We lost 54k GitHub stars (httpie.io)

Article summary

The HTTPie project lost 54,000 GitHub stars due to an accidental change of the repository's visibility to private, which resulted in the permanent deletion of all stars and watchers. The project's creator attributes the mistake to a UI/UX design flaw in GitHub's confirmation dialog. The creator suggests improvements to the dialog to prevent similar accidents in the future. GitHub declined to restore the deleted stars and watchers, citing undesirable side effects and resource costs.

Main themes

• UI/UX design
• GitHub features and policies
• data loss and recovery
• community engagement and metrics
• user error and responsibility
• platform accountability and priorities

What commenters say

• The user's mistake was the primary cause of the lost stars and watchers, and GitHub's UI/UX design was not to blame.
• GitHub's UI/UX design is flawed and contributed to the accidental deletion of the stars and watchers.
• The loss of stars and watchers is not a significant issue, as they can be regained over time, and the community will not be severely impacted.
• The deletion of stars and watchers constitutes data loss, and GitHub should have measures in place to prevent or restore such losses.
• GitHub's decision not to restore the deleted stars and watchers is unfair and inconsistent with their treatment of their own projects.
• The value of GitHub stars is overstated, and they do not accurately reflect a project's popularity or community engagement.
• Improving UI/UX design can help prevent accidents, but user education and awareness are also essential in preventing similar mistakes.
• GitHub's priorities and values are questionable, given their decision not to restore the deleted stars and watchers, despite having the means to do so.