Migrating open source code repositories from CVS to GitHub
CVS Is Dead
The CVS repository is no longer needed. To prevent developers who have not heard about the move from checking in new material, the admin should check in a highly visible file, such as MOVED_TO_GITHUB, to give the latecomers a wake-up call before their contributions end up in a dead repository.
Now it's high time to create the project on GitHub so that you can push it live. Once the developer has created a new account with a username (mschilli in this case), you can click Your Repositories (create a new one) and add the three lines of text shown in Figure 1. The next thing GitHub needs is the public keys of everybody who has write access for the project repository. Public keys with the Secure Shell are a great way to eliminate typing your password every time; on GitHub, they're mandatory to identify a developer (Figure 2). Write access to the repository is handled later by talking to git@github.com, without specifying a username. Password-based identification is thus impossible via SSH on GitHub.
The First Push
Once the public key has been deposited with github.com, git push origin master synchronizes the local Git repository that I migrated from CVS with what is currently an empty repository on GitHub. Following this, the web page at http://github.com/user/project will show the project, including its full history, and give other developers an opportunity to contribute (Figure 3).
Fork as Fork Can
If another GitHub user, call him the open-source-dude, stumbles across the project and discovers a bug or would like to contribute an improvement, he can create a fork by pressing the project's Fork button (arrow in Figure 4). This creates a copy of the original repository and gives the user write access to the copy. Again, the Dude has to deposit his public key with GitHub because he'll have write access to the forked project. Figure 5 shows the project belonging to open-source-dude.
To introduce changes, open-source-dude runs the git clone command to create a local clone of the fork (Figure 6). In typical Git style, and this would be impossible in Subversion or CVS, the local copy not only includes the latest version of the project, but all previous versions, starting with the first check-in. The git log command, with the HEAD~3.. parameter, shows the messages for the last three check-ins.
« Previous 1 2 3 4 Next »
Buy Linux Magazine
Direct Download
Read full article as PDF:
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
News
-
An All-Snap Version of Ubuntu is In The Works
Along with the standard deb version of the open-source operating system, Canonical will release an-all snap version.
-
Mageia 9 Beta 2 Ready for Testing
The latest beta of the popular Mageia distribution now includes the latest kernel and plenty of updated applications.
-
KDE Plasma 6 Looks to Bring Basic HDR Support
The KWin piece of KDE Plasma now has HDR support and color management geared for the 6.0 release.
-
Bodhi Linux 7.0 Beta Ready for Testing
The latest iteration of the Bohdi Linux distribution is now available for those who want to experience what's in store and for testing purposes.
-
Changes Coming to Ubuntu PPA Usage
The way you manage Personal Package Archives will be changing with the release of Ubuntu 23.10.
-
AlmaLinux 9.2 Now Available for Download
AlmaLinux has been released and provides a free alternative to upstream Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
-
An Immutable Version of Fedora Is Under Consideration
For anyone who's a fan of using immutable versions of Linux, the Fedora team is currently considering adding a new spin called Fedora Onyx.
-
New Release of Br OS Includes ChatGPT Integration
Br OS 23.04 is now available and is geared specifically toward web content creation.
-
Command-Line Only Peropesis 2.1 Available Now
The latest iteration of Peropesis has been released with plenty of updates and introduces new software development tools.
-
TUXEDO Computers Announces InfinityBook Pro 14
With the new generation of their popular InfinityBook Pro 14, TUXEDO upgrades its ultra-mobile, powerful business laptop with some impressive specs.