Guides
Guides
11
Each guide covers one job for a public GitHub repository, step by step, with the exact URLs and commands. gitdebt itself needs no account or API key.
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How to add a star history chart to your GitHub README
Paste one snippet to show a repository's full star history in its README, with light and dark versions, date ranges and log scale. No token needed.
How to fix a star history chart that stopped updating
Star history chart frozen since July 2026? Check if it reads GitHub's restricted stargazer list, swap the image in place and clear GitHub's image cache.
How to show light and dark mode images in a GitHub README
Show a different README image in light and dark mode with the picture element or GitHub's mode-only fragments, and test both themes before you push.
How to show contributors in your GitHub README
Add a grid of contributor avatars to your README, each linked to that person's GitHub profile, that updates itself as commit rankings change.
How to add a commit activity graph to a repository README
Embed a 52-week commit calendar or a monthly commit trend for any public repository in its README, in light and dark versions, from one image URL.
How to add an actively maintained badge to your README
Add a README badge that says actively maintained only while recent commits prove it, check whether your repository earns it, and see what greys it out.
How to make a GitHub repository ready for contributors
Add the files a first-time contributor looks for, from CONTRIBUTING.md to a security policy, CI and tests, then check the result with GitHub and gitdebt.
How to add stats to your GitHub profile README
Create a GitHub profile README and add a stats card, top languages, commit activity and pinned repository cards that update themselves. No token needed.
How to count the total stars of a GitHub user or organization
Add up the stars across every public repository of a GitHub user or organization with gh, curl, Python or JavaScript, then chart the total over time.
How to export GitHub star history to CSV or JSON
Download any public repository's daily star history as CSV or JSON, cut it to a date range, and load it in Python or JavaScript. No account or key.
How to get GitHub repository stats as JSON
Read commit cadence, bus factor, contributors, hotspot files and TODO trends for any public GitHub repository as JSON, with curl, JavaScript or Python.