The consternation seen in some corners of the internet over Microsoft’s agreement to acquire GitHub is overblown and too early.
For those who don’t follow me normally, I am a developer for Windows, Android and Linux. I am also a user of both GitHub and BitBucket. While I am an advocate, I am more of an IT productivity/tools advocate than a pro/con MS advocate. So pretty much, I am IT. I’ve worked in pretty much every IT environment from developing embedded devices to cell phones to apps for smartphones to a raft of enterprises from financials to utilities.
Until we know what Microsoft intends with GitHub, it makes no sense to go crazy with plans to migrate away from the platform.
Oh, I could draw up plans to move my company’s GitHub repositories to BitBucket (or GitLab, or wherever), but honestly at this point there is no reason to do so. We (all of IT) have a limited amount of time available, and is migration away from GitHub the best use of that time?
I argue that at this point, it absolutely is not.
Stop. Breathe.
There are things Microsoft could do that would make my company want to move away from GitHub. I do not expect that any of those things will happen. Or if they do happen, it is because they were going to happen anyway.
Remember, early rumors of this merger started with, “They were working on joint marketing, and GitHub let slip they needed a cash infusion …” needed a cash infusion. That means something at GitHub needed to change regardless of ownership. You don’t go as long and get as large as it has and need a cash infusion, if you’re doing things right. So change was likely coming, regardless of ownership.
But until we see what Microsoft has planned, expending energy either complaining about it or planning to move away seems like a bad use of your time. As long as git pull still works, and the terms of service haven’t changed, it is much ado about nothing.
Stay focused on your customers, and keep a wary eye on developments with regards to all of your back-end tools, but don’t waste energy in potentially unnecessary or fruitless exercises. Think about it, and if it becomes necessary, we can all make careful, planned moves when it’s clear that is the proper course.