Get the Fuck Off of GitHub.
For almost two decades, I poured my life into open-source contributions on GitHub. Commits, issues, pull requests, discussions--a living, breathing portfolio that represented 15-20 years of my professional credibility and passion. Then, without a single explanation, without a notification, without any recourse, it was all erased. Gone. Just like that.
Every person who voiced concerns about EvilCorp's acquisition of GitHub was absolutely correct. This isn't just an inconvenience; it's a brutal, catastrophic loss for any open-source contributor who relies on that history for their professional standing, for interviews, for their very livelihood. It is absolutely disgusting.
There was no way to contact support. In fact, a new account I tried to create to reach out to them was immediately banned, citing rules that prohibit contacting support from a new account. The irony is as infuriating as the situation itself. This is not how a platform that claims to foster a community of developers should operate. This is how a monolithic entity, insulated from consequences, exercises unchecked power over its users.
The Warning Signs Were There
Many of us watched with apprehension as Microsoft acquired GitHub. The promises of independence and continued support for the open-source ethos felt increasingly hollow as subtle changes began to creep in. The platform that once felt like a true home for developers has transformed into another corporate silo, where user value is secondary to opaque internal policies and uncommunicated decisions.
This isn't just about my personal loss. It's a stark warning to every developer, every team, and every organization building on GitHub: your history, your contributions, and your entire digital presence are subject to the arbitrary whims of a corporation that offers no transparency and no accountability.
My New Home: sr.ht
I've already begun the migration. My new home for open-source development is sr.ht. It's a different paradigm, focusing on simple, powerful tools that respect developers and their work. It's a breath of fresh air after the suffocating corporate control I've just experienced. It's a community-driven platform that puts control back into the hands of developers, offering mailing lists, Git repositories, bug trackers, and build automation. It embodies the true spirit of open source.
Archival Efforts (Limited Utility)
While my active history on GitHub is effectively erased, some archives of my repositories can still be found. Though their utility is limited--they are static snapshots, not living, breathing projects--they stand as a testament to what once was.
You can find an archive of my former GitHub profile here: https://web.archive.org/web/20250903093910/https://github.com/nicoandmee
Repositories:
Stars:
The Future: A UI for the Past
On my to-do list is building some sort of UI that will allow me to easily query these GitHub archives, pulling up my past repositories and contributions. It's a necessary step to reclaim a semblance of the visibility and credibility that was so unceremoniously taken from me. This project will serve as a reminder that while platforms can disappear your work, the spirit of open source, and the determination of its contributors, cannot be extinguished.
It's time for all of us to critically re-evaluate where we host our work. The risks are too high, and the consequences too severe, to remain complacent. Get the fuck off of GitHub before it's too late.
This tracks with pretty much things I see every day: