[HasanYousef]

This feels, not ethical.

[NavinF]

Decorating the commit history calendar has been around since forever: https://github.com/gelstudios/gitfiti

Fake code generators have been around since forever: https://hackertyper.net/

Combining them seems like the logical next step.

[michaelsshaw]

HackerTyper isn't a generator, but is actually from the Linux kernel. It's kernel/groups.c, but just a really old version.

[amyjess]

This would explain why I've seen groups.c code pop up in various TV shows as filler when someone is writing code on the fly.

[blagie]

This feels ethical.

We have broken, emergent incentive structures in our system. Tweaking those can be good or bad. It's not like a cheating on a test.

If I were to modify it, I'd make it draw a picture :)

[O__________O]

Might be worth explicitly staying you feel it’s unethical so it’s possible to respond to your position.

I for one am able to think of numerous ethical ways it might be of use.

[trailingComma]

Could you share them?

[O__________O]

Sure, for example, as way for a researcher to generate realistic GitHub profiles to combine with realistic resumes to do field research on labor market discrimination.

Example of such research, which is common, ethical, and completely legal to do:

https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/talent-acqu...

[andy_xor_andrew]

ethical use: you use it, and the squares on your github.com profile, which is a website that hosts git repos, turn green.

[O__________O]

While I would be the first to say those squares are meaningless without context, if someone led others to believe they were the result of anything other than automatically generated posted and didn’t have a legitimate reason like the one I posted, that might potentially be fraud, especially if it was used as a basis for future economic exchanges, such as employment.

[onethought]

Isn’t my GitHub profile mine? Is it unethical to manipulate my own data?

People manipulate their identity all the time, flashy IG posts, financed fancy car, combing their hair, wearing makeup.

But code commit history is the line?

[QuantumGood]

Thank you for making your framing clear with examples, and your POV with "code commit history is the line?"

[pertymcpert]

Using GitHub green squares as a basis for offering employment is as stupid as using the color of their hair. Don't play stupid games if you don't want stupid prizes.