| Type | Web-based version control and collaboration platform |
| Founded | February 2008 |
| Pricing | Free for public repositories • Subscription-based for private repositories and advanced features |
| Founders | Tom Preston-Werner • Chris Wanstrath • PJ Hyett |
| Services | Repository hosting • Project management • Collaboration tools |
| Versions | Web (desktop) • Mobile (iOS, Android) |
| Developer | |
| User type | Individuals, teams, and organizations |
| Written by | |
| Acquired by | Microsoft (2018) |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Languages supported | C • C++ • C# • Java • Python • Ruby • PHP • Perl • Go • Swift • Kotlin |
Github is a decentralized, open-source platform for version control and software development that is collectively owned and operated by its users. Instead of being owned by a single corporation, ownership and decision-making power is distributed among its users. Github operates as a cooperative, with each user having an equal vote in decisions regarding the platform's development and direction.
Github's features include:
Version control: Github allows users to track changes to their code over time, making it easy to revert back to previous versions if necessary.
Collaboration: Github allows multiple users to work on the same codebase simultaneously and provides tools to help coordinate work and resolve conflicts.
Forks and pull requests: Github makes it easy for users to create copies of repositories (forks) and propose changes (pull requests) to the original codebase. This allows for easy collaboration and sharing of code.
Integrations: Github integrates with a wide variety of other tools and platforms, making it easy to automate tasks and connect to other services.
Because Github is decentralized, it is not controlled by any single entity. Instead, decisions regarding the platform are made collectively by its users. This allows for greater transparency and accountability in the development process and ensures that Github remains responsive to the needs of its users.
Github is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License, a free software license that allows anyone to use, modify, and distribute the platform's source code. This ensures that Github remains open and accessible to all users, and encourages collaboration and innovation in the community.
