Change Git's Default Branch From Master

#blacklivesmatter #git #showdev

Scott covered this nicely with links to topics that show how master originated from BitKeeper. There is evidence to strongly suggest it does pertain to the outdated, oppressive and perverse master/slave metaphor, rather than master-copy.

Edited 17th October 2020 (a bit late, I know!), Git now lets you set a default branch for init, and GitHub now defaults to main.

But if you have an older repository, some of these steps remain relevant.

So, here are the steps I followed:

Move Master to Main



  
  
  maintain refs


git branch --move master main

  
  
  push to remote


git push -u origin main

Change the Default on Remote

Now depending on your remote tool, this might differ.

GitHub

Assuming you've pushed main from the steps above.
Go to your Settings
Go to the Branches section
Change "Default branch" from master to main

GitLab

Assuming you've pushed main from the steps above.
Go to your Settings
Go to the Repository section
Change "Default Branch" from master to main

BitBucket

Assuming you've pushed main from the steps above.
Go to your Repository settings
Go to the Repository details section
Change "Main branch" from master to main

then...

Go to the Branching model section
Change "Development branch" from master to main

Git Now Lets You Name a Default Branch

~~Git Init Doesn't Let You Name a Default Branch~~

Edited 17th October 2020 Since git 2.28, you've been able to change your default branch using built-in git features.



git config --global init.defaultBranch main

Summary

Sort of past the point about caring which side you fall on here. The evidence is there. Be your own teacher, make the world a better place.

Top comments (4)

Michael Friedrich • Jul 27 '20

git 2.28 now allows to set a default branch name: git config --global init.defaultBranch main :)

lwn.net/Articles/827174/
The name of the primary branch in existing repositories, and the
default name used for the first branch in newly created
repositories, is made configurable, so that we can eventually wean
ourselves off of the hardcoded 'master'.