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 !

  • FooBarrington@lemmy.world
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    2 days 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.

      • FooBarrington@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        And yet not everyone used to use master, so scripts kept breaking for no good reason.

        Either make it a standard, or stop assuming it’s a standard. De-facto isn’t good enough.

        • ryathal@sh.itjust.works
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          1 day ago

          Having a magical standard fairy waive a wand isn’t going to fix scripts, or stop them from breaking.

          • FooBarrington@lemmy.world
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            1 day ago

            What? If there’s an actual standard, it will stop scripts from breaking, because the assumption that master is the main branch will always be true.

            • clif@lemmy.world
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              10 hours ago

              I’ll find something else to screw up and cause it to break, don’t worry.