newlib-cygwin.git repository: Switching "master" to "main"

[Sam Edge]

On 13/01/2023 11:55, Corinna Vinschen via Cygwin wrote:
 > Hey folks,
 >
 > In the light of recent discussions, and following other projects already
 > having done this step, we changed the name of the "master" branch in
 > the newlib-cygwin.git upstream repository to "main".
 >
 > If you fetched from upstream in the last two days, you might already
 > have noticed that an "origin/main" branch suddenly showed up, but your
 > "master" branch still worked as before.
 >
 > The reason is that we also added a symbolic reference upstream, so that
 > "origin/master" points to "origin/main".  Both "branches" are now
 > constantly kept in sync upstream.
 >
 > Therefore, you can continue your work on "master" without disruption,
 > if you prefer to do so.
 >
 > However, on the client side, the "master" and "main" branches are
 > treated as two distinct branches.  If you work on your local "main"
 > clone and commit a patch, it's not keeping your local "master" branch in
 > sync.  After pushing your change upstream, though, the upstream idea of
 > "main" and "master" is, again, the same.  After fetching from upstream,
 > the patch will show up in both tracking branches, "origin/main" as well
 > as "origin/master", so pulling on both local branches will show the same
 > tree.
 >
 > Having said that.  Ideally you only use one of the branches locally
 > to avoid any confusion:
 >
 > - If you prefer to work in "master", just continue to do so and don't
 >   create a local "main" branch tracking "origin/main".
 >
 > - If you prefer to work in "main", checkout "origin/main" as "main" and
 >   delete your local "master" branch.
 >
 >
 > Have fun,
 > Corinna
 >
 >

While I can understand sensitivity over the word 'slave' this is taking 
things
too far in my opinion. I just conducted a quick poll of my Afro-Caribbean &
other non-Caucasian workmates who all express the same sentiment.

There is only one use case that relates to slavery. There are dozens that do
not. Are we supposed to stop using all of them? The git usage is not to 
do with
master/slave relationship anyway.

See https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/master, for example:-

* "In Casablanca, I am the master of my own fate."
* "She is a master carpenter."
* "He is a master of the violin."
* "The professor is the master of the college."
* "The maid has a master key to all the hotel rooms."

People are enduring slavery all over the world right now - here in the 
UK & USA
as well as elsewhere. Not using the words does not stop it happening.

Well, it's a fait accompli on the Cygwin repos.

</rant>

-- 
Sam Edge