Most streak apps trust you. You tap “done,” the number goes up, and nothing checks. On a good day that’s fine. On a bad day, that trust is the problem, because nothing stops you letting yourself off.
I wanted a streak that checks the one thing I can’t fake: whether code reached GitHub.
What it checks, and what it doesn’t
Setup takes about a minute. Connect GitHub, pick a repo, and set a daily commit target.
GitHub sends push notifications. Vigilante uses the push payload: commit IDs, timestamps and file names. Commit messages are stored only if you turn on sharing them. It never requests your code or diffs.
Not every push counts. Merge commits, empty commits, and changes to documentation, lock files or repo config alone don’t count. A day needs at least one other changed file. I drew that line on purpose: a day is “did you ship something real,” not “did you touch a file.”
The honest limit: it can’t tell a thoughtful commit from a typo fix, and it doesn’t try. What it guarantees is that a verified day means code actually reached GitHub.
Why a game on top
Every verified day drops a crate with Materials, XP and a chance of a bonus. Streaks raise the reward: ×1.2 at 3 days, ×1.5 at 7 and up.
You spend Materials on a settlement called Lantern District, which has six buildings with five levels each. Survivors move in as you upgrade. The game is a ledger for the streak: when you miss a day, the salvage pauses and the town goes quiet, so the gap is something you can see. Revival Fluid can repair one missed day.
Design decisions
Only verified work makes progress. Logging in, tapping, or watching anything grants nothing. That rule is in the code, not just the copy.
Store as little as possible. The app keeps counts. Commit text is kept only with consent. Deleting an account removes its data and keeps one anonymous row of totals.
Try it
If you’d rather not connect GitHub yet, the free check-up needs no sign-up: https://vigilante.ocix.in/audit
What’s the one signal you’d trust in a streak tool? I’d like to know what you’d check first.
Top comments (2)
part of the reasons why i love dev.to 😂. This is so cool i just tried it with one of my repos...the settlement artwork and overall look instantly reminded me of Townsmen, which I used to play all the time growing up. Turning real GitHub pushes into actual resources to build a town makes building a streak so much more satisfying than just watching a number go up on a generic tracker. Really clever approach
Thank you so much! Townsmen was a big inspiration for the look and feel.
Since you’ve actually tried it: Can you tell me what’s one thing that felt great, and one thing that felt missing? I’m building this in the open and your take would shape what I do next.
Also Would you mind if I quote your comment on the Vigilante site and in posts, with your name or handle?