ago.

It’s especially weird since the line git branch -M master is completely unnecessary, since git init still sets you up with a “master” branch.

Disclaimer: I have a bunch of private repos, and my default branchnames are pretty much all “master”.

Is this a recent change?

Edit: Mystery solved, my default branchname is “master”. Thanks bamboo@lemmy.blahaj.zone !

  • Phoenixz@lemmy.caEnglish
    0·
    2 years ago

    I honestly never saw a problem with master / slave, nor with whitelist / blacklist. It’s the same as killing children, forking children, etc, it’s computer terminology and not everything means that bad thing that you personally want it to mean.

    I’m not politically correct, I live in a real world. Calling a git repository different really isn’t doing shit against slavery and it pisses me off that people are going to down vote me on their slavery built iPhone because apparently I like naughty words and you apparently like slavery.

    You want to stop racism? Then stop meddling with computer terminology and go out there and actually do something real.

    • ElectricVocalist@jlai.luEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      Do you speak french too? I’m french myself and we use master for so many normal things. Americans don’t get that word right because their langage lost many of its meanings. It’s funny to see people get offended just because they misunderstand the etymology of a word

    • surewhynotlem@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      I appreciate your intense emotion about the topic of changing terminology. It’s hard to wrangle in our feelings when things change.

      I completely agree with your last statement. What have you done to accomplish that?

      • Phoenixz@lemmy.caEnglish
        0·
        2 years ago

        If you’re trying to appear sassy at least try and understand the point.

        I’m not virtue signalling with PRETENDING to fight racism by bitching about words I only partially understand. I fight racism by simply treating everyone the same, I simply don’t give a damn about skin color, never have. Lead by example.

        So what have you done?

        • surewhynotlem@lemmy.worldEnglish
          0·
          2 years ago

          That’s not fighting racism. Being not racist isn’t the same as being anti racist.

          For example, do you think by existing in a capitalist society you’re also fighting socialism? How many wars are you winning in your head by doing nothing?

          You’re doing so little that you can’t even stop using words that bother people, even when they said it bothers them.

          You have a blessed and isolated life if there are zero words that can cause you emotional harm. This doesn’t mean you’re strong, it means you’re privileged. White privilege, in fact.

          As for what I do? I give interviews to minority candidates when when their resume isn’t great. And it’s been a boon for my company because it turns out they’re really talented, but bad at resumes. I also spend time educating my fellow minimally melanated morons on the concept of systemic racism, and why simply doing nothing is not the same as being not racist. Hence we’re here.

  • InstallGentoo@lemmy.zipEnglish
    0·
    2 years ago

    God I wish. The change to “main” was pointless and unnecessary. It’s almost like people want to find problems when there aren’t any.

    • gerryflap@feddit.nlEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      Honestly I feel like people who had an issue with this were just as much making an issue out of nothing. I personally also think that “master” is just as much a normal and valid name as “main”, and to me the rename kinda felt like performative bullshit. But at the same time it’s just a name, if it makes people happy I don’t really care either. Nowadays I tend to use main, but it’s not something I really pay attention to.

    • beeb@lemm.eeEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      I prefer main simply because it faster to type. I propose main branches be renamed to “m”

    • FooBarrington@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      I like it, because it forced people not to assume master is the main branch. If something is common enough to almost be a standard, but it’s not actually a standard, it’s just waiting for disaster.

      These assumptions cause unnecessary breakage, but people will make them unless forced not to.

    • ℍ𝕂-𝟞𝟝@sopuli.xyzOPEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      Well, that is embarassing. It’s master.

      I don’t remember setting this, but then again, I don’t remember a lot of things. Thanks!