this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2025

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Has Github/Microsoft rolled back the master to main switch? (sopuli.xyz)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

51 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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 [email protected] !

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[–] phoenixz 5 points 5 days ago (3 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

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

[–] phoenixz 2 points 4 days ago

I lived in Mexico for a long time and the amount of bullshit I've had for using the word "negro" is just astonishing and insane. Can't point out the color of the night sky in mexict, that's racism, somehow.

To clarify, as far as I know it's only people from the US that freak about this, other countries don't really seem to have this problem.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago

It’s funny to see people get offended just because they misunderstand the etymology of a word

I've got a story for you then:

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

🤔

[–] phoenixz 1 points 4 days ago

Yes

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 days ago (1 children)

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 0 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 days 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.

[–] [email protected] 102 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

(FYI I didn't make this and I believe it's fake but honestly it's hard to tell)

[–] [email protected] 53 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

What's your default branch name for the user you're logged in as: https://github.com/settings/repositories

For me this setting is main and I created a new repo, and the steps all include the main branch and not master.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 week ago (3 children)

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!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

It defaults to master if your account existed before the change I believe.

At least I had to manually change it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

That might be it then. I never really read the getting started guide.

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[–] [email protected] 43 points 1 week ago (11 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 6 days ago (5 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 days ago (1 children)

My main branch is called HEAD.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 days ago

You monster.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 days ago

I demand trunk because https://trunkbaseddevelopment.com/ is a great branching strategy guide that anyone should read. It also explains how to release code or fix it in a good way.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

I like develop. Sounds nice and indicates things may be unstable.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 days ago

I don't think that's a good idea it's not descriptive enough in my opinion.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

How about trunk to imply how to use it

[–] [email protected] 13 points 5 days 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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

🤨

[–] [email protected] 47 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Americans and their silly performative outrage

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 week ago

A form of art they have main-ered.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 week ago

I guess masterpieces are now mainpieces

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[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 week ago (26 children)

Main is more concise and less problematic. A win all around.

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