GitGauge 🐱🔎

Instantly detect fake GitHub stars and spot inflated repositories.

GitGauge is a Chrome extension that scores any GitHub repository for authenticity. If you've ever wondered whether a project's star count is real or inflated by bots and star-farming services, GitGauge gives you a clear answer in seconds — right on the page, with no extra tools needed.

Built for developers, recruiters, and open-source enthusiasts who want to know whether a project has genuine traction before they invest time in it.

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The Problem: GitHub Star Farming

GitHub star farming is a growing problem. Services sell fake stars in bulk, making low-quality or abandoned projects look popular. A repository can have 10,000 stars and almost no real users — because bought stars come from bots that never fork the project, never watch it, and never open issues.

Common signs of an inflated repository:

• Thousands of stars, almost no forks
• Zero open issues on a supposedly popular project (issues disabled to hide complaints)
• No watchers despite a high star count
• Stars acquired in a sudden spike with no corresponding activity

GitGauge detects these patterns automatically and gives each repository a score from 1.0 to 5.0.

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✨ Features

• Authenticity Scoring: Calculates a GitGauge Score (1.0 to 5.0) based on the ratio of stars, forks, watchers, and active issues — the metrics bots can't fake.
• Smart Overviews: Automatically surfaces the repository's official description so you understand what the project does without reading through badge walls.
• Context Menu Integration: Right-click any GitHub link anywhere on the web to scan the repository without ever opening the page.
• Premium Dark Mode UI: Built with an Apple-inspired glassy dark mode interface that matches GitHub's native styling.
• Zero Dependencies: Powered entirely by the native GitHub REST API. No middlemen, no external scraping, zero tracking.
• Claude Code Skill: Automatically scores any GitHub repo that appears in your AI conversations — same algorithm, works passively without typing a command.

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🧠 How It Works: The Authenticity Score

GitGauge uses a weighted algorithm to score repositories from 1.0 (Likely Fake) to 5.0 (Highly Authentic). Rather than trusting raw star counts, it analyzes the engagement patterns that bots can't replicate:

1. Fork-to-Star Ratio: Real developers fork projects to use or contribute to them. A repository with 5,000 stars but only 5 forks is a strong signal of fake star activity. GitGauge rewards healthy fork ratios (typically 10–20%).

2. Watcher Engagement: Bots star repositories, but they rarely watch them for update notifications. The subscriber-to-star ratio is one of the clearest indicators of genuine human interest.

3. Issue Activity: Real open-source projects attract bug reports and feature requests. A repo with 10,000 stars and zero open issues almost always has issues disabled — a common tactic to hide the absence of real users.

Score labels:

Score	Verdict
4.5 – 5.0	✅ Highly Authentic
3.5 – 4.4	🟢 Likely Authentic
2.5 – 3.4	🟡 Mixed Signals
1.5 – 2.4	🟠 Suspicious
1.0 – 1.4	🔴 Likely Fake

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🚀 Installation

Option 1: Chrome Web Store (Recommended)

1. Visit the GitGauge Chrome Web Store page.
2. Click Add to Chrome.
3. Pin the extension to your toolbar for easy access.

Option 2: Developer Installation (Manual)

1. Clone this repository:

   git clone https://github.com/Davey2Waveyy/gitgauge.git

2. Open Chrome and navigate to chrome://extensions/.
3. Enable Developer mode in the top right corner.
4. Click Load unpacked and select the cloned gitgauge folder.

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🤖 Claude Code Skill

GitGauge includes a companion skill for Claude Code. Once installed, Claude automatically scores any GitHub repo URL that appears in your conversation — before engaging with it.

You: "Can you review this library? https://github.com/someuser/somerepo"
Claude: GitGauge: 🟠 1.9/5.0 — Suspicious
        ⚠️ Low engagement relative to star count...
        [then proceeds with your request]

Install:

1. Create the skills directory if it doesn't exist:

   mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/gitgauge/scripts

2. Copy the skill files from this repo:

   cp skill/SKILL.md ~/.claude/skills/gitgauge/SKILL.md
   cp skill/scripts/score.py ~/.claude/skills/gitgauge/scripts/score.py

3. Done — Claude will auto-score GitHub repos in any conversation.

Run /gitgauge owner/repo for a full breakdown with sub-scores and flags.

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🛂 Permissions

GitGauge requests the minimum permissions needed to do its job:

Permission	Reason
activeTab	Read the current tab's URL when you click the toolbar icon.
scripting	Inject the floating overlay when you right-click a GitHub link.
contextMenus	Add the "Scan with GitGauge" right-click menu.
storage	Remember locally that you finished the onboarding tour.
host_permissions	Access api.github.com to read public repo stats. No other origins are touched.

See PRIVACY.md for the full privacy policy.

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🔒 Privacy & Security

GitGauge respects your privacy.

• No Tracking: We do not track your browsing history or collect personal data.
• API Usage: All data is fetched directly from the public GitHub REST API.
• Local Storage: Your onboarding preferences are saved securely and locally on your device (chrome.storage.local).

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☕ Support the Project

If GitGauge has helped you spot a fake repo or saved you time, consider supporting development:

• Buy me a coffee
• Connect on LinkedIn

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📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License — see the LICENSE file for details.