Products · Product

GitHub

Raised as a usability problem by 1,351 people on Hacker News over 19 years (2008–2026), in 931 threads.

Ranked by people · period

This year (last 12 months)Last 5 yearsSince the beginning (2007)

1
Back button skips pages or stays put while the URL changesUnreviewed
4 people this year · 4 threads

1
Back button skips pages or stays put while the URL changesUnreviewed
17 people in the last 5 years · 14 threads
2
Poor search pushes users to clone repos and grep insteadUnreviewed
12 people in the last 5 years · 11 threads
3
Comments load only 60 at a time, requiring repeated clicksUnreviewed
8 people in the last 5 years · 6 threads
4
Workflows can only be tested by pushing commits, requiring slow trial and errorUnreviewed
8 people in the last 5 years · 6 threads
5
Failing YAML workflows are hard to debugUnreviewed
7 people in the last 5 years · 4 threads
6
Code search requires sign-in, blocking people who avoid signing in at workUnreviewed
7 people in the last 5 years · 3 threads
7
Dark gray text has low contrast and is hard to read in dark modeUnreviewed
6 people in the last 5 years · 5 threads
8
Code search returns no results with no explanationUnreviewed
6 people in the last 5 years · 5 threads
9
Clicks take seconds with no response, so users doubt their actionsUnreviewed
6 people in the last 5 years · 4 threads
10
Forced 2FA interrupts workflow every few hours when logging inUnreviewed
6 people in the last 5 years · 5 threads
11
Navigation is so poor that users must rely on search to find reposUnreviewed
5 people in the last 5 years · 5 threads
12
Notifications are too coarse-grained to be usefulUnreviewed
5 people in the last 5 years · 5 threads
13
Branch view doesn't show branch history, making commit lists hard to understandUnreviewed
5 people in the last 5 years · 5 threads
14
Captchas take minutes and new accounts get disabled after loginUnreviewed
5 people in the last 5 years · 5 threads
15
Wide code lines can't be read on iPhone due to disabled scrolling and zoomUnreviewed
4 people in the last 5 years · 4 threads
16
Comments are lost track of after a rebase and force-pushUnreviewed
4 people in the last 5 years · 4 threads
17
Search bar not visible when signed out, so users can't find itUnreviewed
4 people in the last 5 years · 4 threads
18
Non-squash merges make it hard to get from git blame to PR discussionUnreviewed
4 people in the last 5 years · 4 threads
19
Can't comment on lines more than a couple away from the patchUnreviewed
4 people in the last 5 years · 4 threads
20
Cache is too limited for uploads and cannot use users' own cacheUnreviewed
4 people in the last 5 years · 4 threads
21
Creating and editing files in mobile Safari is a struggleUnreviewed
3 people in the last 5 years · 3 threads
22
Finding a solution means reading hundreds of comments in long threadsUnreviewed
3 people in the last 5 years · 3 threads
23
Bug reporting path is hard to find and confusingUnreviewed
3 people in the last 5 years · 3 threads
24
Stacking PRs is hard, with no easy git workflow for itUnreviewed
3 people in the last 5 years · 3 threads
25
Typing repo name doesn't show what's being deleted, so people paste it blindlyUnreviewed
3 people in the last 5 years · 3 threads
26
Site overrides Ctrl-F, so find-in-page behaves unexpectedlyUnreviewed
3 people in the last 5 years · 3 threads
27
Find in page loses its search state when navigating filesUnreviewed
3 people in the last 5 years · 3 threads
28
Diff view shows entire rebase changes, hard to review between versionsUnreviewed
3 people in the last 5 years · 3 threads
29
Hard to track which outdated comments were addressedUnreviewed
3 people in the last 5 years · 3 threads
30
Accidentally enabled Copilot, and settings offer no way to disable itUnreviewed
3 people in the last 5 years · 3 threads
31
Support requests get automated replies and closed, so no one can be reachedUnreviewed
3 people in the last 5 years · 3 threads

1
Back button skips pages or stays put while the URL changesUnreviewed
19 people since the beginning · 16 threads
2
Poor search pushes users to clone repos and grep insteadUnreviewed
17 people since the beginning · 16 threads
3
Wide code lines can't be read on iPhone due to disabled scrolling and zoomUnreviewed
13 people since the beginning · 13 threads
4
Navigation is so poor that users must rely on search to find reposUnreviewed
13 people since the beginning · 11 threads
5
Notifications are too coarse-grained to be usefulUnreviewed
12 people since the beginning · 12 threads
6
Mobile site lacks critical features, forcing a switch to desktop viewUnreviewed
10 people since the beginning · 8 threads
7
Dark gray text has low contrast and is hard to read in dark modeUnreviewed
10 people since the beginning · 8 threads
8
Failing YAML workflows are hard to debugUnreviewed
10 people since the beginning · 7 threads
9
Branch view doesn't show branch history, making commit lists hard to understandUnreviewed
9 people since the beginning · 9 threads
10
Comments load only 60 at a time, requiring repeated clicksUnreviewed
9 people since the beginning · 7 threads
11
Feature clutter makes the interface hard to navigateUnreviewed
9 people since the beginning · 8 threads
12
Workflows can only be tested by pushing commits, requiring slow trial and errorUnreviewed
9 people since the beginning · 7 threads
13
Explore link moved into a hidden profile menuUnreviewed
8 people since the beginning · 7 threads
14
Code search returns no results with no explanationUnreviewed
8 people since the beginning · 7 threads
15
Clicks take seconds with no response, so users doubt their actionsUnreviewed
8 people since the beginning · 6 threads
16
Finding the first commit requires clicking through many next-page linksUnreviewed
7 people since the beginning · 7 threads
17
Creating and editing files in mobile Safari is a struggleUnreviewed
7 people since the beginning · 7 threads
18
Comments are lost track of after a rebase and force-pushUnreviewed
7 people since the beginning · 7 threads
19
Forced 2FA interrupts workflow every few hours when logging inUnreviewed
7 people since the beginning · 6 threads
20
Search bar not visible when signed out, so users can't find itUnreviewed
7 people since the beginning · 6 threads
21
Code search requires sign-in, blocking people who avoid signing in at workUnreviewed
7 people since the beginning · 3 threads
22
Non-developers won't log in, and issue tracking is too lightweightUnreviewed
6 people since the beginning · 6 threads
23
Switching between personal and work accounts takes about six stepsUnreviewed
6 people since the beginning · 6 threads
24
Default SSH key generation steps fail on Windows work machinesUnreviewed
6 people since the beginning · 6 threads
25
Icons carry so much detail they are hard to understandUnreviewed
6 people since the beginning · 5 threads
26
Stacking PRs is hard, with no easy git workflow for itUnreviewed
6 people since the beginning · 6 threads
27
Every link forces opening the app, with no web-version optionUnreviewed
6 people since the beginning · 5 threads
28
Releases section link is hard to find on the pageUnreviewed
6 people since the beginning · 4 threads
29
Long commit messages truncated, forcing extra clicks to read themUnreviewed
5 people since the beginning · 5 threads
30
Contributing needs many steps: fork, add remote, push, open pull requestUnreviewed
5 people since the beginning · 5 threads
31
Finding a solution means reading hundreds of comments in long threadsUnreviewed
5 people since the beginning · 5 threads
32
Bug reporting path is hard to find and confusingUnreviewed
5 people since the beginning · 5 threads
33
Advanced search works poorly and non-master branches can't be searchedUnreviewed
5 people since the beginning · 5 threads
34
Non-squash merges make it hard to get from git blame to PR discussionUnreviewed
5 people since the beginning · 5 threads
35
Users click merge without understanding conflicts, producing bad mergesUnreviewed
5 people since the beginning · 5 threads
36
Typing repo name doesn't show what's being deleted, so people paste it blindlyUnreviewed
5 people since the beginning · 5 threads
37
Issues and Pull Requests tabs get buried among many other tabsUnreviewed
5 people since the beginning · 4 threads
38
No obvious way to manage notifications from many reposUnreviewed
5 people since the beginning · 5 threads
39
Captchas take minutes and new accounts get disabled after loginUnreviewed
5 people since the beginning · 5 threads
40
No graphical branch view, so branching and merging are hard to followUnreviewed
5 people since the beginning · 4 threads
41
Download button is hard to find and the page looks like an errorUnreviewed
5 people since the beginning · 5 threads
42
Making a repo private silently deletes its stars and watchersUnreviewed
5 people since the beginning · 3 threads
43
Can't see diffs between patch versions or build-dependent changes on unmerged workUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 4 threads
44
Changing the GitHub email is hard, and the profile email is hard to findUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 4 threads
45
Launching unexpectedly switches branches and hides uncommitted changesUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 4 threads
46
Forks are hidden under insights and the count doesn't matchUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 4 threads
47
Can't comment on lines more than a couple away from the patchUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 4 threads
48
Can't see changes in a repo at a glance without clicking inUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 4 threads
49
Separate personal and work identities are confusing to manageUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 4 threads
50
Mobile repo page shows only a README fragment, requiring an extra clickUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 4 threads
51
Reviewing commit by commit requires a slow page load each timeUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 4 threads
52
Markdown mangles pasted error output and attaching files is difficultUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 4 threads
53
README description is buried below the file listing, requiring scrollingUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 4 threads
54
Cache is too limited for uploads and cannot use users' own cacheUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 4 threads
55
Site overrides Ctrl-F, so find-in-page behaves unexpectedlyUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 4 threads
56
Login button hidden behind dropdowns and sign-up buttons, hard to findUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 4 threads
57
Per-file last commit messages are unhelpful and clutter the file listingUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 3 threads
58
Tab-indented code displays at fixed width 8, with no way to configure itUnreviewed
4 people since the beginning · 3 threads
59
Poor documentation makes Actions hard to configureUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
60
Clone URL sits in a tiny box that is hard to useUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
61
Setting to stop auto-watching new repos is hard to findUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
62
Fork branch content appears as part of the main repo, misleading peopleUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
63
Search can't be limited to directories, so test files flood resultsUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
64
Can't hide low-priority issues or change issues shown per pageUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
65
Mobile forces sign-in just to view contentUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
66
Finding how to switch to an organization and create a repo took half an hourUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
67
Hard to see gist organization and find gistsUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
68
Closed issues are hidden from search, so workarounds can't be foundUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
69
Can't move issues between repos, so teams can't organize workUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
70
Issue search results cannot be paged past 400Unreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
71
Cannot restart only failed jobs, forcing full workflow rerunsUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
72
Can't grant third-party access to some repos without exposing allUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
73
Required account creation makes people skip contributing small fixesUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
74
Must repeatedly click the fork button to return to their forkUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
75
Dark green diff backgrounds with mixed font colours make changes hard to readUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
76
Custom scrollbar breaks mouse wheel scrolling and clicking behaves inconsistentlyUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
77
Right-clicking the logo briefly shows a menu, then follows the link anywayUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
78
Contributing requires hosting the project on GitHubUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
79
Site no longer works with JavaScript disabledUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
80
Long diff lines' horizontal scrollbar sits far from the line being readUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
81
Find in page loses its search state when navigating filesUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
82
File search button on mobile is hard to find or missingUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
83
Glimpsing folder contents requires clicking in and out of each folderUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
84
Diff view shows entire rebase changes, hard to review between versionsUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
85
Hard to track which outdated comments were addressedUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
86
Accidentally enabled Copilot, and settings offer no way to disable itUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
87
Search only helps when you already know what you wantUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
88
Support requests get automated replies and closed, so no one can be reachedUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
89
Comments make diffs unreadable with no visible way to hide themUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
90
Closed issues still show in the overview and back button breaksUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads
91
Quoted exact-match search returns hundreds of results and wildcards do nothingUnreviewed
3 people since the beginning · 3 threads

Every issue, all time, most people first

Back button skips pages or stays put while the URL changesUnreviewed
19 people since 2017, in 7 different years · 4 this year
20082026
- Back button is disabled once paging reaches September 20162026-08-17
- Back button is broken most of the time in GitHub's single-page app2026-06-01
- Browser back button broken, so navigating away and returning fails2026-04-29
Something wrong here?
Poor search pushes users to clone repos and grep insteadUnreviewed
17 people since 2012, in 9 different years · none this year
20082026
- Search is so poor that cloning and running git grep locally is quicker2025-09-11
- Scrolling syntax-highlighted files and typing in search lag badly, lockups2025-08-23
- Searching issues takes many clicks and typing once there are more than about ten2024-07-09
Something wrong here?
Wide code lines can't be read on iPhone due to disabled scrolling and zoomUnreviewed
13 people since 2012, in 9 different years · none this year
20082026
- Scrolling is janky on iOS Safari2025-03-16
- Code view is unusably slow when scrolling horizontally in mobile Firefox2024-09-22
- Mobile website is barely usable and poorly designed2024-04-17
Something wrong here?
Navigation is so poor that users must rely on search to find reposUnreviewed
13 people since 2015, in 9 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- No good UI to move between or view multiple commits; must open separate tabs2026-04-13
- Homepage repo search only covers recent repos, so users must hunt elsewhere2025-05-04
- Repo tabs feel flaky and full-page navigations are slow to load2024-11-17
Something wrong here?
Notifications are too coarse-grained to be usefulUnreviewed
12 people since 2012, in 8 different years · none this year
20082026
- Stale notifications persist and cannot be seen or cleared in the UI2025-09-24
- Notification page shows wrong counts, missing 'all caught up' message, and hides ungated notifications past position 252025-03-16
- Notifications are so unhelpful they infuriate the user2024-07-12
Something wrong here?
Mobile site lacks critical features, forcing a switch to desktop viewUnreviewed
10 people since 2015, in 5 different years · none this year
20082026
- Mobile view is dumbed down and too zoomed in; desktop option removed2025-01-24
- Removed desktop view link makes the mobile site harder to use for getting work done2020-03-17
- Has to switch to desktop view because mobile site lacks critical features2020-03-17
Something wrong here?
Dark gray text has low contrast and is hard to read in dark modeUnreviewed
10 people since 2013, in 5 different years · 3 this year
20082026
- Site is hard to read due to colors and font sizes2026-06-01
- Poor contrast makes the interface hard to read2026-06-01
- Dark low-contrast colours and thin fonts make the status page barely readable2026-05-27
Something wrong here?
Failing YAML workflows are hard to debugUnreviewed
10 people since 2021, in 4 different years · none this year
20082026
- Complex CI pipelines written in YAML feel unwieldy and insane to configure2025-03-20
- Complicated workflows in YAML are hard to debug when they fail2025-03-20
- Configuring workflows in YAML is painful, and state, data and caching are hard to handle2023-09-23
Something wrong here?
Branch view doesn't show branch history, making commit lists hard to understandUnreviewed
9 people since 2011, in 6 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Commits are hidden behind a history button, making them hard to find2026-01-24
- GitHub hides commit history detail, so commit logs end up messy and hard to reason about2024-02-01
- Branch view doesn't show branch history, making commit lists hard to understand2022-06-25
Something wrong here?
Comments load only 60 at a time, requiring repeated clicksUnreviewed
9 people since 2021, in 5 different years · 2 this year
20082026
- Issue comments show oldest first, forcing repeated clicks of read more to reach latest2026-04-29
- Useful workarounds are buried under repeated load-more clicks, hard to find2026-01-02
- Must repeatedly click "more" to load all comments, and refresh loses progress2024-10-01
Something wrong here?
Feature clutter makes the interface hard to navigateUnreviewed
9 people since 2011, in 5 different years · 2 this year
20082026
- Cluttered buggy interfaces that take hours to wade through2026-06-01
- Interface feels confusing with too many features and menus everywhere for occasional users2026-05-01
- Interface is cluttered with features and hard to navigate at times2020-06-26
Something wrong here?
Workflows can only be tested by pushing commits, requiring slow trial and errorUnreviewed
9 people since 2021, in 5 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Must push and wait for workflow completion to see simple failures2026-01-14
- Remote CI runs are annoying to debug and slow to iterate on2026-01-14
- Cannot run the CI pipeline locally as it runs remotely, making troubleshooting hard2025-09-22
Something wrong here?
Explore link moved into a hidden profile menuUnreviewed
8 people since 2012, in 7 different years · none this year
20082026
- Can't see what followed people are working on; activity moved under explore2024-02-13
- Redesigned dashboard made things harder to find, and tabs moved behind a hamburger menu on desktop2023-09-01
- Main tabs hidden in hamburger menu; source code pushed below the fold by cramped header2020-05-10
Something wrong here?
Code search returns no results with no explanationUnreviewed
8 people since 2013, in 5 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Code browsing is very slow and search is useless2025-12-03
- Code search requires visiting a separate page and clicking Code; project page search uses the old search2023-05-09
- Browser find doesn't work on code, search box is slow and fiddly, symbol panel takes space2023-02-06
Something wrong here?
Clicks take seconds with no response, so users doubt their actionsUnreviewed
8 people since 2013, in 5 different years · 2 this year
20082026
- Waits about 3 seconds with no feedback after clicking, hurting accessibility2025-12-09
- No feedback during multi-second page loads, so unclear whether clicks registered2025-12-08
- Clicks take several seconds with no response, making users doubt their actions2025-08-28
Something wrong here?
Finding the first commit requires clicking through many next-page linksUnreviewed
7 people since 2012, in 7 different years · none this year
20082026
- Commit picker forces re-navigating full pulldown; no next/previous commit shortcuts2025-09-25
- Takes 18 clicks to find commits2024-02-01
- Can't jump several pages in commit history; must iterate step by step2021-02-22
Something wrong here?
Creating and editing files in mobile Safari is a struggleUnreviewed
7 people since 2013, in 6 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- GitHub's mobile app is a pain to use for submitting issues and talking to agents2026-06-25
- GitHub's mobile interface is getting worse over time, pushing users toward the app2022-11-12
- Editing notes on the GitHub website is clumsy on a phone2022-03-02
Something wrong here?
Comments are lost track of after a rebase and force-pushUnreviewed
7 people since 2016, in 5 different years · none this year
20082026
- Outdated comments hidden, and the changes made next to them are hard to find2025-08-11
- Incremental diffs not highlighted; comments lost as outdated after force pushes2024-09-11
- Comments are not kept track of after a rebase and force-push2024-06-23
Something wrong here?
Forced 2FA interrupts workflow every few hours when logging inUnreviewed
7 people since 2016, in 4 different years · none this year
20082026
- Forced 2FA setup makes logging in require extra authenticator steps and configuration2025-03-06
- Logging in is a pain, with forced 2FA interrupting workflow every few hours2025-03-06
- Sessions expire constantly, forcing repeated 2FA logins with phone codes every visit2024-10-10
Something wrong here?
Search bar not visible when signed out, so users can't find itUnreviewed
7 people since 2016, in 4 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Search returns nothing when logged out and has limited filters when logged in2026-02-18
- Search doesn't work for logged-out users; login pushed via dark patterns2025-08-27
- Logged-out users get temporarily blocked after a search and a couple of clicks2025-05-13
Something wrong here?
Code search requires sign-in, blocking people who avoid signing in at workUnreviewed
7 people since 2021, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Source code search removed for signed-out users, making error strings hard to trace2024-02-05
- Signed-out users can no longer search source code, so finding error strings is harder2024-02-05
- Forced to log in before code search works, making first contact miserable2023-11-27
Something wrong here?
Non-developers won't log in, and issue tracking is too lightweightUnreviewed
6 people since 2011, in 5 different years · 2 this year
20082026
- Setting up or logging into a rarely used GitHub account is a hassle2025-12-25
- GitHub's runner is hard to deploy, configure, and use on non-mainstream targets2025-11-27
- Hard to work out which key format and steps GitHub needed; many failed attempts2021-08-13
Something wrong here?
Switching between personal and work accounts takes about six stepsUnreviewed
6 people since 2012, in 5 different years · none this year
20082026
- Option to switch back is hidden in accounts and takes 3-4 clicks2025-08-02
- Switching accounts is so cumbersome the commenter gave up using multiple accounts2022-01-10
- No way to switch between multiple accounts on the website or Git2021-08-20
Something wrong here?
Default SSH key generation steps fail on Windows work machinesUnreviewed
6 people since 2011, in 4 different years · none this year
20082026
- Running separate personal and work accounts made SSH key management messy and painful2022-11-13
- Anonymous cloning now requires a tedious process with randomly generated SSH keys2022-01-11
- Forced switch from password to SSH key breaks workflows and requires annoying extra setup steps2021-09-01
Something wrong here?
Icons carry so much detail they are hard to understandUnreviewed
6 people since 2011, in 4 different years · none this year
20082026
- Removing icons makes it harder to quickly find items on the page2019-03-01
- Icons are small, cryptic, hard to tell apart and unlabeled before clicking2013-06-17
- Icon-only toolbar buttons are mystery meat, with unclear meaning until hovered or clicked2013-06-17
Something wrong here?
Stacking PRs is hard, with no easy git workflow for itUnreviewed
6 people since 2018, in 4 different years · 2 this year
20082026
- Stacking multiple commits as separate PRs is more cumbersome on branch-based PR system2026-04-14
- Stacking PRs requires manual rebasing of branches and retargeting in the UI after merges2026-04-02
- Stacking PRs is hard; wishes for an easier git/GitHub interface for it2022-03-15
Something wrong here?
Every link forces opening the app, with no web-version optionUnreviewed
6 people since 2012, in 4 different years · none this year
20082026
- Runs into bugs frequently when using GitHub outside Chrome2024-11-25
- Every GitHub link forces opening the app, with no option to choose the web version2023-10-06
- Links force-open the GitHub app by default, with no easy way to stay in the browser2023-10-06
Something wrong here?
Releases section link is hard to find on the pageUnreviewed
6 people since 2017, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Information is scattered everywhere and releases are hard to find2020-06-24
- No link to releases page, so users must edit the URL manually2019-11-13
- Releases tab placement is illogical, so users must search for it every time2019-03-01
Something wrong here?
Long commit messages truncated, forcing extra clicks to read themUnreviewed
5 people since 2012, in 5 different years · none this year
20082026
- Must click extra times to read last commit messages; expanded messages collapse on their own2020-07-13
- Latest commit message hidden, needs an extra click to see what changed2020-06-23
- Commit messages are confusing to read on the repository page2019-03-01
Something wrong here?
Contributing needs many steps: fork, add remote, push, open pull requestUnreviewed
5 people since 2016, in 5 different years · none this year
20082026
- Contributing requires many steps: account, fork, branch, push, and clicking a UI button2024-07-14
- Contributing requires forking, branching and opening a merge request, which costs time and effort2022-07-25
- Contributors must create and push to a personal fork before they can submit a change2022-03-17
Something wrong here?
Finding a solution means reading hundreds of comments in long threadsUnreviewed
5 people since 2017, in 5 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Large issues and PRs with many comments load incompletely and feel slow2026-09-27
- Issue thread has become too messy to navigate, making comments hard to find2025-07-23
- Finding a solution means reading through hundreds of comments in long threads2023-07-26
Something wrong here?
Bug reporting path is hard to find and confusingUnreviewed
5 people since 2013, in 5 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- No clear way to report bugs from the product itself2026-02-11
- Bug reporting path is hard to find, confusing, and spam-filled2024-03-24
- Bug reporting forced onto an external site with strict steps, users feel unwelcome2022-03-28
Something wrong here?
Advanced search works poorly and non-master branches can't be searchedUnreviewed
5 people since 2012, in 5 different years · none this year
20082026
- Branches must be searched for, and page find (Ctrl+F) misses content due to virtualization2025-08-12
- Can't find how to search a specific branch; paging through results is slow2021-01-31
- Can't find a way to search branches other than the default head2018-06-03
Something wrong here?
Non-squash merges make it hard to get from git blame to PR discussionUnreviewed
5 people since 2016, in 4 different years · 2 this year
20082026
- Merging a whole stack is broken; squash merge forces re-approval for each PR2026-07-30
- Update branch button greyed out due to false conflicts after squash commit2026-04-13
- After squash-merging a base PR, stacked PRs get surprise conflicts and manual rebase pain2026-04-13
Something wrong here?
Users click merge without understanding conflicts, producing bad mergesUnreviewed
5 people since 2016, in 4 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Can't tell whether fast-forward merges are possible; merge button always rewrites commits2026-04-14
- Disabled merge button looks unusable, though its dropdown still works, causing confusion2023-05-16
- Developers click merge buttons without understanding conflicts, producing bad merges and poor history2021-09-07
Something wrong here?
Typing repo name doesn't show what's being deleted, so people paste it blindlyUnreviewed
5 people since 2016, in 4 different years · 2 this year
20082026
- Deleting repos takes many scrolls, clicks and copy-pasting the full name2026-05-21
- Users type the repo name without thinking, so the confirmation step fails to prevent mistakes2026-02-01
- Typing the repo name doesn't show what's being deleted, and people paste it without thinking2022-04-14
Something wrong here?
Issues and Pull Requests tabs get buried among many other tabsUnreviewed
5 people since 2010, in 4 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Browser back and forward buttons stop working between pull request tabs2026-04-28
- Switching between pull request tabs is slow and frustrating2025-08-06
- Issues and Pull Requests tabs are buried among many others, hard to find2019-03-01
Something wrong here?
No obvious way to manage notifications from many reposUnreviewed
5 people since 2011, in 4 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Built-in notification UI reaches its limits with many repos and orgs2026-02-02
- Too spammy with many repos and no obvious way to manage notifications2020-10-01
- Only 25 repos listed, no way to browse the rest for notifications2020-06-17
Something wrong here?
Captchas take minutes and new accounts get disabled after loginUnreviewed
5 people since 2023, in 4 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Captchas take minutes, and new accounts get disabled right after login2026-05-10
- Reporting spam takes many steps: typing, a 15-character minimum, and a captcha each time2025-01-19
- Signup blocks a disposable-style email domain, forcing repeated captchas and then account deletion without reason2024-07-12
Something wrong here?
No graphical branch view, so branching and merging are hard to followUnreviewed
5 people since 2013, in 4 different years · none this year
20082026
- Layout is so flat it's hard to use; branch dropdown is easy to miss2020-06-24
- Can't see at a glance which branches derive from where2015-08-12
- Lacks a graphical branch view, making branching and merging hard to understand2014-06-09
Something wrong here?
Download button is hard to find and the page looks like an errorUnreviewed
5 people since 2011, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Hovering the download button no longer shows the direct file URL in the status bar2025-01-25
- Can't find the clone or download button in mobile view2019-11-13
- Took a long time to find the download button on the new project page2011-11-03
Something wrong here?
Making a repo private silently deletes its stars and watchersUnreviewed
5 people since 2018, in 2 different years · none this year
20082026
- Viewing private repos requires navigating a painful UI first2022-07-26
- Stars silently disappear from my starred list when a repo goes private2022-04-15
- Removed or private starred repos silently vanish, leaving no trace the user saved them2022-04-14
Something wrong here?
Can't see diffs between patch versions or build-dependent changes on unmerged workUnreviewed
4 people since 2013, in 4 different years · none this year
20082026
- Comparing pushed commit versions mixes in base branch changes, making small fixes unreadable2024-09-11
- Users can't discover that the force-pushed text links to the diff between versions2021-10-24
- Can't see diff between patch versions or build dependent changes on unmerged work2017-02-13
Something wrong here?
Changing the GitHub email is hard, and the profile email is hard to findUnreviewed
4 people since 2012, in 4 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Changing the GitHub email is a hassle, and the docs' profile-page email display is hard to find2026-02-06
- Took an hour to switch auth; guide omits what the GitHub email is and remote change2021-09-14
- Web UI commits use an opaque email address, with no notice and a hidden setting to change it2020-12-27
Something wrong here?
Launching unexpectedly switches branches and hides uncommitted changesUnreviewed
4 people since 2011, in 4 different years · none this year
20082026
- Navigating to a different branch sends you back to the default branch2023-08-25
- Hard to check the default branch generically; workarounds are convoluted and break on rename2021-08-19
- Launching it unexpectedly switches branches and loses uncommitted changes2012-03-02
Something wrong here?
Forks are hidden under insights and the count doesn't matchUnreviewed
4 people since 2010, in 4 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Can't find all forks; hidden under insights and count doesn't match2026-07-31
- Forks shown as one flat list, forcing manual searching to find meaningful changes2020-08-28
- Blind user can't figure out how to see all forks of a repository2015-07-30
Something wrong here?
Can't comment on lines more than a couple away from the patchUnreviewed
4 people since 2021, in 4 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Cannot comment on lines far from the changed lines2026-05-14
- Cannot comment on lines the pull request didn't change, so missed updates can't be flagged2024-11-25
- Cannot comment on lines more than a couple away from the patch2022-03-12
Something wrong here?
Can't see changes in a repo at a glance without clicking inUnreviewed
4 people since 2012, in 4 different years · none this year
20082026
- Can't mark a repo's notifications read directly; must select all and click done elsewhere2020-04-23
- Adding a repo and the sync button are no longer obvious to find2017-09-19
- Can't see changes in a repo at a glance without clicking into it2015-08-12
Something wrong here?
Separate personal and work identities are confusing to manageUnreviewed
4 people since 2015, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Must authenticate multiple times across different GitHub organizations2025-05-07
- User can't tell what they're sharing when logging in with GitHub2025-03-15
- Managing separate personal and work identities on GitHub is confusing and hard2017-03-01
Something wrong here?
Mobile repo page shows only a README fragment, requiring an extra clickUnreviewed
4 people since 2017, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Repo content doesn't line up with the menu and toolbar above it, making the page hard to read2020-06-24
- Opening repo links in Safari launches app showing raw readme text2020-03-18
- Mobile repo page shows only a README fragment, forcing an extra click to see the whole thing2019-01-18
Something wrong here?
Reviewing commit by commit requires a slow page load each timeUnreviewed
4 people since 2011, in 3 different years · 2 this year
20082026
- Web UI takes over a second to load a page of commits2026-07-09
- Reviewing big pull requests is slow because pages take too long to load files2026-02-17
- Reviewing commit by commit is unreasonably difficult and slow, requiring page loads2020-12-09
Something wrong here?
Markdown mangles pasted error output and attaching files is difficultUnreviewed
4 people since 2014, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Copying code into the markdown editor is painful and gets mangled2023-02-09
- GitHub's Org-mode renderer is poor, so colleague converts files to Markdown2017-09-24
- Can't drag and drop or embed images when writing markdown in gists2014-06-16
Something wrong here?
README description is buried below the file listing, requiring scrollingUnreviewed
4 people since 2013, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- README is buried below the file list, so users must scroll to learn what a project is2021-01-25
- Must scroll past file list, header, and links to reach the introduction; hard to navigate linearly2016-08-11
- Readme hidden below file listing, users don't realize to scroll down2016-05-30
Something wrong here?
Cache is too limited for uploads and cannot use users' own cacheUnreviewed
4 people since 2024, in 3 different years · 2 this year
20082026
- Cache limit docs and settings are hard to navigate; couldn't tell why they were capped2026-09-16
- Caching hits the 10GB limit easily and cache action breaks mtime-based freshness2026-02-26
- Couldn't get caching to work despite following the official documentation2025-06-11
Something wrong here?
Site overrides Ctrl-F, so find-in-page behaves unexpectedlyUnreviewed
4 people since 2021, in 3 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Cmd+F searches the site's own search box instead of the page, breaking browser find2026-04-13
- Site overrides browser Ctrl-F, so find-in-page and keyboard tools behave unexpectedly2023-07-14
- Ctrl+F shortcut hijacked, typing edits file instead of searching2023-05-08
Something wrong here?
Login button hidden behind dropdowns and sign-up buttons, hard to findUnreviewed
4 people since 2012, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Login button is hidden behind dropdowns and sign-up buttons, so users can't find it2023-08-31
- Login button missing from homepage, so users must search again to sign in2021-11-24
- Sign-in button is so deemphasized it blends into other links, hard to find2021-05-03
Something wrong here?
Per-file last commit messages are unhelpful and clutter the file listingUnreviewed
4 people since 2012, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Filenames, commit messages and timestamps look alike in gray, hard to tell apart2020-06-23
- Per-file last commit messages are unhelpful and clutter the file listing2019-03-01
- Can't see when each file was last changed; commit history no longer shows per-file dates2019-02-28
Something wrong here?
Tab-indented code displays at fixed width 8, with no way to configure itUnreviewed
4 people since 2018, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Tabs and badges area is a different width from the content, and description and URL moved off top center2020-06-24
- Top tab bar stretches full width while content is centered, feeling broken2020-06-23
- Code files show tabs at size 8 by default, which is too wide2019-03-02
Something wrong here?
Poor documentation makes Actions hard to configureUnreviewed
3 people since 2019, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Documentation is bad, making Actions hard to configure2022-04-05
- Confusing UI and poor documentation make the service hard to use2021-09-18
- Documentation is extremely lacking, making the product hard to learn2021-08-19
Something wrong here?
Clone URL sits in a tiny box that is hard to useUnreviewed
3 people since 2013, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Hard to understand code in the browser, forcing users to clone the repo into an IDE2022-11-12
- Clone URL is in a tiny box that is hard to use2014-05-03
- Users don't notice the copy button, so they manually select and copy the URL2013-06-29
Something wrong here?
Setting to stop auto-watching new repos is hard to findUnreviewed
3 people since 2012, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Main feed is full of irrelevant repos, so users must type repo names manually each time2016-06-16
- Hard to find the setting to stop auto-watching new repos2013-09-15
- Watching a repo floods email with no way to stop it, so the homepage feed is lost2012-09-20
Something wrong here?
Fork branch content appears as part of the main repo, misleading peopleUnreviewed
3 people since 2020, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Button named Fork is confusingly used for what is actually a git clone action2024-09-24
- Fork branch content appears as part of the main repo, misleading people2022-01-27
- Keeping a fork up to date with the original repo is convoluted and conflict-prone2020-05-31
Something wrong here?
Search can't be limited to directories, so test files flood resultsUnreviewed
3 people since 2020, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Searching across all repos returns results that aren't useful, and test directories can't be filtered out2023-02-06
- Generated HTML docs flood every search; can't exclude directories except by language filter2021-12-08
- Can't exclude or limit search to directories, so test files flood results2020-02-23
Something wrong here?
Can't hide low-priority issues or change issues shown per pageUnreviewed
3 people since 2011, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Sort options on the issues page aren't remembered between visits2018-07-22
- No way to set or sort issues by priority, so outstanding work is unclear2013-03-20
- Can't hide low-priority issues, and can't change issues shown per page2011-04-11
Something wrong here?
Mobile forces sign-in just to view contentUnreviewed
3 people since 2016, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Forces sign-in just to view content on mobile2022-11-15
- Sign-up prompt takes half the mobile screen, forcing scrolling to see content2020-06-24
- Search field hidden unless signed in, making repositories hard to navigate on mobile2016-03-20
Something wrong here?
Finding how to switch to an organization and create a repo took half an hourUnreviewed
3 people since 2012, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Takes minutes to figure out what a linked repo actually is2025-04-05
- Text box for new organization actually creates repos in an existing selected org2015-09-22
- Spent half an hour finding how to switch to an organization and create a repo2012-04-08
Something wrong here?
Hard to see gist organization and find gistsUnreviewed
3 people since 2012, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Took a full minute to find the git history link in the redesign2020-06-24
- Gist interface is poor, making it hard to see organization and find gists2014-07-17
- The gist interface is not very usable2012-10-10
Something wrong here?
Closed issues are hidden from search, so workarounds can't be foundUnreviewed
3 people since 2019, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Can't get a full issues list anymore; clearing the search filters no longer works2025-01-26
- Closed issues are hidden from search, so users can't find existing workarounds or reopen them2021-01-18
- Issues search defaults to open issues, so users must change it to find closed ones2019-03-01
Something wrong here?
Can't move issues between repos, so teams can't organize workUnreviewed
3 people since 2015, in 3 different years · 2 this year
20082026
- Repos from teams don't appear in quick search, forcing a multi-step navigation path2026-10-03
- Settings and workflows tie repos together, so one repo can't be split cleanly for separate teams2025-12-13
- Can't move issues between repos, so teams can't organize work across multiple repositories2015-06-25
Something wrong here?
Issue search results cannot be paged past 400Unreviewed
3 people since 2010, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Cannot page past 400 in issue search results2016-04-27
- Typing an issue number in the issue search box returns nothing2012-09-17
- Search results open the issue list, not the specific issue, because anchors are stripped2010-06-18
Something wrong here?
Cannot restart only failed jobs, forcing full workflow rerunsUnreviewed
3 people since 2020, in 3 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Jobs randomly fail or get stuck needing manual restarts, and run slowly2026-04-29
- Cannot restart only failed jobs, forcing full reruns of the workflow2022-03-24
- Hung jobs can't be re-run because the re-run button never becomes available2020-04-18
Something wrong here?
Can't grant third-party access to some repos without exposing allUnreviewed
3 people since 2014, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- OAuth grants access to all repos or none, with no per-repo choice2025-08-19
- Can't grant third-party access to some repos without exposing all, forcing multiple accounts2015-06-25
- User must authorize each new repo separately through a privacy settings page2014-05-04
Something wrong here?
Required account creation makes people skip contributing small fixesUnreviewed
3 people since 2020, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Must create an account before reporting bugs or contributing patches2025-03-06
- Non-developers must create an account and learn an unfamiliar platform to contribute2024-02-14
- Required new account creation is annoying, so people skip contributing small fixes2020-12-05
Something wrong here?
Must repeatedly click the fork button to return to their forkUnreviewed
3 people since 2018, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- No fork button on mobile; must switch to desktop mode to fork2023-05-17
- Has to repeatedly click the fork button to get back to their fork2019-03-01
- Fork behaviour is unintuitive to the user2018-03-16
Something wrong here?
Dark green diff backgrounds with mixed font colours make changes hard to readUnreviewed
3 people since 2016, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Dark green diff backgrounds with mixed font colours make changes hard to read2020-12-09
- Red/green diff colours are hard to read for colour-blind users and cannot be changed2019-05-27
- Changed line highlights stay white in dark theme, making diffs hard to read2016-06-02
Something wrong here?
Custom scrollbar breaks mouse wheel scrolling and clicking behaves inconsistentlyUnreviewed
3 people since 2010, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Scroll wheel direction is reversed from the user's system setting, so it feels inconsistent2024-05-13
- Custom scrollbar breaks mouse wheel scrolling and behaves inconsistently when clicked2014-07-24
- Mouse wheel scrolling is painfully slow2010-05-13
Something wrong here?
Right-clicking the logo briefly shows a menu, then follows the link anywayUnreviewed
3 people since 2012, in 3 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- New users can't find the menu, icon is unclear and must be clicked to navigate2026-07-30
- Logo opens a menu instead of homepage, links hidden, requiring extra clicks2023-04-06
- Right-clicking the logo briefly shows a menu, then follows the link anyway2012-04-13
Something wrong here?
Contributing requires hosting the project on GitHubUnreviewed
3 people since 2017, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Contributing requires hosting a project on GitHub, a dark pattern pushing users into hosting2023-11-22
- Sharing a document requires a git push and a trip to GitHub to invite collaborators2021-03-05
- Collaborating on GitHub projects without hosting there is made arbitrarily difficult2017-02-02
Something wrong here?
Site no longer works with JavaScript disabledUnreviewed
3 people since 2021, in 3 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Site barely works without JavaScript, breaking accessibility for non-JS browsers2025-11-30
- Site no longer works for users with JavaScript disabled2024-01-24
- UI is hard to navigate with JavaScript disabled, unlike before2021-06-29
Something wrong here?
Long diff lines' horizontal scrollbar sits far from the line being readUnreviewed
3 people since 2014, in 3 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Long lines hide code off-screen when scroll bars are not visible2026-04-07
- Horizontal scrollbar for long diff lines is at page bottom, far from the line being read2015-03-24
- Text runs off the side of the box, forcing horizontal scrolling to read2014-07-22
Something wrong here?
Find in page loses its search state when navigating filesUnreviewed
3 people since 2022, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Browser find fails to locate files until the page lazy-loads more of the diff2024-07-12
- Find in page breaks when navigating files, losing search state each time2023-05-29
- Find-in-page popup keeps appearing and disappearing when cycling through matches2022-07-03
Something wrong here?
File search button on mobile is hard to find or missingUnreviewed
3 people since 2015, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Can't find the file search button on mobile that used to exist2021-11-06
- Find File feature no longer appears on mobile, so users can't locate files2020-06-24
- Hard to discover the file find-as-you-type shortcut2015-11-16
Something wrong here?
Glimpsing folder contents requires clicking in and out of each folderUnreviewed
3 people since 2019, in 3 different years · none this year
20082026
- Folder browsing view is cluttered with redundant visual elements2022-11-12
- Clicking in and out of folders wastes time to glimpse their contents2020-01-09
- File browser is hard to navigate and doesn't show folder hierarchy2019-03-02
Something wrong here?
Diff view shows entire rebase changes, hard to review between versionsUnreviewed
3 people since 2024, in 2 different years · 2 this year
20082026
- Reviewing a 20k-line PR is a nightmare because the diff lacks context2026-09-02
- Reviewing diffs on the PR page is awful; author pulls branch to use editor instead2026-07-23
- Diff view shows entire rebase changes, making version-to-version review hard to read2024-09-11
Something wrong here?
Hard to track which outdated comments were addressedUnreviewed
3 people since 2023, in 2 different years · none this year
20082026
- Review comments are spread through the conversation, so they're hard to find as a list2024-07-12
- Hard to track unaddressed comments and which PRs await attention2023-08-14
- Conversations get outdated and it's hard to track which comments were addressed2023-06-28
Something wrong here?
Accidentally enabled Copilot, and settings offer no way to disable itUnreviewed
3 people since 2025, in 2 different years · 2 this year
20082026
- Copilot appears on PRs and the user can't find how to turn it off2026-04-28
- Copilot often gets stuck in the terminal2026-02-02
- Accidentally clicked Copilot once, now it can't be disabled in settings2025-01-19
Something wrong here?
Search only helps when you already know what you wantUnreviewed
3 people since 2010, in 2 different years · none this year
20082026
- Hard to sort, rank, and recover interesting projects; stars are the only option2018-09-02
- Hard to find projects to contribute to2018-06-10
- Hard to discover useful projects; the search only helps when you already know what you want2010-11-23
Something wrong here?
Support requests get automated replies and closed, so no one can be reachedUnreviewed
3 people since 2023, in 2 different years · none this year
20082026
- Support takes months to reply, no notifications, and closes issues if replies are missed2024-11-28
- Bot threatens to close issues the user is still waiting on, forcing pointless replies2024-08-22
- Support requests get automated replies and closed, so no one can be reached2023-11-27
Something wrong here?
Comments make diffs unreadable with no visible way to hide themUnreviewed
3 people since 2013, in 2 different years · none this year
20082026
- Comments can make the diff impossible to read, with no visible UI to hide them2023-09-12
- Unresolved PR comments hidden from diff yet still block merging, not obvious to reviewer or author2023-07-05
- Has to use an external tool for side-by-side diffs and comment management2013-06-17
Something wrong here?
Closed issues still show in the overview and back button breaksUnreviewed
3 people since 2021, in 2 different years · 1 this year
20082026
- Closed issues still show in issue overview and back button is broken2025-12-01
- Hard to get closed issues reopened, so people give up instead2021-10-26
- Can't tell whether closed issues are actually resolved, so must read every full thread2021-01-18
Something wrong here?
Quoted exact-match search returns hundreds of results and wildcards do nothingUnreviewed
3 people since 2014, in 2 different years · none this year
20082026
- Can't quote terms for exact matches, so users fall back to BigQuery or local grep2020-11-26
- Quoted exact-match search returns hundreds of results and wildcards do nothing2014-06-26
- Unquoted searches return too many false positives; must add quotes for decent results2014-04-29
Something wrong here?

This list counts all time; the period switch above only changes the ranking. Each issue is a group of similar complaints raised by at least 3 people in 3 different months and threads. Each line under an issue is Claude Haiku's summary of one of its latest comments, not a quote; follow it to read the comment on Hacker News.

Unreviewed issues were grouped by machine: Claude Haiku labelled each comment as a usability complaint, named what it's about and summed up the problem in a line, and a small model grouped similar problems. Nobody has checked them by hand. Expect mistakes.

The newest 50 complaints