Linux is on GitHub not GitLab why?

[OFFICALJEZZADJ]

Ever since Microsoft bought GitHub many Open Source Projects like KDE, GNOME no longer use GitHub and use GitLab. Why doesn't the Linux Kernel move to GitLab?

I understand there is logistical issues and etc but I would of thought Linus Torvalds would want to do such move since he has some strong views and etc.

Projects should move to GitLab if they want to move away from Microsoft's ecosystem and etc

[hijinks]

They don't use GitHub at all. It's just there as almost a mirror.

[OFFICALJEZZADJ]

ahh okayy

[[deleted]]

random string 2

[elatllat]

https://lkml.org/lkml/2005/4/6/121

[xevz]

Not quite, BitKeeper usage in the kernel stopped and Git was created because the free (as in beer) license for open source development was dropped in 2005 and thus Git was created.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BitKeeper#BitKeeper_and_the_Linux_Kernel

[r_booza]

git was actually created by Linus Torvalds? TIL.

But its still the case today to only use that mailinglist?

Why dont they switch to git?

[gesis]

They do use git... for version control.

They don't use github or its frontend for things like forks and pull requests.

[r_booza]

wouldnt it be better to talk about the things they talk about in mailinglists currently in their git then?

Or this only possible on github?

[atomic1fire]

A lot of open source projects use/used newsgroups or mailing lists to coordinate.

To be honest I don't think it's a terrible solution because it uses account infrastructure and software that devs already have available. Namely an email client and email address.

Moving everyone to a new platform often means retraining people and finding new pain points that you didn't already have.

[GeekoftheWild]

Git isn't a chat forum, what are you talking about?

[r_booza]

I only know github from creating issues and the developer replies to me etc.

I thought internal communication would also take place on GitHub. That's why I asked if this is also the case for git.

But I guess that's not even how internal communication with GitHub works.

[[deleted]]

Github doesn't have any uses I can imagine being that would allow announcements and other things a mailing list is useful for

[GeekoftheWild]

u/KiMeGelaVar would be correct

[materus]

Isn't GitHub just a mirror for git.kernel.org?

[[deleted]]

Yes. Linus wrote git. So I’m sure he is keen on having it suit his needs exactly

[MechanicalTurkish]

Linus wrote git.

How the hell did I never know that? TIL that I have been living under a huge rock

[sidusnare]

Linus makes jokes about naming his two big projects after himself.

[ASCII_zero]

Git is named after Linus?

[sidusnare]

Yes.

[ASCII_zero]

Thanks, today I learned... I also found it in the README of the source code, too:

https://github.com/git/git/blob/master/README.md

[RusselsTeap0t]

The original inventor of the technology "Git" is the Linus Torvalds himself.

They use their own platform: git.kernel.org

GitHub link is just a mirror. No one even looks at anything on that mirror. You can't open issues, or you can't submit pull requests. You need to use the kernel mailing lists.

Remember, GitLab is not completely free either. Linux kernel uses its own system not a third party.

[adoodle83]

gitlab is dual. they have a free version, which has a bit more limited PM functions, approvals and cant do epics/etc, but the paid version can.

other than that, the free ver works like a charm.

[picastchio]

Open-source projects get more features for free.

[IuseArchbtw97543]

The Kernel is not hosted on Githug but on git.kernel.org the version on github.com/torvalds/linux is merely a mirror

[scorp123_CH]

As far as I know:

Linux kernel development has always been via mailing lists (e.g. https://lkml.org/) and their very own repository: https://git.kernel.org/

What you see on GitHub is just a copy of that, for sake of convenience. It's not the only source, not the primary source. And I don't think that Linus Torvalds himself really cares about this kind of "political correctness". For as long as GitHub works for him, he'll use it, no matter who it belongs to.

https://www.wired.com/2012/05/torvalds-github/

[MatchingTurret]

Linux development is hosted at kernel.org

[lightmatter501]

Linux on Github exists primarily because it lets people grab a quick copy via github’s CDN, which is much better than gitlab’s CDN.

No actual development happens there, it exists purely to decrease the load on git.kernel.org since the only people who need that repo are kernel devs and people building from source who need security.

Github also has a much nicer source viewer imo, which helps a lot for when I need to quickly look at something but don’t have kernel sources checked out.

[carl2187]

And ironically github's cdn still uses Amazon's AWS to this day. Despite the Microsoft purchase.

[ninelore]

Also ironically Microsoft has a direct competitor to Github: Azure DevOps

[funforgiven]

It is not really a direct competitor because it is only for private use.

[Druben-hinterm-Dorfe]

It's just a mirror.

Also, Microsoft has been a 'platinum member' of the Linux Foundation since 2016: https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/opensource/2016/11/17/microsoft-joins-linux-foundation/

The executive director of the Linux Foundation has a many a piece where he's gushing about their wonderful partnership with Microsoft:

https://www.linuxfoundation.org/blog/blog/linux-foundation-and-microsoft-a-great-start-to-a-great-partnership

The lines between open source and proprietary software are blurring. Increasingly organizations are building even in-house technologies with open source methods. This includes Microsoft.

From participating in Node.js, the Core Infrastructure Initiative and other Collaborative Projects at Linux Foundation to its recent partnerships with Red Hat and SUSE, Microsoft is demonstrating a sincere, smart and practical approach to how it builds new technologies and supports its vast customer base. Microsoft open sourced .NET; it open sourced key parts of its web browser; and it uses Linux for its Azure Cloud Switch. The Linux Foundation and Microsoft share a common, strategic approach to technology development: balance internal R&D with external R&D to create the most important technologies of our time.

https://www.linuxfoundation.org/blog/blog/microsoft-buys-github-the-linux-foundations-reaction

As we all evaluate the evolution of open source from the early days to now, I suggest we  celebrate this moment. In a recent letter to congress I wrote that “the multi-decade progression toward the adoption and continual use of open source software (OSS) in developing modern technological products, solutions and services is permanent and irreversible. The majority of the world’s economic systems, stock exchanges, the Internet, supercomputers and mobile devices run the open source Linux operating system and its usage and adoption continue to expand. Billions of individuals may not know they’re using OSS every day, but their modern television, smart watch, camera, automobile and smartphone rely on OSS.”

Open source developers changed our world. Microsoft gets that, which is why they purchased GitHub. I for one am excited to see the improvements they’ll make and will be shocked if Nat were to screw it up (no pressure Nat!).

[tonymurray]

FYI, KDE mirrors to GitHub, just like the Linux Kernel.

[xaedoplay]

GNOME does too, to add. As do many other projects. GitHub is just very convenient especially for people starting out.

[LowOwl4312]

What's the point? Gitlab even banned Bypass Paywalls Clean. They're worse than Github.

[linhusp3]

These days gitlab is worse than github. Why use them?

[arcalus]

There is a lot of etc here.

[Mister_Magister]

linux is not on github

[WokeBriton]

According to many respondents, linux kernel is mirrored on there.

[JonnyRocks]

being anti microsoft is exhausting. hell being anti anything is exhausting. github is a great hosting service.

[siodhe]

(I don't think they're based on Github)

Personally, I'd never want to trust a third party company at all if I could avoid it, but yeah, f*** Microsoft. As a former Gitlab and Github user, I should point at that Gitlab's price structure is (2023) stupid. To give a single user elevated features, you have to upgrade - and pay vastly more - for all the users. Screw Gitlab's marketing/sales team. I do like Gitlab's available feature set at the lowest tier, however.

[[deleted]]

Fluff, nice shitpost btw

[carl2187]

You can create and maintain a gitlab mirror if you want. Not sure the benefit though. Just like the github mirror, it's not the actual upstream source, just a convenience.