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Ask HN: Is the GitHub home page distracting you from your work?

18 points by substation13 ↗ HN
As GitHub gets better at showing me interesting projects on the home page, I find myself being less and less productive. I visit github.com to get to the issue tracker or review a PR and 10 minutes later find myself browsing experimental open-source projects.

I suppose GitHub wants to drive "engagement", but is this an anti-feature?

24 comments

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076ae80a-3c97-4
No, I just don't look at it.
siminuk
Hi! GitHub PM here. What would you need to find on the GitHub home page so you use it more often? We're rethinking in how to make it most useful for people and would love your input. Thank you :)
kingkongjaffa
Just set up your bookmark to be pointing at github/your-repo instead of just github home page.
danuker
I have a bookmark to a query showing me all the tickets waiting for my work.

This is distinct from https://github.com/issues/assigned which shows me every project, in that I filter for my work organization with user:<work_organization>.

siminuk
Hi! GitHub PM here :) Would you mind sharing your query? We're looking at revamping the home page and looking to better understand user workflows. You can email me at siminapasat <at> github.com if easiest. TY :)
taubek
I skip that page. Maybe I don't follow enough repos to have some content that would attract me to it.
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corobo
I don't think I've ever looked at the GitHub homepage, I just sort of go directly to the project I want to look at (mine: URL completion, others: search results)

Having looked at it now I don't think there's anything there of use to me, just a bunch of release updates. I guess this is different if you have open source projects issues to triage

siminuk
Hi! GitHub PM here. What would be most useful for you to find on the home page? We're looking at revamping it. If easiest, feel free to follow up via email at siminapasat <at> github.com. Thank you :)
corobo
Honestly it's not so much the page is bad or missing anything, I've just never visited it outside of accidentally deleting the path from the URL or something. If I'm on GitHub I'm probably going to be going to a specific repo rather than browsing around

I'm not sure what would be there that could change this, probably not the right person to help, sorry!

NWoodsman
A lot of space is wasted on the "cards" style scroll design. Which means I rapidly lose interest scrolling at all, I did it once, won't scroll down again.

The header with the "recommended based on people you follow" message is obtuse information i don't need to know. There would be more magic if the algorithm didn't say why this item was chosen for the feed. And the header style wastes space.

Invoking the soul of git is always the most conceptually pure design inspiration. therefore, git-relevant facts are always more effective than social-relevant facts.

// example

<User> in <Repository>: 2 commits: Removed unused code Refactored x function

// example

<Repository> Released <Tag>: Xth release since <LaunchDate>

//example

<User> branched <Repository.MostRecentlyWorkedOnBranch> to a new branch <BranchName>.

//end examples

This would be a dense view of chronologically-relevant feed information that can be digested quickly.

The only other information that i find useful other than standard git data based information is 1. when readme.md is updated, and 2. when media is added to the readme of starred, watched, and algorithm-discovered repos.

When a commit of readme.md occurs, extract the markdown of the commit, render the markdown in a feed post with a link to the repo/readme, so i can read it in context.

sshlocalhost98
Haha same here, I get distracted doing many different projects finishing none at the same time XD
avyjit
You can use UBlock Origin's element blocker to remove the parts that you find distracting. It's super useful on many websites too.
Raed667
No, I only check it when I have some down time. It doesn't feel addictive or flashy in any way/
prepend
I really never go to the GitHub home page. I’ve maybe been to GitHub.com five times in 15 years.

I go directly to projects and I find projects 95% through word of mouth, coworkers, friends, articles and 5% through GitHub search.

But my normal workflow is to go to work repos directly and do my job.

I never go to my “feed” page but it shows every once in a while after I do stuff like transfer repos and it’s just a bunch of meaningless noise.

siminuk
Hi! GitHub PM here! We're looking at rethinking the home page to be most useful to people beyond the feed. How do you remember the repos to go to? Do you also have to go to other primitives on GitHub and if so do you rely on browser history? Would love to hear more about your workflow - if easiest please follow up via email siminapasat <at> github.com. I appreciate your input! Thanks :)
prepend
I typically work in orgs so I either go to the org and search for the repo name. And sometimes I just click on the link in my email to the PR or whatnot. And sometimes I just look at “git remote -v” to see where the repo is.

I don’t use browser history or bookmarks and usually follow the above.

pimlottc
For me, the real distraction is “hot questions” sidebar on Stack Exchange. I’d look up a programming question and end up sidetracked by math problems, Star Trek trivia, travel questions, world building prompts… I had to add a custom rule in uBlock Origin to block them.
francislavoie
I use the notifications page as my home page. Like maybe once a month when I'm bored I'll click through to the home page to see what's going on but I find it rarely useful.
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siminuk
Hi, GitHub PM here! We're looking into revamping the home page and I'm curious what sort of information would it be most useful for you to have at your finger tips! You can also email me at siminapasat <at> github.com if that's easier. Thank you :)