Version 1.0 | Safari Extension for macOS
Welcome
Thank you for using GitHub Profile Viewer! This page covers everything you need to get started, answers common questions, and provides ways to reach us if you need help.
Getting Started
Installation
- Download GitHub Profile Viewer from the Mac App Store
- Open Safari → Settings → Extensions
- Check the box next to GitHub Profile Viewer to enable it
- Click “Always Allow on Every Website” to grant permissions
- The extension icon will appear in your Safari toolbar
First Launch
Click the extension icon in Safari’s toolbar. A compact popup will appear with a search bar. Type any GitHub username and press Enter to view their profile.
Features
Profile Search
Enter any GitHub username to see their full profile — avatar, name, bio, location, company, website, social links, and stats including public repos, followers, following, and gists.
Repository Search
Switch to the Repos tab to search millions of GitHub repositories by name, topic, or keyword. Click any repo to open it directly in Safari.
Compare Users
Use the Compare tab to enter two GitHub usernames. A side-by-side breakdown highlights who leads in each category with color-coded indicators.
Contribution Graph
Each profile includes a contribution heatmap showing the last 30 weeks of activity. Hover over any cell to see the exact count for that date.
Export Profile
Click the export button on any profile to copy a complete Markdown summary to your clipboard — ready to paste into documents, messages, or notes.
Search History
Recent searches are saved automatically and appear when you focus the search bar. Clear history anytime from the dropdown.
GitHub Token (Optional)
Go to Settings (gear icon) to add a GitHub Personal Access Token. This increases your API rate limit from 60 to 5,000 requests per hour. Your token is stored securely on your device and never leaves your machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: The extension icon doesn’t appear in Safari.
A: Go to Safari → Settings → Extensions and make sure the checkbox next to GitHub Profile Viewer is enabled. If it still doesn’t appear, try restarting Safari.
Q: I see “API rate limit exceeded” errors.
A: The GitHub API allows 60 requests per hour per IP address without authentication. To increase this to 5,000 requests per hour, add a GitHub Personal Access Token in Settings. You can create a token at github.com/settings/tokens — no special scopes are required.
Q: Searches are returning no results.
A: Make sure you are entering the exact GitHub username (not display name). Usernames are case-insensitive but must match. For repo search, try broader keywords.
Q: The contribution graph is not loading.
A: The contribution data is fetched from a third-party open-source service. If it’s temporarily unavailable, the rest of the profile will still load normally. Try again in a few minutes.
Q: Does this extension collect my data?
A: No. GitHub Profile Viewer communicates only with the official GitHub API and an open-source contributions service. There is no analytics, no tracking, and no account required. Your optional GitHub token is stored locally on your device using Safari’s secure extension storage. Nothing is sent to any server we operate.
Q: Can I use this with GitHub Enterprise?
A: Currently, GitHub Profile Viewer only supports public GitHub (github.com). GitHub Enterprise support may be added in a future update.
Q: The popup looks broken or unstyled.
A: Try disabling and re-enabling the extension in Safari → Settings → Extensions, then restart Safari. If the issue persists, uninstall and reinstall from the Mac App Store.
Q: How do I uninstall the extension?
A: Open Safari → Settings → Extensions → select GitHub Profile Viewer → click Uninstall. Alternatively, delete the GitHub Profile Viewer app from your Applications folder.
Known Limitations
- GitHub API rate limit of 60 requests/hour without a token (per IP address)
- Search API is limited to 10 requests/minute without a token
- Contribution graph depends on a third-party open-source API
- Only supports public GitHub profiles and repositories
- Private repositories are not visible through the API without appropriate token scopes
Troubleshooting
If something isn’t working:
- Restart Safari — this resolves most issues
- Check permissions — Safari → Settings → Extensions → ensure the extension is enabled and has website access
- Clear build cache — disable the extension, re-enable it, and reload your tabs
- Check your API limits — click the bar chart icon in the extension header to see remaining requests
- Update macOS and Safari — ensure you’re running the latest versions
Contact & Support
We’d love to hear from you — whether it’s a bug report, feature request, or just feedback.
Email:
Please include the following in any bug report:
- macOS version (e.g., macOS 15.3)
- Safari version (e.g., Safari 18.2)
- Steps to reproduce the issue
- A screenshot if possible
We typically respond within 24–48 hours.
Feature Requests
Have an idea for a new feature? We’re always looking to improve. Send your suggestions to either email above with the subject line “Feature Request — GitHub Profile Viewer”.
Changelog
Version 1.0
- Profile search by GitHub username
- Repository search by keyword
- Compare two users side by side
- Contribution activity heatmap
- Export profile as Markdown
- Search history with quick recall
- Optional GitHub token for higher API limits
- API rate limit monitoring
- Dark mode support
- Built-in user guide
Thank you for using GitHub Profile Viewer!