[reificator]

Have I been working in a bubble?

I'll give a coworker a hard time for making large infrequent commits, but I've never seen someone afraid to commit code. This sounds like the value proposition for version control hasn't really clicked for them.

Are they comfortable branching?

[chrisandchris]

I think it‘s less about version control and more about that the change is then associated with the employees name and if something ever goes wrong, it would be possible (easy?) to blame him therefore he‘s being scared about doing something because it could cause trouble for him somewhen in the future.

And, imho, that goes back to not enough testing nd no safety nets to check for code errors (like code review, static analysis, ...).

[reificator]

Clearly I am living in a bubble, because I cannot imagine working somewhere where I would rather be seen doing literally nothing than to do the exact thing I was hired for.

[sgtnoodle]

By commit, I think the intended meaning is "put on a path that will ultimately affect production".

For my current project, merging bad code typically means breaking a bunch of regression test suites for any coworkers that cut their branches at the wrong time. In more nefarious outcomes, it means a delayed software version release and, potentially, damaged UAV hardware at our test site.

For my previous project, merging bad code could have resulted in someone losing control of a fully drive by wire car in a closed parking lot or test track. That's what big red buttons are for!

For my project before that, some of my code was involved in handling literally every single sensor and actuator on a rocket and the space capsule on top of it. A subtle bug that slipped through to production could have been rather serious indeed.

[reificator]

If individuals are fearing the repercussions from doing their jobs on a safety critical system like that, then the process has already failed.

Your process needs to be so bulletproof that everyone involved feels absolutely sure that a defect will be caught. If there's any doubt in their minds then that part of the chain needs to be addressed and corrected.

I'm not saying that people shouldn't take it seriously or should get sloppy, but if you're worried that making a commit could end in disaster then you're moving too fast.

[NotAnAccountNO]

What do you consider to be large and infrequent? I see so many micro-commits that I start to wonder if some competition is going on...