Hello dear XSF Members, I see that we are still using "master" as the name of the main branch on Git repositories (here, for instance: https://github.com/xsf/xeps ). You are probably all aware that the use of this term has raised controversy in recent years, as it can be perceived as a reference to slavery (see https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master%E2%80%93slave_(technology)#Controversy for instance). To avoid this unwanted reference and ensure the XSF is welcoming to everyone, I propose that we change these branch names to "main," as many notable projects have done (such as Python, the Linux Kernel, or GitHub). I'm not sure whether this matter should be discussed in the Board or Council (as it is a technical issue), but it would be good to add it to the agenda. Thank you! Goffi
Thanks Goffi, I would second this. Apart from the non-technical motivation: the XSF's repos are one of the only ones that I still use that use 'master' rather than 'main'. Where my muscle memory previously disliked 'main', it now dislikes 'master'. We would be far from the first to apply such a change. Tooling has matured well over the years to make the change pretty easy. I hope that this helps to take away most concerns that are of a technical nature. Kind regards, Guus On Tue, Jun 10, 2025 at 12:16 PM Goffi <goffi@goffi.org> wrote:
Hello dear XSF Members,
I see that we are still using "master" as the name of the main branch on Git repositories (here, for instance: https://github.com/xsf/xeps ).
You are probably all aware that the use of this term has raised controversy in recent years, as it can be perceived as a reference to slavery (see https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master%E2%80%93slave_(technology)#Controversy for instance).
To avoid this unwanted reference and ensure the XSF is welcoming to everyone, I propose that we change these branch names to "main," as many notable projects have done (such as Python, the Linux Kernel, or GitHub).
I'm not sure whether this matter should be discussed in the Board or Council (as it is a technical issue), but it would be good to add it to the agenda.
Thank you! Goffi
I agree with Guus and was about to comment on similar lines.
I would second this. Apart from the non-technical motivation: the XSF's repos are one of the only ones that I still use that use 'master' rather than 'main'. Where my muscle memory previously disliked 'main', it now dislikes 'master'.
My muscle memory, too, has come to expect 'main', and when I see 'master' my first (unfounded) impression is that this is an old repo or some king of legacy project.
We would be far from the first to apply such a change. Tooling has matured well over the years to make the change pretty easy. I hope that this helps to take away most concerns that are of a technical nature. Adding to this: there are many web pages explaining specifically how to change the "master" to "main", including this one that I found from a quick web search. It seems simple enough: https://www.hanselman.com/blog/easily-rename-your-git-default-branch-from-ma...
You are probably all aware that the use of this term has raised controversy in recent years, as it can be perceived as a reference to slavery (see https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master%E2%80%93slave_(technology)#Controversy <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master%E2%80%93slave_(technology)#Controversy> for instance).
I wasn't aware of that controversy. But if those connotations are indeed there I'd be happy to see the name changed, even on non-technical grounds :) Best, Badri
Hello, one question: If agreed, who would volunteer to do the work (without breaking anything)? Cheers, Eddie Jun 10, 2025 12:43:46 PM Badri Sunderarajan <badrihippo@disroot.org>:
I agree with Guus and was about to comment on similar lines.
I would second this. Apart from the non-technical motivation: the XSF's repos are one of the only ones that I still use that use 'master' rather than 'main'. Where my muscle memory previously disliked 'main', it now dislikes 'master'.
My muscle memory, too, has come to expect 'main', and when I see 'master' my first (unfounded) impression is that this is an old repo or some king of legacy project.
We would be far from the first to apply such a change. Tooling has matured well over the years to make the change pretty easy. I hope that this helps to take away most concerns that are of a technical nature. Adding to this: there are many web pages explaining specifically how to change the "master" to "main", including this one that I found from a quick web search. It seems simple enough: https://www.hanselman.com/blog/easily-rename-your-git-default-branch-from-ma...
You are probably all aware that the use of this term has raised controversy in recent years, as it can be perceived as a reference to slavery (see https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master%E2%80%93slave_(technology)#Controversy <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master%E2%80%93slave_(technology)#Controversy> for instance).
I wasn't aware of that controversy. But if those connotations are indeed there I'd be happy to see the name changed, even on non-technical grounds :)
Best, Badri
On 10/06/25 7:20 pm, E.M. wrote:
Hello,
one question: If agreed, who would volunteer to do the work (without breaking anything)?
I don't mind doing it, but one concern is I'm new to how things are set up, so I may not know what to look out for and how to avoid breaking things (: I'd be happy to help out where I can (maybe with some overseeing from the Infrastructure team?) My main concern is if there are any automated tools which pull the git repos and expect to see things at a specific branch named 'master'. And everyone who's cloned anything would also have to update their workflows accordingly, of course. Best, Badri
Le mardi 10 juin 2025, 15:50:21 heure d’été d’Europe centrale E.M. a écrit :
Hello,
one question: If agreed, who would volunteer to do the work (without breaking anything)?
Cheers, Eddie
Hi, Someone with access to the Git repository needs to handle this. The Git-side process should be straightforward. If a script is relying on the branch name and there’s an error, it’s simple to fix by simply updating the branch name. While we can’t guarantee that nothing will break, any issues that arise should be quick to resolve. Best, Goffi
While I don't think that this use of master (as opposed to master/slave) derives from the same usage, it's clear that some people do, and it's a small and easy change to make. I agree we should do it. The different repositories are under the purview of different teams, I think - the website is probably Board, the XEP repository is Editor, for instance. Happy to propose a policy from Board to push these all through though. On Tue, 10 Jun 2025 at 11:16, Goffi <goffi@goffi.org> wrote:
Hello dear XSF Members,
I see that we are still using "master" as the name of the main branch on Git repositories (here, for instance: https://github.com/xsf/xeps ).
You are probably all aware that the use of this term has raised controversy in recent years, as it can be perceived as a reference to slavery (see https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master%E2%80%93slave_(technology)#Controversy for instance).
To avoid this unwanted reference and ensure the XSF is welcoming to everyone, I propose that we change these branch names to "main," as many notable projects have done (such as Python, the Linux Kernel, or GitHub).
I'm not sure whether this matter should be discussed in the Board or Council (as it is a technical issue), but it would be good to add it to the agenda.
Thank you! Goffi
Hi, Le mardi 10 juin 2025, 23:04:49 heure d’été d’Europe centrale Dave Cridland a écrit :
While I don't think that this use of master (as opposed to master/slave) derives from the same usage, it's clear that some people do, and it's a small and easy change to make. I agree we should do it.
The different repositories are under the purview of different teams, I think - the website is probably Board, the XEP repository is Editor, for instance. Happy to propose a policy from Board to push these all through though.
Yes please. I can ask Daniel to put this on next meeting agenda for the `xeps`, `registrar`, `schemas`, `xep-attic` and `rfcs` repositories (which other repos would be Council territory?). Best, Goffi
participants (5)
-
Badri Sunderarajan -
Dave Cridland -
E.M. -
Goffi -
Guus der Kinderen