vcsh with myrepos (mr)

VCSH

Vcsh allows you to maintain multiple git repos in one directory. I use this for having separate git repos for dot config files that live in my home directory.

Setting up a new vcsh git repo for a a dot config file (eg .vimrc)

vcsh init vim

vcsh vim add ~/.vimrc

vcsh vim commit -m "first commit"

vcsh vim remote add origin git@github-personal:polyglotpiglet/vim.git

On github created a new repo called 'vim'

vcsh vim push -u origin master

vcsh vim push

MyRepos (MR)

I have several such vcsh repos. Wouldn't it be nice to bulk pull updates for all these repos? Or bulk check them out? 

With mr you define a ~/.mrconfig file which lists all the repos to manage.

I added the following configuration parameter to my git config:

git config --global push.default matching

This means that 'mr push' works. Mr push does 'git push' on each of the repos and by setting this config param it means that you push to the remote branch with the same name as the local branch by default. 

Contributing to someone else's Github project: Forking and generating pull requests

Recently, I have started to work on an existing open source project in GitHub.

Assumption: you have set up git locally and have an account on Github

Forking someone else's project

Step 1: Forking 

Forking creates a copy of the other person's Github project under your own Github account. To fork, navigate to their Github project page 'https://github.com/TheirUsernameXYZ/ProjectNameABC' and click 'fork' and follow the instructions.

You should automatically be navigated to your new Github page for the repository:

https://github.com/YourName/ProjectNameABC

Step 2: Clone your own fork

You need to create a local copy of your own fork by executing 'git clone <your clone url>' at the command line.

Generating a pull request

Pull requests are used when you make changes to your copy of their repository ie you have made local changes and commit them to git. You generate a pull request to say to the original owner of the project 'Hey, I've made some commits on my copy of your project. Why don't you review these changes and merge them onto your original branch'.

Step 1: Open your project

Navigate to your own project page:

https://github.com/YourName/ProjectNameABC

Step 2: Create a new pull request

Click on 'Pull Requests' and follow the instructions 

\o/ woohoo you have contributed to another project.

The next post details how you keep your fork up to date by merging any commits they make to their original branch.