[power78]

>I had no idea Github had a "trending" mechanism.

Sounds like this article doesn't apply to you then.

>Which is what it's supposed to be for.

That's just your opinion. Clearly people have been using github for discovering new software and more. I have found plenty of cool projects through the sites features.

[lucideer]

I use Github for discovering new software, and more. And a trending algorithm is of no use to me. I use search and filter based on practically applicable keywords and other facets that are relevant to my need at the time.

The author uses the phrase `the new JavaScript “hotness”` in the context of this somehow being a positive. Engineers going after libraries because of their "hotness" instead of because of their utility is exactly the problem with the Javascript (and other "cool" / "trending") ecosystems.