We're hosting Hackcon III at our San Francisco office on July 18th and 19th.

Hackcon is the place to be for student hackathon organizers. The event is run by our friends at Major League Hacking and will bring together 150 student leaders for two days of talks and workshops. Participants will share experience and best practices in everything from starting a campus group to producing large scale campus events.

If you lead a student hacker community at your university, we'd love to see you at Hackcon. You can find more information about the event and pre-register at hackcon.io. You can also check out the videos from Hackcon I and Hackcon II on YouTube.

CodeConf is next week, and I couldn't be more excited to bring the open source community together to exchange ideas and have some fun in Nashville. There are a few updates I'd like to share:

• On June 24, the day before the conference, we'll be hosting a meet & greet for attendees who would like to register early. This event is free and open to the public, so if you aren't attending CodeConf but live in the Nashville area and would like to stop by, grab a ticket here. We'll be congregating on the second floor of Acme Feed & Seed downtown beginning at 5:30pm

• The workshop schedule has been updated, and I have opened up more space in each session for those interested. If you'd like to snag one of the newly available tickets, go for it!

There's still time to grab a CodeConf ticket. Take a look at the website for the full schedule of sessions, workshops, and sponsors. I hope to see you in Nashville.

CodeConf is coming June 25 & 26 to Nashville and will feature the best that the open source community has to offer.

We're excited to share that there will be several talks about the Atom ecosystem presented for your enjoyment and edification, kicked off by GitHub CEO Chris Wanstrath. Speakers will include:

• @bolinfest talking about Nuclide
• @lee-dohm talking about the Atom community
• @paulcbetts talking about Slack and Electron

We will also be hosting an Atom workshop led by Nathan Sobo, and a lounge where you will be able to meet with the core team and hack on Atom together.

Grab your CodeConf and workshop tickets now and we'll see you there in Nashville!

When a diverse set of presenters and participants comes together for a conference, everyone benefits from the variety of experiences, perspectives and voices in the room. We realize, however, that ticket costs can sometimes be prohibitive for individuals from underrepresented groups. That's why we've partnered with six fantastic organizations to distribute CodeConf tickets to their members. Each one has a mission to connect, support and/or educate people from backgrounds underrepresented in tech. This will help us build a diverse audience and a great experience for everyone.

Our partner groups have shared a little more about their work and upcoming projects, as well as details of how they're distributing their CodeConf tickets. Read on to get inspired, involved, and potentially grab a ticket for yourself, and remember too that you can help on a personal level by choosing to purchase the "scholarship" ticket option on the registration page.

Black Girls CODE

Black Girls CODE is an international non-profit that empowers young women of color to enter the tech space as builders and creators by introducing them to coding and technology. www.blackgirlscode.org

Upcoming events:

• June 19th - 21st: All Girls Hackathon, Oakland
• June 20th: Oracle Academy's Greenfoot brought to you by Black Girls CODE, Memphis
• June 20th: Introduction to Javascript Workshop, New York
• July 24th-26th: All Girls Hackathon, New York
• July: 1 week summer camps, Raleigh, NC and Washington D.C.
• August: 1 week summer camps, Bay Area and New York

Ticket Details: We will be distributing our tickets directly to the Black Girls CODE network.

Coding While Black

Coding While Black is headquartered in Chicago; our focus is code education, professional development, and entrepreneurship. We welcome blacks in technology from around the globe to become active members of a growing community that supports, encourages, and connects black technology professionals. Members can post articles, share events, find other black technology professionals to connect with, and enjoy community features. www.codingwhileblack.com

Ticket details: Coding While Black is excited to partner in promoting CodeConf to a diverse audience. We will be distributing the tickets by sharing them with members who have volunteered with us and/or have been active participants in our community.

Girl Geek Dinner Nashville

The Nashville chapter of Girl Geek Dinner was founded with the goal to encourage and inspire Nashville’s young women and girls to pursue technology careers. Girl Geek Dinners have grown into an international movement. The ask is simple to sponsors — buy dinner and drinks for girl geeks, invite speakers and encourage networking amongst the girl geeks. www.ggdnashville.com

Upcoming events:

• June 5th: Eventbrite is hosting our next Girl Geek Dinner where they are flying in 3 Software Engineers and a Product Manager to Nashville to give lighting tech talks.

• Third Thursday of every month: Code & Pinot night is a great opportunity for beginner programmers to come out and get a taste of what programming is like. Bring your favorite wine and learn to code! Food provided.

Ticket details: We plan to distribute the tickets to our Girl Geeks through a coding contest and drawing. Coding contest: the first to give the correct answer will get a ticket. Drawing: we will randomly select a winner from contest entries.

Lesbians Who Tech

Lesbians Who Tech is a global community of 9,000 queer women in tech. It exists to provide value to queer women in tech, a demographic that is rarely represented in both the tech community and the LGBTQ community. We've hosted events in 22 cities worldwide and focus on connecting our community, increasing visibility and increasing women in tech and leadership positions. www.lesbianswhotech.org

Upcoming events:

• August 27th-30th: Lesbians Who Tech (and allies) European Summit, Berlin
• October 1st-4th: Tech & Innovation Summit, NYC

Ticket details: We'll be offering the tickets through Lesbians Who Tech chapters in the Midwest

Rails Girls Atlanta

Rails Girls Atlanta is an encouraging place for women to take the plunge into learning to code. We host monthly meetups and socials where dev-minded ladies can ask questions, learn from others, and get the support they need to be successful. www.meetup.com/Rails-Girls-Atlanta

Upcoming events:

• June 1st: All the Nerdy Ladies Social at Joystick. No agenda, just a time to visit and catch up with other nerdy lady types.

Ticket details: We’re planning to raffle off the tickets at our May meetup.

Trans*H4CK

Trans*H4CK is a hackathon and speaker series that tackles social problems by developing new and useful open source tech products that benefit the trans and gender non-conforming communities, while bringing visibility to transgender tech innovators and entrepreneurs.

We are planning to launch an online hackathon space this year--stay tuned! http://www.transhack.org

Ticket details: We will be distributing our CodeConf tickets through the Trans*H4CK network.

CodeConf 2015 will take place in Nashville on June 25 and 26. Ariel Waldman is one of many incredible speakers that will take the stage at the Bell Tower to share her expertise. We asked her some questions about her experiences at NASA, her vision for the future, and more. Check out her answers below!

Q: Why is collaboration important to you, and how do you think it can further scientific exploration and discovery?

A: To me, multidisciplinary collaboration is at the heart of furthering scientific exploration and discovery. In my work, I especially focus on unusual collaborations between people from different backgrounds. By having a fresh set of eyes from those who solve problems across a wide range of industries, new concepts emerge and go on to influence scientific processes, communication and discoveries in unexpected ways. Science doesn't require serendipity, but I'd argue it's significantly disadvantaged without it.

Q: You spoke at the very first CodeConf in 2011, and we’re excited to have you back since you’ve been doing so much exciting stuff in the meantime. What was your experience of CodeConf 2011, and what are you looking forward to seeing at CodeConf 2015?

A: CodeConf was fantastic. The community was so excited to have a wide range of topics at a "code" conference and I think it really helped open everyone up to new opportunities and aspirations. I think what made CodeConf 2011, and what will make CodeConf 2015, so special was the unexpected connections people end up drawing and a broadening of how big the universe to play in is.

Q: GitHub had the pleasure of hosting Science Hack Day in 2014, and we’ll do so again this year. What is the purpose of Science Hack Day, and what were some of the most exciting projects to come out of that event?

A: The mission of Science Hack Day is to get excited and make things with science! Science Hack Day is a 2-day-all-night event where anyone excited about making weird, silly or serious things with science comes together in the same physical space to see what they can prototype within 24 consecutive hours. Designers, developers, scientists and anyone who is excited about making things with science are welcome to attend – no experience in science or hacking is necessary, just an insatiable curiosity.

One of the projects I loved that came out of the Science Hack Day SF at GitHub last year was an interactive planetarium where you could explore the distance between stars, planets and constellations using your hands via a Kinect. I loved the idea of making a planetarium more physical. Because the code was made open source on GitHub, the project was then hacked on further and installed as a temporary exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC, where school kids, families and even an astronaut got to try it out!

Q: Tell us about NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC). How can we participate in and contribute to the vision of this project?

A: NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) is arguably the coolest program at NASA - they fund and nurture all the radical, sci-fi-esque ideas that could one day transform future space missions. Submarines on Titan, human hibernation to Mars, comet hitchhiking space probes, you name it. Some utilize computer science and computer vision techniques – one project analyzes light versus dark areas on the Moon so that a lunar rover could navigate staying in continuous sunlight, thus able to be more efficient by having continuous solar power. The cool thing about NIAC is that they accept proposals from anyone every year around October, so if you have a credible idea you'd like to do further research and prototyping on that could transform a future space mission, you can apply!

Follow Ariel on Twitter for more updates on all of her projects, and grab your CodeConf ticket now! We can't wait to see you in Nashville next month.

We thought you'd like a preview of what we have in store for CodeConf 2015 in June before discounted ticket sales end on May 25th. We're beyond excited to be welcoming speakers from all over the globe and from companies and organizations of all sizes, who work on every facet of open source technology and represent many different parts of the community. Here's a sneak peak at some of the excellent speakers who will be presenting at CodeConf this year:

• Eric Levine of Airbnb
• Casey Rosenthal of Netflix
• Christine Abernathy of Facebook
• Corinne Warnshuis of Girl Develop It

This is just a sampling of the amazing line-up. Check out the full preview over at the CodeConf site.

But wait there's more!

• Reserve a spot in one of our hands-on workshops led by expert trainers. Space is limited, so register early.
• Join us the evening before the conference to enjoy the company of the Nashville open source community and grab your badge early. You won't want to miss the food from legendary Hattie B's.
• Register for a discounted room at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. Shuttles will depart at convenient intervals so you can easily get to and from the conference. By booking a room at the Opryland instead of a downtown hotel, you save about $100.
• There are still a few sponsorship opportunities left, including our scholarship program. Check out the prospectus and drop us a line at events@github.com.
• Find more details about everything we have in store for you on the new codeconf.com.

Lastly, we'd like to thank everyone who took the time to send us their ideas. We were overwhelmed by the quality and creativity of the 300+ proposals submitted. You are the heart of CodeConf.

Ticket prices go up to $399 on May 25th and we can't wait to see you in Nashville, so what are you waiting for?

On April 8-9, Git Merge returned to Europe, this time to La Gaite Lyrique in Paris. Over 200 people attended to celebrate ten years of Git, and with your help we raised over $15,000 in ticket sales, which was then donated entirely to the Software Freedom Conservancy.

Head over to git-merge.com to check out recorded sessions from expert speakers representing Google, Microsoft, SAP, Twitter, GitHub, Atlassian, and Amazon. These excellent talks focus on how teams use Git, as well as the implementation challenges of large Git deployments.

Thanks to everyone who attended! Make sure to follow @github on Twitter for announcements about Git Merge 2016.

CodeConf 2015, GitHub's premiere open source event, will take place on June 25-26 in Tennessee. We hope you'll join us for what is sure to be a special community experience at the Bell Tower, in the heart of downtown Nashville.

We're pleased to announce that CodeConf is accepting proposals for talks beginning today. For guidelines around submissions, please take a look at the detailed form. The call for proposals ends May 10th at 11:59pm PDT.

CodeConf is dedicated to amplifying new voices from the amazing open source community. We will feature thoughtful and compelling sessions that will leave all attendees thinking differently about the open source ecosystem. We will also be celebrating the unique American city of Nashville by featuring local cuisine and artists throughout the conference. CodeConf will culminate in a party at the historic Country Music Hall of Fame, only a few blocks away from the Bell Tower.

Get your early bird ticket now!. On May 25, ticket sales will increase by $100. Follow @codeconf on Twitter for regular updates on content, training sessions, and more.

Come with an open mind, and leave a better contributor.

Next week, we'll converge in Paris to celebrate 10 years of Git. Thank you for helping us raise funds that benefit the Software Freedom Conservancy.

We look forward to hanging out in the beautiful La Gaîté Lyrique on April 8-9. We've got Git experts from across the industry coming to discuss the future of Git with you.

If you haven't already, check out the complete speaker lineup and schedule, featuring speakers from Google, Twitter, Atlassian, Microsoft and more. The conferenced will be hosted by GitHub's own Scott Chacon.

On Thursday night we'll gather at the stunning La Cartonnerie to wish Git a happy tenth birthday with cocktails, snacks and entertainment.

There are only a few tickets left, so if you'd like to register, now is the time.

This Summer, CodeConf will return for the first time since 2011.

Join us in downtown Nashville on June 25 & 26 for the third installment of the CodeConf series, where the community will come together to continue the conversation around open source, best practices, documentation, and collaboration at a two-day, single-track conference at the beautiful Bell Tower.

Come to CodeConf to hear new talks from thought-provoking speakers, connect with the open source community, and to participate in workshops with expert instructors. Hear all the latest from GitHub and open source project maintainers, and enjoy local food and music with developers from all over the world.

Come with an open mind, leave a better programmer.

Check out the website to sign up for updates, and follow along with @codeconf on Twitter.

The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is just a couple of weeks away, and we're giving away 20 expo passes so you can get in on the fun!

In addition to the expo itself, these passes give you access to all the gaming goodness you can handle, including the Game Career Seminar, the Independent Games Festival, and the Game Developers Choice Awards. For more information, please see the GDC passes page.

If you'd like to enter the contest, simply fill out the following short form and tell us about your favorite gamedev-related GitHub repository before Tuesday February 24th 11pm PST. GitHub employees will pick their favorite 20 submissions, and the winners will be contacted via email the following day. All winners will be responsible for their own accommodation and transportation.

Photo credit: Official GDC, CC BY 2.0

Don't forget to swing by the GitHub booth and say hi if you're there!

Git Merge 2015 is heading to Paris April 8-9, and tickets are now on sale! Join us at the beautiful La Gaîté Lyrique for two days of Git festivities.

Tickets are $99 USD, and all proceeds will be donated to the Software Freedom Conservancy. Check out the schedule breakdown below:

April 8th: The Warm Up

On Wednesday, we've lined two options for you to choose from:

If you're looking for some serious skills, sign up for advanced Git training from 11am-3pm. Become a Git expert as you learn from some of the best trainers in the world in a casual workshop setting.

If you're looking for an adventure, join your fellow Git Merge attendees for guided tours of Paris, specially curated for you. Explore and enjoy Parisian food and culture before the conference gets underway.

By invitation only, we will also be holding a Git Contributors Summit on Wednesday for contributors and maintainers of core implementations. Email us at events@github.com if you're a Git contributor who would like to attend.

April 9th: The Main Event

Registration will open at 9am and the main event kicks off at 10am. We've assembled a group of speakers doing amazing things with Git, like:

• Junio Hamano, Google
• Rick Olson, GitHub
• Angelos Evripiotis, Bloomberg
• Emma Jane Hogbin Westby, author of Git for Teams
• John Garcia, Atlassian
• Dirk Lehmann, SAP
• Wilhelm Bierbaum, Twitter
• Edward Thomson, Microsoft

There will also be plenty of opportunities to discuss, learn, and collaborate on the future of Git with everyone in attendance. And of course we'll wrap up the evening with a Git birthday party that you won't want to miss.

We hope you'll join us in Paris to celebrate 10 years of Git and the future of things to come. Check out the full site for more details, and to purchase your ticket.

GitHub is planning a conference like we've never planned before. Get ready for GitHub Universe – part festival, part conference, all for anyone who cares about making great software. From independent developers to large teams, open source to commercial apps and services: we're bringing together every part of the community to discuss how to design, build, and ship software.

Join us and over a thousand GitHub fans for two days of amazing community, industry-leading speakers, in-depth training, immersive activities, and the latest GitHub announcements.

Mark your calendar!

• When: October 1-2, 2015
• Where: Pier 70, San Francisco, CA

Stay in the know!

Between now and October, we'll be rolling out updates here on the GitHub blog and over on the GitHub Universe conference website. You can also sign up to get updates about the conference, including notifications when tickets go on sale and ongoing news about speakers and activities.

Git will be 10 years old in April, and we're bringing back Git Merge to celebrate. Mark your calendars for April 8-9th to be a part of the only Git user conference of its kind.

Hosted at the La Gaîté lyrique in Paris' 3rd arrondissement, Git Merge will feature with sessions on using Git, scaling Git, and developing on Git from core Git maintainers.

Tickets, session details, and hotel information will be available soon. Follow @github on Twitter for updates, or add your email to the list at git-merge.com and we'll let you know as soon as tickets are on sale.

Et voilà!