Are you looking to gain deeper insights into the traffic and analytics of your GitHub repositories? With the GitHub Repo Stats Action, you can collect valuable data daily, bypassing the 14-day limitation of GitHub’s built-in statistics. This guide will walk you through the steps to set up this GitHub Action effectively.

Understanding the Basics

Before diving into the setup, let’s consider an analogy. Imagine your GitHub repository is a busy café, and the traffic statistics are like a detailed logbook that records the order of visitors (views and clones) and their favorite dishes (top paths). By maintaining this logbook, you understand how to cater to your café clients better, just as the GitHub Action helps you understand your repository traffic.

Step-by-Step Setup

To get started, you’ll need two repositories:

• Stats Repository: The repository you want to collect traffic data from.
• Data Repository: The repository where the collected data will be stored.

Creating the Workflow File

Follow these steps to create a GitHub Actions workflow file in your data repository:

on:
  schedule:
    - cron: 0 23 * * *  # This runs daily at 23:00 UTC
  workflow_dispatch:  # Allows for manual runs

jobs:
  j1:
    name: repo-stats
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: run-ghrs
        uses: jgehrcke/github-repo-stats@RELEASE
        with:
          repository: bob/nice-project  # Specify the stats repository
          ghtoken: ${{ secrets.GHRS_GITHUB_API_TOKEN }}  # Secure token

Important Notes

• Set the correct schedule for optimal data snapshots.
• Ensure the GitHub API token has the necessary permissions.
• Follow the example comments provided in the code snippet for clarity.

Features of GitHub Repo Stats

This GitHub Action not only runs daily to collect statistics but also presents the data in a structured report format in both HTML and PDF. Here are some of its standout features:

• List of unique and total views/clones per day.
• Insight into top referrers and paths.
• Historical data visualization using tools like Altair and Vega.
• Data persistence and transparency through commit history.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter issues while setting up or running the action, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

• Check if the GitHub API token is correctly set up in your repository secrets.
• Verify that your cron expression is correctly configured.
• Ensure that both repositories (stats and data) are accessible to the action.

For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Conclusion

Setting up the GitHub Repo Stats Action is a straightforward process that can drastically enhance your understanding of your repository’s traffic dynamics. With daily snapshots and detailed reports, you can make informed decisions and boost your project’s potential.

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.