Well, I have been on GitHub since 2019, even before the lockdown.
Back then, I did not properly use GitHub. I used to just make projects, upload the code, and share it with friends. But I never really understood the point of GitHub.
I think I missed my tutorials on GitHub. But now, I’ll share some key ways to actually make the best out of it.
1. Your GitHub Profile Is Your Developer Identity
Your GitHub profile is not just a bio page. It is your public engineering resume.
When I started using GitHub, I was amazed by it, but I mostly used it for uploading projects. I made my first GitHub profile page and thought it was great.
Then I met someone in my office, and they showed me their GitHub profile. It looked amazing.
That’s when I realized how much work I still had to do.
I went home, watched tutorials, explored profiles, and ended up mixing ideas from different places and curating my own profile. It felt like a mix fruit jam, but I liked it.
It’s not perfect, but it gets the job done.
Here’s my profile: GitHub
When someone visits your profile, they are not just looking at your code. They are evaluating:
- How you think
- What you build
- How consistently you learn
What matters most
Profile README
This is the first impression. Use it to explain:
- Who you are
- What you are building
- What technologies you use
Pinned Repositories
You only get a few spots, so use them wisely:
- One strong project (your best work)
- One learning project (shows growth)
- One experimental or unique idea
Contribution Graph
It is not about being perfect. It is about consistency. A steady graph signals discipline more than perfection ever will.
You can check this article to create an amazing Profile Readme and check this Github repo for some inspiration.
The more creative you are, the more creative your profile should look. Since I like anime so much, I have kept mine mostly minimal anime themed.
Think of GitHub like LinkedIn, but here creativity is in your hands.
2. Basic GitHub Search (Most Underused Skill)
GitHub is not just a code host. It is a search engine for developers.
I love finding free and useful stuff on GitHub. Repositories, links, and the people behind them.
Earlier, I used to search on Google and then open GitHub links. Now I directly search on GitHub.
I search things like:
- LLM projects
- React projects
- JavaScript projects
Most people search like this: react project . That barely scratches the surface.
Better usage
- Filter by language
- Sort by stars
- Explore trending topics
Example searches
- machine learning python project
- react dashboard open source
This helps you find real world implementations, not just tutorials.
3. Advanced GitHub Search (Hidden Power Feature)
This is where GitHub becomes extremely powerful. I discovered this recently, and honestly, this was the seed for this article.
It felt like a secret door opened. Instead of random searching, you can filter like a pro.
Example queries
stars:200..5000 pushed:>2025
topic:system-design stars:<3000
"build your own" stars:200..10000
What this unlocks
- Find active repositories
- Avoid outdated or abandoned projects
- Discover underrated tools before they go mainstream
This is how experienced developers find hidden gems early.
4. GitHub Trending vs Reality
The Trending page looks useful, but it can be misleading. I used to explore trending repositories and wonder what made them special.
The truth is: Trending = popularity spike. Not necessarily usefulness or depth.
What you should check instead
- Last commit date (Is it active?)
- Issue activity (Are people actually using it?)
- Contributor count (Is it maintained?)
A small active repository is often more valuable than a large dead one.
5. How to Actually Learn From Repositories
I used to star many repositories to check later. But that “later” never comes. I think many developers can relate to this:
- Star a repo
- Maybe clone it
- Forget about it
That is wasted potential.
A better approach
When you open a repository:
- Read the README first
- Check the examples folder
- Look at issues (real problems users face)
- Explore the architecture and folder structure
This turns GitHub into a learning platform, not just storage.
6. Finding Hidden Gems on GitHub
This was one of the main reasons behind this article. I was researching some repositories for my article and while exploring, I kept finding valuable repositories again and again. It almost felt like every new tab had something useful.
So I started noting them down.
If you want underrated, high value repositories
Do not rely only on Trending. Instead, search patterns like:
- "build your own"
- "system design notes"
- "awesome"
- "handbook"
Example
"build your own" stars:200..5000
"system design notes" stars:<5000
This is how you find repositories that are educational, not hype driven.
7. Follow Developers, Not Just Repositories
This is something I started doing recently. I began following developers whose work I found interesting. And it changed how I learn.
You start noticing:
- How they write code
- How they structure projects
- How they write READMEs
- What kind of problems they solve
Most people follow projects. Experienced developers follow people.
Why
- Developers build multiple tools over time
- Their starred repos reveal hidden resources
- Their activity shows what is actually relevant
One good developer profile can lead you to 10 or more useful repositories.
8. Using Stars, Forks, and Watch Properly
These are not just buttons.
- Stars = bookmarks + interest signal
- Forks = experimentation or customization
- Watch = staying updated on active development
Do not star everything. Use stars intentionally. I use stars to revisit repositories and learn from them later.
You can check my starred repositories. You might find something useful. Or share yours as well.
9. Turn GitHub Into a Learning System
These are things I have started doing to become a better developer:
- Save repositories intentionally, not randomly
- Revisit starred repositories monthly
- Track what I actually learned
- Explore one repository deeply every week
GitHub becomes powerful only when used consistently.
10. Contributions Show Real Understanding
Uploading code shows what you built. Contributions show how you think.
When you contribute to a repository, you are not just writing code, you are understanding someone else’s code, fixing real problems, and working with real-world standards.
It’s like joining someone else’s kitchen instead of cooking alone. You have to understand their process, their ingredients, and how they work before you can add anything.
Even small contributions matter. Fixing a typo in a README is like correcting a menu so customers don’t get confused. Improving documentation is like making instructions clearer for the next person walking in.
These small steps slowly build confidence, and over time, you start contributing more meaningfully.
GitHub is often treated like a code backup tool. But in reality, it is:
- A discovery engine
- A learning platform
- A developer identity system
- A map of modern software engineering
Most developers use GitHub. Very few actually use it properly.
Tell me your favorite GitHub repository?