repo::reality::check
Chrome extension for developers
37,000 stars.
One contributor.
Trust it. Check it.
Repo Reality Check scores every GitHub repository you visit — star anomalies, bus factor, maintenance pulse, README red flags, and license gotchas — before you bet a weekend on it.
Live on the Chrome Web Store. No account needed for the free tier.
hypewave / star-farm-3000
31TRUST / 100
STARS36.9k stars vs 276 commits & 1 contributor — velocity inconsistent with activity
BUS FACTOR97% of commits from a single maintainer
RELEASESNo tagged releases despite 36.9k stars
README3 affiliate links (?ref=) and hype phrasing detected
LICENSEAGPL-3.0 — copyleft: commercial use may require open-sourcing your code
What it checks
Every signal comes straight from GitHub's public API and the repository's own README — computed in your browser the moment the page loads.
Star anomaly detection
Compares star velocity against repo age, commit count, and contributor count, and samples star timestamps to catch suspicious bursts.
Bus factor
Measures how concentrated the commit history is. A 30k-star project carried by one person is a very different bet than it looks.
Maintenance pulse
Days since last commit, release cadence, median time-to-first-response on issues, and the open/closed issue ratio.
README red flags
Scans for affiliate-tagged links, hype phrasing, and badge-stuffing — the marketing patterns of growth-hacked repositories.
License plain-language warning
Translates the license into one practical sentence, including copyleft implications before you build on it commercially.
One glance, zero clicks
A compact panel injected at the top of every repo page. Expand any signal for the full breakdown and the raw numbers behind it.
Pricing
The free tier is genuinely useful forever. Pro is for people who evaluate repositories every day.
FREE
$0
forever
- Trust score on every repo page
- Top-line red flags
- License warnings
- Bring your own GitHub token for higher rate limits
PRO
$4/month
or $29/year (save 40%)
- Everything in Free
- Scores inline on GitHub search & Trending
- Side-by-side repo comparison
- Watchlist with weekly change alerts
- Full signal drill-downs & raw data
FAQ
How does it work?
When you open a GitHub repository, the extension queries GitHub's public REST API for the repo's metadata, contributors, releases, issues, and a sample of star timestamps, then computes a 0–100 trust score locally in your browser. Nothing is sent to our servers — there are no servers.
Does it need my GitHub account?
No. It works without any login. Power users can optionally paste a personal access token in the settings to raise GitHub's API rate limit from 60 to 5,000 requests per hour. The token is stored only in your browser's local extension storage.
Is a low score proof that a repo is fake?
No — it's a prompt to look closer. The score surfaces patterns that correlate with hype or abandonment risk, and every flag shows the raw numbers behind it so you can judge for yourself.
How do subscriptions and refunds work?
Pro subscriptions are sold through our merchant of record, which processes payment, issues invoices, and handles applicable taxes. You receive a license key by email and activate it in the extension's settings. Cancel anytime; contact us for refund requests within 14 days of purchase.
Contact
Questions and support: reprealitycheck@gmail.com
Privacy policy
Last updated: July 2026. Repo Reality Check is built to know as little about you as possible.
What the extension collects
Nothing. The extension has no analytics, no tracking, and no backend. All analysis happens locally in your browser using GitHub's public API.
What is stored
Your settings — including an optional GitHub personal access token and, for Pro users, your license key — are stored in Chrome's local extension storage on your device only. They are never transmitted to us.
Third parties
The extension makes requests to api.github.com to read public repository data; these requests are governed by GitHub's privacy policy. Pro license keys are validated against our merchant of record's licensing API; payment details are handled entirely by the merchant of record and never touch the extension.
Permissions
The extension requests access only to github.com and api.github.com, plus local storage for settings. It does not read your browsing history or any other site.
Contact
For privacy questions: reprealitycheck@gmail.com
Terms of service
Last updated: July 2026. By installing Repo Reality Check or purchasing a Pro subscription, you agree to these terms.
The service
Repo Reality Check is a Chrome browser extension that analyzes public GitHub repositories and displays informational credibility signals. Scores and flags are informational only — they are automated heuristics, not statements of fact about any repository or its authors, and not professional, legal, or investment advice. You are responsible for your own evaluation of any software you choose to use.
Pro subscription
Pro is a paid subscription ($4/month or $29/year) that unlocks additional features. Payment is processed by our merchant of record, which acts as the seller of record and handles billing, invoices, and applicable taxes. After purchase you receive a license key by email; the key is for your personal use on your own devices and may not be resold or shared publicly.
Cancellation & refunds
You can cancel your subscription at any time from the link in your purchase receipt or by emailing us; cancellation stops future renewals and Pro remains active until the end of the paid period. If Pro doesn't work for you, contact us within 14 days of purchase at reprealitycheck@gmail.com and we will refund the payment in full. Refunds of renewal charges requested within 14 days of the renewal date are handled the same way.
Acceptable use
Don't use the extension to harass repository maintainers, to present scores as definitive accusations, or in any way that violates GitHub's terms of service or applicable law.
Warranty & liability
The extension is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. To the maximum extent permitted by law, our liability for any claim related to the service is limited to the amount you paid in the 12 months before the claim.
Changes & contact
We may update these terms; material changes will be reflected on this page with a new date. Questions: reprealitycheck@gmail.com.