Rename "master" branch to "dev" ?

[Loïc BARTOLETTI]

Hello,

I'm -0.5.

If we have to change the branch name, it should be "main". This has been
done elsewhere e.g. GRASS or GEOS for OSGeo, but also in many others
open source projects.
For me "dev" does not have exactly the same meaning as "main" or
"master", in the sense that it's a collection of developments and is
therefore less stable than "main" (or "master").

Loïc

On 28/11/2025 20:46, Sandro Santilli wrote:
>In IRC/Matrix we got back to discuss branch naming, due to
>CI still having traces of "main" which has been an alias at some point [1]
>
>As the last attempt at getting rid of the "master" name was stuck [2]
>due to Regina wanting to see other projects make the strong-move
>before bothering [3] and given today nobody would really be using "master"
>anymore while some of us use different names (I use "main" locally, Darafei
>still uses "svn-trunk" for his admission, dunno others), I thought I'd re-start
>a thread about branch renaming with a new proposal, which is now even SHORTER !
>
>How would you like "dev" for the main development branch ?  It'd be:
>  - 1 letter shorter than "main"
>  - 3 letters shorter than "master"
>  - very cool ! 😎
>  - clear
>  - uncrowded, so nobody feels the need to run the other way
>
>[1] https://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/postgis-devel/2021-January/028778.html
>[2] https://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/postgis-devel/2021-June/028983.html
>[3] https://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/postgis-devel/2021-January/028781.html
>
>So, what do you think ? Can we turn more plusses than minuses ?
>
>--strk;
>
>
>
>On Wed, Jan 13, 2021 at 05:38:06PM -0500, Regina Obe wrote:
>> > On Thu, Jan 14, 2021 at 01:18:20AM +0300, Darafei "Kom?pa" Praliaskouski
>> > wrote:
>> > > Hey, the point of the thing is not to add a thing called "main" but to
>> > > get rid ot the thing called "master" which your plan fails to
>> > > accomplish. If we go there, go all-in.
>> >
>> > I know what's the plan, but "go all-in" takes time.
>> > I'm just offering a way to keep things working in the meanwhile.
>> >
>> > --strk;
>>
>> I'm a -0 for any change at all.
>> But if we are forced into this change I do like the idea of having a soft - main launch over a no-turning back main.
>>
>> I'd like to see other projects make the strong-move before we bother.
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Regina
>>
>>
>>
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>
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>
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