Question 1

What is StarMapper?

Accepted Answer

StarMapper is a free web tool that shows you where your GitHub repository's stargazers are located. It fetches all stargazers via the GitHub API, geocodes their profile locations, and renders them on an interactive world map with country, city, and company statistics.

Question 2

Is StarMapper free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes, StarMapper is completely free. No account, no login, and no credit card required. Just paste a GitHub repository URL and click Map It.

Question 3

How does StarMapper work?

Accepted Answer

StarMapper fetches the list of stargazers for a GitHub repository using the GitHub GraphQL API. It then geocodes each user's self-reported location using a shared geocoding cache. The results are rendered on an interactive MapLibre GL map with native clustering, grouped by country and city.

Question 4

Does StarMapper work with private repositories?

Accepted Answer

StarMapper only works with public GitHub repositories. Private repository data is not accessible via the public GitHub API.

Question 5

How accurate is the stargazer location data?

Accepted Answer

Location accuracy depends on what GitHub users enter in their profile. StarMapper geocodes free-text location fields, so accuracy varies. On average, 60–80% of stargazers have a mappable location. Users who leave their location blank appear in the 'Unmapped' list.

Question 6

Can I embed a StarMapper badge in my README?

Accepted Answer

Yes. After scanning a repository, StarMapper generates an embeddable SVG badge showing the star count and number of mapped countries. You can copy the Markdown snippet directly from the map page.

Question 7

Where does the stargazer data come from?

Accepted Answer

StarMapper uses the GitHub public API (GraphQL + REST) with an authenticated token to access publicly visible profile fields: username, display name, and the self-declared location field. Location text is geocoded using Jawg, Geoapify, and Nominatim. Results are displayed as geographic clusters, not searchable individual records. See our Privacy Policy for details.

Question 8

How do I request removal of my data from StarMapper?

Accepted Answer

Send an email to florian@bruniaux.com with your GitHub username and confirmation that you own the account. We will delete your profile data and star events within 30 days. Alternatively, remove your location from your GitHub profile settings — the next scan will reflect the change automatically.