Cinnamon = Linux = OpenSource; why Github? (=Microsoft!)

[gaetan-1960]

I find it somewhat strange that for new feature requests / idea I have to go to Github (Microsoft ownd repositories) to login and implement my ideas.
I would MUCH prefer to be able to do this on a Cinnamon based / owned server as I kinda 'dislike' Microsoft very much!!
Could this be changed (without too much hassle / money)??
I did leave the MS environment to work with opensource, my 'own OS' and find myself again 'using Microsoft platform'.....
Thanks

[Murat-Karakaya]

I believe there isnt much reason to switch to another option when you already started off in github. It just doesn't bring much to the table with a lot of cons. (broken links in other site, blogs, news. Migrating every single repo one by one with all the issues, disscussions & pull requests takes time and resources that could be better spent. Plus, most devs use github so if you put it on gitlab it is possible that the source code would simply get less expousre)

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Edit: My previous answer implied that microsofts acqusition of github somehow resulted in this project using github but that is nonsense. This has not much to do with microsoft. And the linux mint project has probably already moved to github way before github was acquired by microsoft.

[InfoLibre]

GitLab is a good alternative.

[billyswong]

Gitlab sold their Chinese business to China, created a gitlab.cn, then banned everyone in China from participating in projects hosted in gitlab.com. They don't just block access when one is inside China. They detect if you use your Gitlab account when you visit China then kill your account and trash your works.

With such ugly practice, no sane international open source project should host their code there.

[InfoLibre]

Microsoft helped to kill people in Tunisia, at Gaza and certainly in other lands. No sane Open Source project should host their code here.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/wikileaks-microsoft-aided-former-tunisian-regime/
https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2025/05/15/statement-technology-israel-gaza/
Framagit is decentralized, I'm using https://framagit.org/public/projects, it's not Chinese.
Or you can use:

• Forgejo, a fork of Gitea. Forgejo is used by Codeberg. But it isn't free (as in free beer, not as in free speech) and people prefer to use GitLab or GitHub because it's free (as in free beer, not as in free speech), they don't care about ethic.
• Sourceforge, after removing viruses inserted in projects code. Back to the Past.
• Apache Allura.
• Kallithea.
• Launchpad. Back to the Past.

[cplittlfield]

Now that Github has lost its CEO and the Gitlab operation is being merged into Microsoft's AI division, it might indeed be time to look into alternatives.

[GitHubIsToxic]

Microsoft has an enduring bad track record regarding human rights (not just the well publicized corruption and consumer rights issues). The moment MS acquired GitHub I deleted my repos and changed my username in protest and as reminder to remaining users.
Also, MS has pretty much sworn allegiance to the current US presidency, so relying in any way on this corporation, in said country currently going through a fascist takeover...is questionable not only from an ethical perspective, but also from a operating & security POV, especially as Mint is an OS. EU governments are looking more and more into Linux to reduce the dependency on MS, and I've seen UA defense actively use Mint in war rooms and at the front. So this all matters more than you (or Mint devs) probably wish to think about, sadly.

I certainly don't blame Mint devs dragging their feet a little (maintaining an OS is hard enough!). Wherever you go next, enshittification and bad players are always around the corner. I know from personal experience; it's very tiring when you have to migrate between services for big projects/communities when all you want is to develop and iterate. The moment you've settled, after years of tinkering to integrate and fit in, things start sliding off into the deep end, and you have to start it all over, again.

For another project I'm involved in, we've already taken measures (due USA political situation) to be able to switch out an essential service in days, should certain (inevitable) malicious takeover events happen (i.e. when the shit really hits the fan). For now it's just mainly planning and small measures to keep our US-based developers communication safe and secure.

Mint would do well to slowly migrate to safer, neutral grounds, or at the very least, think things through and have some contingency plans in place, just in case.

[pugly-tech]

Microsoft has been largely hands off on Github and not interfering with the repositories, unlike freedesktop which banned a contributor they disagreed with and reversed all of his commits, including security ones.

Generally if you look hard enough you can find a reason to be offended by just about anybody. For example Debian has recently made it very clear what is NOT against their code of conduct when they had a serial SAer speak at debconf despite protests.

[cplittlfield]

Microsoft has been largely hands off on Github and not interfering with the repositories,

Up till now, sure. But moving Github into the AI division makes it look as though they are planning to re-shape Github. I'd take a hard look at any changes Microsoft makes in the Terms and Conditions.