I Built 'GitJin' - A Web App to Escape GitHub's Unusable Home Screen

Source: Dev.to

Problem with GitHub’s Home Screen

• The Copilot promotional area is intrusive and makes scrolling annoying.
• Too many clicks are required to reach my own profile.
• Checking PRs and Issues isn’t intuitive.

It feels strange that a platform for developers isn’t user‑friendly for developers.

Introducing GitJin

GitJin is a web app that displays repositories, PRs, and Issues in an easy‑to‑read single screen just by logging in with your GitHub account.

https://gitjin.com/

Technical Stack

• Framework: Next.js (file‑based routing, TypeScript, full‑stack capabilities)
• Authentication: better-auth
• GitHub API: octokit
• Database ORM: drizzle (lightweight)
• Icons: @primer/octicons-react (official GitHub icons)

Key Features

• Fast initial display – API requests start after the first render and run in parallel (repositories, issues, PRs). Data appears sequentially as it arrives, dramatically improving perceived speed.
• Stress‑free UI – The floating menu in the bottom‑right corner has a generous tolerance area, preventing it from closing on slight mouse movements.
• Font loading optimization – Using display: "swap" with Noto Sans JP ensures text is shown with a fallback font while the custom font loads, eliminating flicker.

// Example: Font configuration with swap display
const geistMono = Noto_Sans_JP({
  weight: ["400"],
  subsets: ["latin"],
  variable: "--font-geist-mono",
  display: "swap", // 👈 Display text even while loading
});

Implementation Details

• On‑demand data fetching – All information is retrieved from the GitHub API only when needed; minimal data is stored locally.
• Parallel API calls – Repository, issue, and PR requests are dispatched simultaneously after the initial render.
• Sequential rendering – UI updates as each piece of data arrives, giving the impression of instant loading.

Future Improvements

• Enhanced notification features
• Customizable dashboard layout
• PR/Issue filtering functionality

If you have feedback or suggestions, please let me know!

“Build what you want.” – that’s the appeal of personal development.

GitJin is my ideal GitHub home screen.

https://gitjin.com/