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I can’t speak for most, but for me it’s simply that GitHub operates more like a social media network for developers than a web-based git. As such I evaluate it

I can’t speak for most, but for me it’s simply that GitHub operates more like a social media network for developers than a web-based git. As such I evaluate it by number of users because it equates directly to the number of social interactions I’m likely to have. Morally I would love to stop using Microsoft products, much in the same way I’d like to stop using Meta products, but the problem is that I’m not there for the product, I’m there for the people. I can find products that better align with my values but I can’t bring along all the connections and possibility of connections

raziel2p 3y ago
how do people use GitHub as a social media network exactly? I know the features are there but I've never talked to anyone who uses it. a simpler explanation is that GitHub has a simpler/better interface than alternatives, and most people already have an account.
- lutoma 3y ago
  For me, it's two things: * Whenever I come across an interesting project hosted on Github (On Hacker News, Mastodon or some such place), I usually star it. Then when I'm later looking for a library or piece of software I usually search my Github stars first for a nice pre-filtered list of options. I know I could also use a bookmark manager to keep track of interesting non-Github projects, but that's way too high-friction and so in practice I usually forget about them. * There's also the social feed on the homepage where you can see which repositories your friends have starred/contributed to. I don't personally use this super often but frequently I star some repository and then notice a bunch of my friends starred it shortly after, presumably because they saw it in their feed.
bigpeopleareold 3y ago
For me at least, I presume that the social network comes from the people you talk to, with whatever medium you use, when one is involved in a project, wherever the code is hosted. I never saw GitHub to be special. I got work from meetups, from participating on mailing lists, etc. but not GitHub. There is no tight link to it, but I can presume for myself that can be that case for a particular project. But - to each their own on this matter.
brycewray 3y ago
> I can’t speak for most, but for me it’s simply that GitHub operates more like a social media network for developers than a web-based git. As such I evaluate it by number of users because it equates directly to the number of social interactions I’m likely to have. My final employer blocked GitHub as “social media” and rejected all arguments regarding its many other attributes. New CIO came in, heard of this, agreed it was silly and promised to have the block removed. Apparently somebody dissuaded him, because it never happened. Strange stuff.

raziel2p 3y ago

how do people use GitHub as a social media network exactly? I know the features are there but I've never talked to anyone who uses it. a simpler explanation is that GitHub has a simpler/better interface than alternatives, and most people already have an account.

lutoma 3y ago
For me, it's two things: * Whenever I come across an interesting project hosted on Github (On Hacker News, Mastodon or some such place), I usually star it. Then when I'm later looking for a library or piece of software I usually search my Github stars first for a nice pre-filtered list of options. I know I could also use a bookmark manager to keep track of interesting non-Github projects, but that's way too high-friction and so in practice I usually forget about them. * There's also the social feed on the homepage where you can see which repositories your friends have starred/contributed to. I don't personally use this super often but frequently I star some repository and then notice a bunch of my friends starred it shortly after, presumably because they saw it in their feed.

bigpeopleareold 3y ago

For me at least, I presume that the social network comes from the people you talk to, with whatever medium you use, when one is involved in a project, wherever the code is hosted. I never saw GitHub to be special. I got work from meetups, from participating on mailing lists, etc. but not GitHub. There is no tight link to it, but I can presume for myself that can be that case for a particular project. But - to each their own on this matter.

brycewray 3y ago

> I can’t speak for most, but for me it’s simply that GitHub operates more like a social media network for developers than a web-based git. As such I evaluate it by number of users because it equates directly to the number of social interactions I’m likely to have. My final employer blocked GitHub as “social media” and rejected all arguments regarding its many other attributes. New CIO came in, heard of this, agreed it was silly and promised to have the block removed. Apparently somebody dissuaded him, because it never happened. Strange stuff.