# GitHub

> hosting service for software projects using Git

**Wikidata**: [Q364](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q364)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GitHub)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/github

## Summary
GitHub is a web-based hosting service and forge for software projects, primarily used for version control using Git. Founded in 2007 by Tom Preston-Werner, Chris Wanstrath, and P. J. Hyett, it functions as a social networking service and collaboration platform for developers. Headquartered in San Francisco, the platform officially launched on April 10, 2008.

## Key Facts
- **Founders**: Tom Preston-Werner, Chris Wanstrath, and P. J. Hyett.
- **Inception Date**: October 19, 2007.
- **Launch Date**: April 10, 2008.
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, United States.
- **Chief Executive Officers**:
  - Chris Wanstrath (Oct 19, 2007 – Oct 29, 2018).
  - Nat Friedman (Started Oct 29, 2018).
- **Mascot**: Octocat.
- **User Base**: 40 million registered users (as of March 2020).
- **Primary Uses**: Publishing, collaboration, archiving, sharing, and storing code.
- **Platform Type**: Service on Internet, forge, web application, repository hosting service, and social networking service.

## FAQs
### Q: Who are the founders of GitHub?
A: GitHub was founded by Tom Preston-Werner, Chris Wanstrath, and P. J. Hyett. The project was inceptioned on October 19, 2007, and launched publicly in April 2008.

### Q: What is the purpose of GitHub?
A: GitHub is used for publishing, collaboration, archiving, sharing, and storing software projects. It serves as a repository hosting service and a social network for developers.

### Q: Who is the CEO of GitHub?
A: Nat Friedman became the CEO of GitHub on October 29, 2018, succeeding co-founder Chris Wanstrath.

### Q: What is the official mascot for GitHub?
A: The official mascot of GitHub is the Octocat.

## Why It Matters
GitHub is a central pillar in the modern software development ecosystem, serving as the world's leading host for source code. By combining a "forge" (a platform for collaborative software development) with social networking features, it revolutionized how developers interact, share, and archive their work. It allows for the crowdsourcing of projects and serves as a massive data library for open-source and private code.

The platform supports a wide range of functions from simple storing and archiving to complex collaboration across global teams. Its significance is highlighted by its vast user base, which reached 40 million registered users by 2020. Furthermore, its classification as an identity provider and social networking service underscores its role not just as a tool, but as a community hub for the tech industry.

## Notable For
- **Social Coding**: Integrating social networking features directly into a version control hosting service, allowing users to follow people and collaborate on projects.
- **The Octocat**: Utilizing a distinct, widely recognized mascot (Octocat) that serves as the brand's visual identity.
- **Scale of Operations**: Hosting over 40 million users and ranking as one of the most visited websites globally (Alexa rank 77 as of May 2021).
- **Gamification**: Incorporating gamification elements (such as achievements) to recognize stages of a developer's coding journey.
- **Global Accessibility**: Operating worldwide, including the restoration of full availability in regions like Iran as of January 2021.

## Body

### History and Leadership
GitHub was inceptioned on October 19, 2007, and officially launched on April 10, 2008. The company was established by American businessmen and software developers Tom Preston-Werner, Chris Wanstrath, and P. J. Hyett.

Leadership of the company has seen significant transitions. Chris Wanstrath served as CEO from the company's inception until October 29, 2018. He was succeeded by Nat Friedman, an American computer programmer, on that same date.

### Platform and Features
GitHub is an instance of a service on the internet, a web application, and a repository hosting service. It is distinctively classified as a "social networking service" due to features that allow users to follow people and engage in crowdsourced projects.

**Key Utilities**:
- **Collaboration**: Facilitating group work on software projects.
- **Archiving & Storing**: Ensuring long-term accessibility and preservation of code.
- **Publishing & Sharing**: Distributing software and project findings.

**Gamification**:
The platform utilizes gamification, specifically through "Achievements," to recognize and reward the various stages of a developer's coding journey.

### Technical Specifications
GitHub operates globally with its headquarters in San Francisco, United States.

**Technologies Used**:
- **Git Smart HTTP over TLS**: Used for secure data transfer.
- **GitHub Flavored Markdown**: A specific version of the Markdown language used for formatting.
- **jQuery**: Historically, the frontend used jQuery version 1.2.1 starting in 2007, though this was removed in 2018.

**API and Access**:
- GitHub provides a REST API endpoint (`https://api.github.com/`) utilizing JSON.
- It also offers a GraphQL endpoint (`https://api.github.com/graphql`).
- The service is accessible worldwide (operating area) and adheres to open access restrictions.

## References

1. [Data repositories. Open Access Directory](http://oad.simmons.edu/oadwiki/Data_repositories)
2. [Following people](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/exploring-projects-on-github/following-people)
3. [Source](https://marketplace.sshopencloud.eu/tool-or-service/HuuGPE)
4. [Source](https://tapor.ca/tools/1410)
5. [Source](https://gist.github.com/a4b4fac18beb08335919)
6. [Source](http://github.com/blog/679-github-in-your-language)
7. [Source](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/github.com)
8. [Source](https://www.slideshare.net/err/inside-github/28-2007_octoberThe_rst_commit_was)
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. [Source](https://octodex.github.com/faq.html)
11. [Source](https://github.blog/2022-06-09-introducing-achievements-recognizing-the-many-stages-of-a-developers-coding-journey/)
12. [We Launched. GitHub. 2008](https://blog.github.com/2008-04-10-we-launched/)
13. [Source](https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/https://github.com)
14. [Source](https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/github.com)
15. [Source](https://github.co.jp/)
16. [Source](https://github.com/about/)
17. [Source](https://twitter.com/github/status/1070494433752174592)
18. [GitHub Documentation](https://docs.github.com/en)
19. [Source](https://github.blog/2018-09-06-removing-jquery-from-github-frontend/)
20. [Source](https://github.blog/2010-04-22-smart-http-support/)
21. [2021](https://github.blog/2021-01-05-advancing-developer-freedom-github-is-fully-available-in-iran/)
22. [Source](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7c3Kb6jYCRj4JOHHZTxKsQ)
23. [Source](https://ftp.arin.net/pub/resource_registry_service/asns.csv)
24. [Source](https://github.com/)
25. [Source](https://community.hachyderm.io/approved)
26. [GitHub: Overview | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/github/)
27. HAL
28. [GitHub Terms of Service - GitHub Docs](https://docs.github.com/en/site-policy/github-terms/github-terms-of-service)
29. [GitHub Privacy Statement - GitHub Docs](https://docs.github.com/en/site-policy/privacy-policies/github-privacy-statement)
30. FactGrid
31. YouTube API
32. [GitHub Shop | Shop the Pride 2022 Collection](https://thegithubshop.com/)