--- name: github-solution-finder description: Search GitHub for battle-tested open-source libraries and solutions --- # GitHub Solution Finder Find battle-tested libraries instead of building from scratch. Use GitHub's search operators — they're far more precise than plain Google. ## Search Operators (combine with spaces = AND) | Operator | Example | Effect | |---|---|---| | `stars:>N` | `stars:>1000` | More than N stars | | `stars:N..M` | `stars:100..500` | Between N and M | | `language:X` | `language:python` | Primary language | | `pushed:>DATE` | `pushed:>2025-06-01` | Commits after date — **the key freshness signal** | | `created:>DATE` | `created:>2024-01-01` | Repo created after date | | `topic:X` | `topic:cli` | Tagged with topic | | `license:X` | `license:mit` | Specific license | | `-X` | `-language:javascript` | Exclude (prefix any qualifier) | | `archived:false` | | Exclude archived repos | | `is:public fork:false` | | No forks | | `in:name` / `in:readme` | `http in:name` | Restrict where term matches | | `user:X` / `org:X` | `org:google` | Scope to owner | | `"exact phrase"` | `"rate limiter"` | Phrase match | | `NOT` | `redis NOT cache` | Exclude keyword (strings only) | ## High-Signal Query Templates ```text # Baseline: established + actively maintained language: stars:>500 pushed:>2025-06-01 archived:false # Find the dominant library (only a few results = clear winner) language:python stars:>5000 # Hidden gems (newer, not yet famous, but active) language:go stars:50..500 pushed:>2025-09-01 fork:false # Curated lists — these exist for almost every topic awesome in:name stars:>1000 # CLI tools topic:cli stars:>200 pushed:>2025-01-01 # Commercial-safe only license:mit OR license:apache-2.0 stars:>500 # Boolean grouping (language:rust OR language:go) stars:>1000 # Code search (different syntax — searches file contents) path:**/*.py "from fastapi import" symbol:RateLimiter ``` ## Search Aggressively — webSearch Is Your Primary Tool **Use webSearch extensively.** Do not rely on a single query or a single source. Every solution search should involve multiple rounds of web searching across different angles — GitHub, package registries, blog posts, Stack Overflow, and comparison articles. Cast a wide net before narrowing down. ### GitHub searches ```text webSearch("site:github.com stars") webSearch("site:github.com awesome ") webSearch("site:github.com/issues ") webSearch("best library for 2026") ``` Note: GitHub-specific qualifiers like `language:`, `stars:>`, and `pushed:>` only work on GitHub's own search engine. Through `webSearch`, use natural-language equivalents (e.g. "python" instead of `language:python`). For precise filtering, use `gh search repos` if the GitHub CLI is available (see below). ### Package registry searches ```text webSearch("site:pypi.org ") # Python webSearch("site:npmjs.com ") # Node webSearch("site:crates.io ") # Rust webSearch("site:pkg.go.dev ") # Go ``` ### Community and comparison searches ```text webSearch(" vs ") webSearch(" reddit") webSearch(" best library site:stackoverflow.com") webSearch(" comparison benchmark ") webSearch("awesome list github") ``` ### Read what you find `webFetch` every promising repo URL to read the README directly. Don't just rely on search result snippets — actually read the README, check the examples, and look at the API surface before recommending anything. For comparison posts and blog articles, `webFetch` the full content to extract specific benchmarks and tradeoffs. ## GitHub CLI (if available) ```bash gh search repos "rate limiter" --language=python --stars=">1000" \ --sort=stars --limit=10 --json=name,stargazersCount,pushedAt,url,description gh api repos/OWNER/REPO --jq '{stars:.stargazers_count, pushed:.pushed_at, issues:.open_issues_count, license:.license.spdx_id, archived:.archived}' ``` ## Health Evaluation — Check These Fast | Signal | Healthy | Walk away | |---|---|---| | Last commit | <3 months | >18 months | | Stars | >1000 (lib), >100 (niche) | <20 | | Open/closed issue ratio | <0.3 | >1.0 with no replies | | Contributors | 5+ | 1 (bus factor) | | "Used by" (sidebar) | >1000 | 0 | | Releases | Tagged, semver, changelog | No tags | | License | MIT, Apache-2.0, BSD | None, GPL/AGPL (if commercial) | | CI badge | Green | Missing or red | | `archived: true` banner | — | Instant no | **Red flags in issues:** Search the issue tracker for `"memory leak"`, `"abandoned"`, `"unmaintained"`, `"alternative"`. If maintainer hasn't replied to anything in 6 months, the project is effectively dead regardless of star count. **Download trend check:** - Python: `https://pypistats.org/packages/` — declining = dying - npm: `https://npmtrends.com/-vs-` — compare candidates head-to-head - Check bundle size: `https://bundlephobia.com/package/` (frontend only) ## License TL;DR | License | Commercial OK | Must open-source your code? | |---|---|---| | MIT, BSD, Apache-2.0, ISC | Yes | No | | LGPL | Yes | Only if you modify the lib itself | | GPL | Yes | **Yes, if you distribute** (viral) | | AGPL | Yes | **Yes, even for SaaS** (network-viral) | | No LICENSE file | **No** | default is all rights reserved | ## Awesome Lists (curated entry points) `sindresorhus/awesome` — the root of all awesome lists. Then: `awesome-python`, `awesome-go`, `awesome-rust`, `awesome-react`, `awesome-selfhosted`, `awesome-nodejs`, `free-for-dev`, `build-your-own-x` (learn by reimplementing), `public-apis`. ## Comparison Output Template ````markdown ## pkg-name [12.4k stars, pushed 2 weeks ago, MIT] github.com/owner/pkg-name **Does:** One-line pitch. **Fit:** Why it matches this specific problem. **Install:** `pip install pkg-name` **Pro:** Active, typed, 89% test coverage. **Con:** Pulls in 23 transitive deps; async-only API. ```python from pkg import Thing Thing().do(x) # minimal working example ``` ```` ## Decision Rules 1. **Two libs within 2x stars of each other** → pick the one pushed more recently 2. **A lib with 50k stars but last commit 2023** → it's dead, find the fork (check "Forks" tab sorted by stars) 3. **Lib does 10x more than needed** → check if you can vendor the 200 lines you actually need (with attribution) 4. **Can't find anything with >100 stars** → problem may be too niche; search blog posts / Stack Overflow for how others solved it 5. **Found 3+ viable options** → npmtrends/pypistats comparison, then read the top 5 closed issues of each ## Output Always present key findings and recommendations as a plaintext summary in chat, even when also generating files. The user should be able to understand the results without opening any files.

M Sree Maruthi Sundar

Skills by M Sree Maruthi Sundar

GitHub Solution Finder