Visualizing GitHub Contributions with TeeChart VCL: A Technical Walkthrough

GitHub’s contribution chart is a familiar sight for developers, offering a quick visual summary of a user’s activity over time. But what if you want to build your own, customized version for desktop and mobile applications – perhaps with enhanced interactivity or additional data features? In this post, we’ll walk through how you can visualize GitHub contributions using TeeChart, a powerful charting library.

Why Use TeeChart VCL for GitHub Contributions?

TeeChart is a robust charting solution for developers using Delphi and C++Builder. With TeeChart, you can create rich, interactive charts for a wide range of platforms, including Windows, Android, macOS, iOS and Linux.

This flexibility means you can visualize GitHub contributions in both desktop and mobile applications, with features like tooltips, zooming, and more.

How the Example Works

The example project, available on GitHub at Steema/TeeChart-VCL-GitHub-Contributions, demonstrates fetching and visualizing a user’s GitHub contributions using TeeChart. While the repository highlights VCL, the same approach can be adapted for FMX and cross-platform development.

Key Steps in the Process

• Input GitHub Username The application presents a simple interface where you enter a GitHub username.

• Fetch Data via API
  The app calls a public API endpoint: https://github-contributions.vercel.app/api/v1/{username}
  This API returns the user’s contribution data in a structured format.

• Parse and Display Data
  The returned data is parsed and fed into TeeChart VCL.
  The chart renders the contributions, typically as a series of squares or points corresponding to each day of activity.

Technical Highlights

• API Integration: The project uses a third-party API to fetch GitHub contributions, simplifying data retrieval without direct access to GitHub’s backend.
• Easy Setup: All you need is a working installation of TeeChart VCL (trial or licensed) and a supported IDE to get started.

Getting Started

• Clone the Repository
  • git clone https://github.com/Steema/TeeChart-VCL-GitHub-Contributions
• Open in IDE
  • Open the project in Delphi.
• Install TeeChart VCL
  • Ensure TeeChart VCL is installed (download from Steema’s website if needed).
• Build and Run
  • Build and run the application.
  • Enter a GitHub username and watch the chart populate with contribution data.

Customization and Extensions

The project is open for customization. You can:

• Modify the chart style: Change colors, add annotations, or adjust the layout.
• Enhance data handling: Add caching, error handling, or support for more data sources.
• Extend the UI: Integrate the chart into a larger application or add export options.

Conclusion

Visualizing GitHub contributions with TeeChart VCL is a practical example of how to enrich desktop applications with interactive, data-driven charts. The project demonstrates seamless API integration, robust charting capabilities, and straightforward setup for Delphi. Whether for personal dashboards or team analytics, this approach unlocks new possibilities for visualizing developer activity.

Ready to try it yourself? Head over to the GitHub repository and start charting!