xkcd.WTF!?

Explanation ➲

This comic refers to the Git source code revision control software, which saves earlier versions of files and folders for later access into a special repository. This comes in handy when you want to try out whether an idea works (branching). Further, you can collaborate with others by use of remote repositories. Perhaps most importantly, it allows members of the development team to find key changes in the history, later. Git has been discussed in 1597: Git as well.

A commit is a saved version in a Git repository; a commit comes with a message that is supposed to describe what the commit contains, similar to the edit summaries used on MediaWiki sites such as explain xkcd and on this explanation. Randall, however, finds himself losing interest in the commit messages the more code he writes and winds up just using placeholder text or jokes to himself. Presumably, this is because his separate commits are part of a large effort that can't be effectively summarized, and where there's no particular urgent need to differentiate the commits. Seeing as in this context 12 hours of coding can be considered "dragging on," it's safe to assume that the kinds of commits Randall is talking about are not for some major in-production project, nor for something that a lot of other people are working on. In both of those cases, one would be much more likely to use descriptive commit messages, since you want to flag things that are important, either from a technical standpoint (e.g. "fix the thing that's making the site not work") or for the benefit of others who want to know which commits they should be paying attention to.

The phrase "Merge branch 'asdfasjkfdlas/alkdjf' into sdkjfls-final" mimics the phrasing used by Git. A branch is a specific sequence of commits which can be made in parallel to other branches of development, and later merged. Here, we see that Randall has also gotten lazy with his branch names: "branch 'asdfasjkfdlas/alkdjf'" might be the series of two commits starting with "here have code". "sdkjfls-final" could be the branch indicated by the vertical string of circles on the left, into which the other more branch is merged in commit "adkfjslkdfjsdklfj".

Most git tools show the commit history with the most recent commits first, so showing the oldest first like this would require something like the --reverse option.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the comments along with their respective timestamps:

1. 1. 1. Main Branch Activities

1. **Created Main Loop & Timing Control**

  - **Date:** 14 hours ago  
  - **Details:** Implemented the primary loop structure for the application, which includes timing control to manage the execution flow and ensure that tasks are performed at the correct intervals.

2. **Enabled Config File Parsing**

  - **Date:** 9 hours ago  
  - **Details:** Added functionality to read and parse configuration files, allowing for dynamic configuration of application settings without hardcoding values.

3. **Misc Bugfixes**

  - **Date:** 5 hours ago  
  - **Details:** Addressed various minor bugs that were identified during testing, improving overall stability and performance.

4. **Code Additions/Edits**

  - **Date:** 4 hours ago  
  - **Details:** Made several additions and edits to the codebase, likely enhancing features or fixing issues that were previously identified.

5. **More Code**

  - **Date:** 4 hours ago  
  - **Details:** Further code development, possibly adding new features or expanding existing functionality.

6. **Adkfjslkdfjsdklfj**

  - **Date:** 3 hours ago  
  - **Details:** This comment appears to be a placeholder or a test entry, lacking meaningful context.

7. **My Hands Are Typing Words**

  - **Date:** 2 hours ago  
  - **Details:** A light-hearted comment, possibly indicating a moment of frustration or humor during coding.

8. **Haaaaaaaands**

  - **Date:** 2 hours ago  
  - **Details:** Another informal comment, likely expressing a similar sentiment as the previous entry, possibly related to fatigue or the coding process.

1. 1. 1. Branch Activities

1. **Here Have Code**

  - **Date:** 4 hours ago  
  - **Details:** A casual comment indicating that code has been shared or pushed to the branch, possibly for review or collaboration.

2. **Aaaaaaaa**

  - **Date:** 3 hours ago  
  - **Details:** Similar to the previous informal comments, this entry lacks context and may reflect a moment of exasperation or a playful expression.

1. 1. 1. Summary

The log reflects a mix of serious development work, including the creation of core functionalities and bug fixes, alongside informal comments that suggest a relaxed or humorous atmosphere during the coding process. The presence of both structured and casual comments indicates a collaborative environment where developers feel comfortable expressing themselves.