Data sources & methodology

Source data

OpenPulse retrieves public repository metadata and activity information from GitHub’s API. Repository descriptions, topics, languages, star counts, and related information reflect what GitHub makes available and may change over time.

OpenPulse stores timestamped star-count observations to measure repository growth. When local observation history is not yet long enough for a 7-day or 30-day comparison, the site may use GitHub’s daily star history and labels that source and its latest complete date. GitHub star history does not include removed stars.

Growth windows

Growth is the difference between two actual star-count endpoints approximately 24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days apart. The endpoint times are returned with repository details. If the repository lacks enough history, observations are stale, or a suitable baseline is unavailable, the value stays unavailable rather than being filled with an estimate.

The Newly Discovered list means recently found by OpenPulse; it does not mean a repository was recently created on GitHub. Trending ranks repositories with positive, ready growth for the selected window.

Activity score

The activity score summarizes the latest four complete Sunday-to-Sunday UTC weeks. It compares commits (40%), merged pull requests (35%), and active contributors (25%) across tracked public repositories with complete data. Each component is log-scaled and converted to a relative percentile before the weighted score is combined and rounded to 0–100.

The score is relative to the current comparison group, not an absolute grade. A missing or incomplete GitHub response remains “collecting” or unavailable and is not treated as zero activity. The current aggregate is refreshed periodically; OpenPulse does not present a historical activity-score trend.

If a refresh is incomplete, the last complete activity aggregate remains visible with its original period and an updating label until new complete data is available. Scores compare repositories covering the same activity period.

Coverage and limitations

OpenPulse covers public repositories it has discovered and currently tracks. GitHub API limits, unavailable repositories, collection cadence, and incomplete source data affect coverage and freshness. Displayed totals and rankings are informational and may differ from GitHub or other services.

Independence

OpenPulse is not affiliated with or endorsed by GitHub. GitHub names and marks belong to GitHub, Inc. Repository content and licenses remain with each repository’s owner.