I want to address something that’s been on my mind for a while. I’ve seen a growing trend that’s becoming quite frustrating: the obsession with green GitHub profiles. It feels like more and more companies and recruiters are judging candidates by the green squares on GitHub profiles rather than actual skills and experience. This needs to stop.
Green GitHub profiles, with their countless contributions, seem to have become the new standard for assessing a developer’s worth. I get it, they look impressive. They show activity, commitment, and passion. But they don’t tell the whole story. My contributions might not always be on display on GitHub. My experience is reflected in the projects I’ve completed, the problems I’ve solved, and the systems I’ve designed and maintained. The green squares are not a fair representation of my capabilities.
Working as an engineer is not always about constantly pushing code to public repositories. Many work on private repositories, especially in companies where the code is proprietary. This work is just as valuable, if not more so, than open-source contributions. Yet, it remains hidden from those who judge us by people’s GitHub profiles. It’s disheartening to think that despite hard work and accomplishments, someone might overlook my resume because my GitHub isn’t green enough.
There’s also the matter of personal time. Many have families, hobbies, and other commitments outside of work. We don’t spend all our free time contributing to open-source projects. This doesn’t mean we’re any less passionate or skilled. It simply means we have a balanced life. Judging us based on our GitHub activity is like penalizing us for having a life outside of work.
Moreover, the nature of our contributions evolves over time. When we start our careers, we might contribute more to open-source as a way to learn and grow. But as we gain experience, our contributions become more about mentoring, leading projects, and sharing knowledge in ways that don’t necessarily show up as green squares on GitHub. I spend a significant amount of time mentoring junior engineers, conducting code reviews, and designing architecture. These contributions are invaluable but invisible on GitHub.
The pressure to have a green GitHub profile can also lead to unhealthy behaviors. Some developers might start pushing meaningless commits just to keep their profiles green. This not only defeats the purpose but also devalues the real contributions of others. It’s a superficial metric that can drive the wrong kind of behavior and stress.
Evaluate engineers based on their actual experience, skills, and contributions to the projects they’ve worked on. Look at their problem-solving abilities, their understanding of systems, and their ability to work in a team. These are the qualities that truly matter and that make a great engineer.
It’s time we move past this obsession with green GitHub profiles and start appreciating the depth and breadth of experience that seasoned engineers bring to the table. We are more than just our GitHub activity. We are the sum of our experiences, our projects, and our continuous learning and growth.