What is GitHub?
What is GitHub?
GitHub is a hosting platform for software development projects that use Git.
What is Git?
Git is version-control software typically used tracking changes in source code development. Git was originally authored by Linus Tovalds. It takes its name from British slang for an unpleasant person.
What about Microsoft?
Microsoft acquired GitHub in 2018 for $7.5 billion. GitHub offers plans free of charge and enterprise accounts. Free GitHub accounts are commonly used to host open source projects. As of January 2020, GitHub reported having more than 40 million users making it the largest host of source code in the world.
So?
This connects really well with Microsoft’s strategy of engaging with developers early in projects and serves as a feeder to many of their other products, especially their cloud offering. And as a market making strategy, it has implications for many other industries beyond software development. Perhaps similar to agile work practices.
What is that weird cat thingy?
It is GitHub’s mascot, Octocat. It was designed by British graphic designer Simon Oxley, who is also the hand behind the Twitter bird and the Bitly pufferfish. But it appears to have only five arms/legs. Wouldn’t that make it a Pentacat?
