Continuing the series[1] on the various ways one can learn about the technical aspects of Bitcoin, in this article we will focus on good first issues in the Bitcoin Core GitHub repository.
Bitcoin Core is widely recognized as the reference implementation for Bitcoin. Although the name “Bitcoin Core” wasn’t used until 2013[2], the client itself can trace its roots right back to the very first release by Satoshi Nakomoto in 2009. Other Bitcoin implementations like libbitcoin (C++), bcoin (Javascript) and btcd (Go) were created later.
Get to Know GitHub
Bitcoin Core is an open-source project. The code and documentation can be viewed and downloaded by anyone with an internet connection. Bitcoin Core (and many other software projects) use the open-source and nonproprietary Git version control system for tracking changes in the codebase across distributed contributors.
Git was developed by the creator of the Linux kernel, Linus Torvalds. In contrast, GitHub (recently acquired by Microsoft) provides proprietary software which offers convenient tools and social features around the Git protocol. Bitcoin Core is not dependent on GitHub for its ongoing survival though it would be inconvenient and disruptive if the project was suddenly moved or prevented from using GitHub software in the future.
During the time of Microsoft’s acquisition of GitHub, there was discussion[3] in the Bitcoin community and on other open-source projects as to whether they should transition away from any future reliance on GitHub. This view is becoming more popular as greater numbers of contributors and potential contributors are being banned[4] from using GitHub software. There is also the possibility that Microsoft could make the first move and ban entire projects[5] if they are perceived as politically controversial. Time will tell if Bitcoin Core and
