Github is replacing the word master to avoid slavery references. Deal with it.
Tags: github, language
Published: 2020-06-14 20:41:08

---
title: Github is replacing the word master to avoid slavery references. Deal with it.
published: true
description: Github is replacing the term "master" with a neutral term. I think it's weird. But my opinion sucks.
tags: github, language
---

First, Github is making some changes.
> GitHub is working on replacing the term "master" on its service with a neutral term like "main" to avoid any unnecessary references to slavery, its CEO said on Friday.[via zdnet](https://www.zdnet.com/article/github-to-replace-master-with-alternative-term-to-avoid-slavery-references/)

## What the internet is saying

There's some interesting conversations I was having in with my dev friends on Slack. Much is shrugging. 

But the vocal parts of the internet?

[Twitter is typical Twitter - lots of opinions in 240 characters](https://twitter.com/Una/status/1271180494944829441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1271253144442253312&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zdnet.com%2Farticle%2Fgithub-to-replace-master-with-alternative-term-to-avoid-slavery-references%2F).

[Reddit commenters are pretty negative (as usual to anything)](https://www.reddit.com/r/github/comments/h8u7fo/github_to_replace_master_with_alternative_term_to/).
 
Heck, within that [Zdnet post](https://www.zdnet.com/article/github-to-replace-master-with-alternative-term-to-avoid-slavery-references/) are some really awful comments. 

## My personal opinion? 

There's no slave model in Git. I personally think it's a stretch to connect the word Master with the whole Master/Slave concept in tech.

## Opinions are like butts

Everyone has opinions. You're allowed to have opinions. You also have a butt. 

![butt](https://i.imgur.com/PHncVU7.gif)
<figcaption>Please avoid putting it in people's faces who don't want it.</figcaption>

I started to really think this through - is changing the word `master` to `main` important to me?

Nope! 

It doesn't affect me in the slightest. 

So my opinion is kinda moot. It doesn't matter. It's a waste of energy to think about. And of all the hills to die on, this is not one of them.

But let's go through the excuses because why not?

## Excuses you'll hear why it's a bad idea

### Excuse 1: It's just language policing

As a developer, why are you so invested?

You can name **anything with anything**. 

`sayHello` & `i` are the same. 

```
const sayHello = 'Hello, there';
const i = 'Hello, there';
```

Now, `i` doesn't make sense as a variable name at all. There's no meaning what `i` represents and it's a terrible practice.

While changing `master` to `main` doesn't have any implications.

### Excuse 2: It's a slippery slope

As a developer, programming is a slippery slope!

[Languages change over time. Tedtalk video](https://www.ted.com/playlists/228/how_language_changes_over_time) That's how languages work. Go ahead - travel back in time with your English speaking skills. You definitely won't be able to speak the [same English](http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2019/07/how-far-back-in-time-could-a-modern-english-speaker-go-and-still-communicate-effectively/) to another english speaker in the 1200s. 

When Python removes the [master/slave terminology](https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/8x7akv/masterslave-terminology-was-removed-from-python-programming-language), Python didn't break. Life moves on.

### Excuse 3: It makes the internet/tech nerds mad

So? Remember the `opinions == butts` part? This guy from 2015 thinks [React is bad](https://www.pandastrike.com/posts/20150311-react-bad-idea/)

People get mad and butthurt about everything. 

### Excuse 4: Why change it now? It was fine how it was!

This screams 'We've Always Done It This Way', which is one of the [most dangerous phrases in business](https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeslacouncil/2019/01/28/the-most-dangerous-phrase-in-business-weve-always-done-it-this-way/#29ebda9b40f7).

'We've Always Done It This Way' is a fundamentally broken concept. If it wasn't, we'd still be using Netscape and writing pure HTML/CSS.

### Excuse 5: There's nothing innovative about changing it to `main`

Finally you're getting it! It's a nothing burger. 

But at the end of the day, the change is the change and life moves on.
 
But if you still have very strong opinions and feel like you're fighting against some weird 1984-cult language, I invite you to relax and take a break from the internet, and when you're ready, [put your opinions here](https://www.buttsss.com/).