# GitHub Trending Scraper (`mattdef/github-trending-scraper`) Actor

Scrape GitHub Trending repositories by language and time range. Get trending repos with stars, forks, language, contributors. Fast, lightweight, no browser needed.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/mattdef/github-trending-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Matthieu Cast](https://apify.com/mattdef) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $3.00 / 1,000 product scrapeds

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

### GitHub Trending Scraper

Scrape [GitHub Trending](https://github.com/trending) repositories — the best way to discover hot open-source projects, monitor tech trends, and find inspiration.

#### What Data You Get

| Field | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `owner` | Repository owner |
| `name` | Repository name |
| `fullName` | Full name (owner/name) |
| `description` | Project description |
| `language` | Primary programming language |
| `totalStars` | Total stars |
| `forks` | Total forks |
| `periodStars` | Stars gained today/this week/this month |
| `periodLabel` | "today", "this week", or "this month" |
| `builtBy` | Contributors who built it |
| `license` | License type |
| `rank` | Position in trending list |
| `url` | Repository URL |

#### Use Cases

- 🔥 **Trend monitoring** — Track what's hot in open source
- 📊 **Market research** — Understand developer interests and technology adoption
- 💡 **Inspiration** — Find ideas for your next project
- 📈 **Content creation** — Weekly "top trending repos" newsletters
- 🎯 **Hiring** — Find active open-source contributors

#### Input Parameters

| Parameter | Description |
|-----------|-------------|
| `language` | Filter by language (e.g., `python`, `javascript`, `rust`) |
| `since` | `daily`, `weekly`, or `monthly` |
| `maxRepos` | Max repos to fetch (1-100) |

#### Output Example

```json
{
  "owner": "vercel",
  "name": "next.js",
  "fullName": "vercel/next.js",
  "description": "The React Framework for the Web",
  "language": "JavaScript",
  "totalStars": 132000,
  "forks": 28000,
  "periodStars": 450,
  "periodLabel": "today",
  "builtBy": ["timneutkens", "sebmarkbage", "gnoff"],
  "license": "MIT",
  "rank": 1,
  "url": "https://github.com/vercel/next.js",
  "scrapedAt": "2026-07-05T12:00:00.000Z",
  "timeRange": "daily",
  "languageFilter": "all"
}
```

#### Technical Details

- **No browser required** — GitHub Trending is server-rendered HTML
- **Fast** — Single HTTP request, ~1-2 seconds
- **Lightweight** — No Playwright/Puppeteer, minimal CU usage
- **Free** — No API key needed

#### Limitations

- GitHub Trending shows max ~25 repos per page
- Historical data not available (only current snapshot)
- Rate limiting: GitHub may block excessive requests

# Actor input Schema

## `language` (type: `string`):

Filter by language. Leave empty for all languages.

## `since` (type: `string`):

Show trending from this time range.

## `maxRepos` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of repos to fetch (max 25 per page).

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "since": "daily",
  "maxRepos": 25
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "language": ""
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("mattdef/github-trending-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "language": "" }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("mattdef/github-trending-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "language": ""
}' |
apify call mattdef/github-trending-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=mattdef/github-trending-scraper",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/WoyIAClIl7R0VkJ2e/builds/WNAeQjYUzzbF6snw9/openapi.json