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Comment by apples_oranges

6 hours ago

I look at the starts when choosing dependencies, it's a first filter for sure. Good reminder that everything gets gamed given the incentives.

4 comments

apples_oranges

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msdz  6 hours ago

> I look at the starts when choosing dependencies, it's a first filter for sure.

Unfortunately I still look at them, too, out of habit: The project or repo's star count _was_ a first filter in the past, and we must keep in mind it no longer is.

> Good reminder that everything gets gamed given the incentives.

Also known as Goodhart's law [1]: "When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure".

Essentially, VCs screwed this one up for the rest of us, I think?

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodhart%27s_law

  • GrinningFool  4 hours ago

    > The project or repo's star count _was_ a first filter in the past, a

    I agree that it has been a first filter, but should it ever have been? A star only says that someone had a passing interest in a project. Not significantly different from a 'like' on a social media post.

  • yuppiepuppie  5 hours ago

    > The project or repo's star count _was_ a first filter in the past, and we must keep in mind it no longer is.

    Id suggest the first question to ask is "if the project is an AI project or not?" If it is, dont pay attention to the stars - if it's not, use the stars as a first filter. That's the way I analyse projects on Github now.