this post was submitted on 30 Apr 2026
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Have you ever found a GitHub project or anything that seemed nice and tempting to install until you dug a bit deeper?

What are some red flags that should detur anyone from installing and running something?

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The project is requires really weird unconventional set up. Doesn't package properly, configuration files in weird places, doesn't follow convention but doesn't gain anything from it

[–] CCMan1701A@startrek.website 2 points 2 hours ago

Runs on Windows CE

[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 6 points 5 hours ago (3 children)

Requires weird IDE to build

I shifted 8 GB of files to an older machine just to be able to install Android SDK on barely-supported hardware, and now I'm cloning the repo and the .gradle directory alone is 1 GB?

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

I bet they checked in the binary. Git is really poor with binaries since it can’t really diff them. And the worst part is gradle should never have the binary in the source tree

[–] boraginoru@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 hours ago

You don't even need to check in .gradle to a repo, I always have that gitignored. And gradle projects should specify commands to build from CLI rather than having you download an IDE. Android Studio gives you a nice run button but it's just invoking ./gradlew installDebug under the hood

[–] thebustinater@lemmy.zip 1 points 5 hours ago

I'm amused that you mentioned requiring an IDE and then gave gradle (a standalone build tool) and Android as an example... when I'm pretty sure that ios actually requires xcode (AND an apple account) to build apps

[–] Blaster_M@lemmy.world 10 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

"This project has been archived on [10+ years ago]. It is now Read Only."

or

Last commit 5+ years ago

[–] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 5 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Depends. Software can be done.

[–] sneezycat@sopuli.xyz 0 points 5 hours ago
[–] Vex_Detrause@lemmy.ca 3 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

When installing if I see a pre-checked check mark I will be more likely to read what the software is trying to install. What are you trying to install now?

[–] the_grass_trainer@lemmy.world 10 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Signing-in before being able to use a FREE software.

-glares at Canva after buying Affinity -

[–] ParadoxSeahorse@lemmy.world 3 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

That’s why they bought it

[–] the_grass_trainer@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah, but it's still irritating. The only function they added to the software that i use is Image Trace. Otherwise i still use the old Affinity Designer that i bought years ago.

[–] ParadoxSeahorse@lemmy.world 3 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Serif were always great, I’m a bit doom and gloom on it

[–] prenatal_confusion@feddit.org 3 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

No stars (although easily manipulated)

No commit history

No issue history

No pr requests (soft no)

No contributions from people with a active history

[–] VitoRobles@lemmy.today 3 points 13 hours ago

Something I do is if a project has way too many stars, click on a few of the names randomly.

If those profiles have 0-1 projects, my yellow flag (not red flag) goes up. Because yeah, it's really easy to buy GitHub stars now.

[–] rodneylives@lemmy.world 11 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

A rule of thumb I use is how desperate the software is to tell you the weather even when you never asked for it or even set it up to report it.

[–] mech@feddit.org 49 points 1 day ago (2 children)
[–] rekabis@lemmy.ca 6 points 8 hours ago

I can’t believe that marketing people are this fucking stupid.

Like, full-on knuckle-dragging morons.

They intentionally drive away more paying customers than they could ever “channelize” with this method.

Because most people realize that prices are only ever hidden for malicious, anti-consumer purposes.

[–] osanna@lemmy.vg 15 points 21 hours ago

Aaaaaand tab closed.

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