How to get GitHub repository
GET request to /v1/github/repository with your input. You get clean JSON back in seconds for 1 credit per call — no OAuth, scraping or platform SDKs. GitHub repo — stars, real watchers (subscribers), openIssuesAndPrs, license, parent when fork (1 credit).How to get GitHub repository (step by step)
- 1
Get a free API key
Create a free Captapi account (100 credits, no card) and generate an API key from the dashboard.
- 2
Call the GitHub Repository API
Send an authenticated GET request to /v1/github/repository with your input. No OAuth, no scraping setup.
- 3
Read the JSON response
Parse the clean JSON response. Pass cache=true for a free 24h cache hit; default is always fresh.
Code example
curl "https://api.captapi.com/v1/github/repository?repo=torvalds%2Flinux" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer capt_live_..."
# or: -H "x-api-key: capt_live_..."What the response looks like
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"platform": "github",
"type": "repository",
"name": "linux",
"fullName": "torvalds/linux",
"url": "https://github.com/torvalds/linux",
"description": "Linux kernel source tree",
"owner": "torvalds",
"ownerUrl": "https://github.com/torvalds",
"ownerType": "User",
"ownerAvatar": "https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/1024025?v=4",
"language": "C",
"stars": 241852,
"forks": 63487,
"watchers": 8345,
"openIssuesAndPrs": 3,
"defaultBranch": "master",
"licenseName": "Other",
"isFork": false,
"isArchived": false,
"size": 6228144,
"visibility": "public",
"hasIssues": false,
"hasDiscussions": false,
"pushedAt": "2026-07-18T04:53:39Z",
"createdAt": "2011-09-04T22:48:12Z",
"updatedAt": "2026-07-18T18:40:38Z"
}
}Billing metadata (credits charged, cache hit/miss) is returned in the X-Captapi-Credits and X-Captapi-Cache response headers.
Request parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| repo | string | Yes | Repository URL or owner/name, e.g. torvalds/linux or https://github.com/torvalds/linux. |
| cache | boolean | No | Set true to serve from the 24h response cache (0 credits on hit). Default false — always fetch fresh. Envelope includes cached + cachedAt on hits. |
Frequently asked questions
What does the GitHub Repository API do?
The GitHub Repository API lets you fetch full metadata and key stats from a public GitHub GitHub resource using one GET request to /v1/github/repository. It returns clean JSON — no OAuth or infrastructure setup required.
How many credits does the GitHub Repository API cost?
Each successful call costs 1 credit. Pass cache=true to serve from the 24h cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh. Hits include cached + cachedAt. Selected profile endpoints also accept cacheMaxAge=1d|3d|7d|14d|30d. Failed or empty results are never charged.
Do I need a GitHub API key or OAuth?
No. A single Captapi key works across every platform Captapi supports — YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, Reddit, Threads, Bluesky, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Rumble, Spotify, Kwai, and more. We handle proxies, rate limits, retries, and authentication for you.
Is watchers the same as stars?
No. watchers is GitHub's subscribers_count (notification watchers). GitHub's REST watchers_count field is a deprecated alias of stargazers and is never returned here.
Why is openIssuesAndPrs not just open issues?
GitHub's open_issues_count includes open pull requests. Use /github/pull-requests when you need PRs alone.
Is the GitHub Repository API suitable for production use?
Yes. It is a stable REST endpoint with predictable JSON and automatic retries. Pass cache=true to serve from the 24h cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh. Hits include cached + cachedAt. Selected profile endpoints also accept cacheMaxAge=1d|3d|7d|14d|30d. Use it for analytics, monitoring, and content automation.
Ready to get GitHub repository?
Start free with 100 credits — no credit card required.
Get your free API key