> On Mar 10, 2021, at 4:45 PM, David Mertz wrote:
>
> In contrast, the "master" used in version control directly borrows from
> so-called "master/slave network architecture." I saw in this thread one
> implausible argument that it was intended in the sense of "magister." I don't
> believe it, but even if we stipulate that whoever first used the word in
> relation to version control meant that, nearly everyone else who discusses it
> means "master/slave."
I don't think it derives from "master/slave network architecture.”. I think it
derives from the use of “master”
to denote an instance or prototype that is used to create identical copies or
replicas, a usage that predates networking, as in master tape, master print,
and, (perhaps archaically for you :)), mimeograph master.
Irrelevantly, I also think all (almost all?) uses of "master/slave” to describe
network architectures are lazy; there is a better existing description, e.g.
“active/passive”, “polling” etc.
Jonathan
P.S. My preference would be “mainline” over “main”. I like railroad version
diagrams.
___
Python-Dev mailing list -- python-dev@python.org
To unsubscribe send an email to python-dev-le...@python.org
https://mail.python.org/mailman3/lists/python-dev.python.org/
Message archived at
https://mail.python.org/archives/list/python-dev@python.org/message/DONBBIFH7LESW3D7JSB4IC5Y7GAFSFGQ/
Code of Conduct: http://python.org/psf/codeofconduct/