Lesson Contribution: Define GIT

[Talishask]

I'm a member of The Carpentries Core Team and I'm submitting this issue on behalf of another member of the community. In most cases, I won't be able to follow up or provide more details other than what I'm providing below.

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questions:

• What does GIT stand for
• GIT is an acronym for Global Information Tracking

[kekoziar]

@Talishask thanks for forwarding the contribution.

[kekoziar]

More background on the word git, according to readme.md as part of the source code,

The name "git" was given by Linus Torvalds when he wrote the very first version. He described the tool as "the stupid content tracker" and the name as (depending on your mood):

• random three-letter combination that is pronounceable, and not actually used by any common UNIX command. The fact that it is a mispronunciation of "get" may or may not be relevant.
• stupid. contemptible and despicable. simple. Take your pick from the dictionary of slang.
• "global information tracker": you're in a good mood, and it actually works for you. Angels sing, and a light suddenly fills the room.
• "goddamn idiotic truckload of sh*t": when it breaks

Published in 2005, "When asked why he called the new software, "git," British slang meaning "a rotten person," [Torvalds] said. "I'm an egotistical bastard, so I name all my projects after myself. First Linux, now git.""

And, it should probably be noted that Git was developed as an open source alternative to BitKeeper.

[kekoziar]

That said, do I think this bit of information needs to be included in the lesson?

It's not truly an acronym - unlike Bash, which is commonly enough called Bourne Again SHell in places that it's important for learners to know that the term is interchangeable with the phrase.

I think it's interesting knowledge for an instructor to have - all of it, that is, including Torvalds calling himself a 'git' - in response to the odd question of "why is git called git." But, I think it's akin to asking why is R called R (in response to S), or Python called Python (because the developer took it from Monty Python). It shouldn't be a learning objective, which is what questions are based upon. The information is more flavor than anything else.

[nvermaz]

Whether it's *Global Information Tracker* or *Stupid Content Tracker, *or something else. We need to include this in the lesson for *content completeness*.

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On Wed, Aug 31, 2022 at 5:34 PM K.E. Koziar ***@***.***> wrote: That said, do I think this bit of information needs to be included in the lesson? It's not truly an acronym - unlike Bash, which is commonly enough called Bourne Again SHell in places that it's important for learners to know that the term is interchangeable with the phrase. I think it's interesting knowledge for an instructor to have - all of it, that is, including Torvalds calling himself a 'git - in response to the odd question of "why is git called git." But, I think it's akin to asking why is R called R (in response to S), or Python called Python (because the developer took it from Monty Python). It shouldn't be a learning objective, which is what questions are based upon. The information is more flavor than anything else. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#890 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AGXWO46SOGRS5J42632S363V37FXPANCNFSM6AAAAAAQBVZE5I> . You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[kekoziar]

Whether it's Global Information Tracker or *Stupid Content Tracker, *or something else. We need to include this in the lesson for content completeness.

How do you propose including it - and, "global information tracker" is nowhere in end-user documentation - while keeping the lesson welcoming, respectful, courteous, and professional?

[martinosorb]

The name "git" was given by Linus Torvalds when he wrote the very first version. He described the tool as "the stupid content tracker" and the name as (depending on your mood):

• random three-letter combination that is pronounceable, and not actually used by any common UNIX command. The fact that it is a mispronunciation of "get" may or may not be relevant.
• stupid. contemptible and despicable. simple. Take your pick from the dictionary of slang.
• "global information tracker": you're in a good mood, and it actually works for you. Angels sing, and a light suddenly fills the room.
• "goddamn idiotic truckload of sh*t": when it breaks

This is the official information about the name, as provided in the README of git's source code.

[astroDimitrios]

@kekoziar Perhaps we can add something in the The Long History of Version Control Systems callout in the Basics episode which says something along the lines of git is not really an acronym - if you would like to read more about why the name was chosen see the README of git's source code.