Build Transparency Dashboard

Automatically update a public dashboard with commit count, last commit, and timestamps from a private GitHub repo for transparent project progress.

Scaffold a live public "build dashboard" that automatically shows proof of work — commit count, last commit message, timestamp — pulled from a private GitHub repo and displayed on a public static site.

When to Use

Use this skill when you want to:

• Show your community what you're shipping, updated automatically on every push
• Build in public without exposing your private repo
• Add a community ideas board to let people vote on what you build next
• Create a polished /build page for your product or project

The Pattern

Private repo (your code)
  └── GitHub Actions: on push → runs update-status.js
        └── Writes status.json → commits to public site repo
              └── Public site fetches status.json every 60s → displays live stats

Result: every git push to your private repo automatically updates your public dashboard within minutes.

What's Included

build-transparency-dashboard/
├── SKILL.md                     ← this file
├── scripts/
│   ├── update-status.js         ← generates status.json from git log
│   └── ideas-api.js             ← Express routes for community ideas board
├── assets/
│   ├── build.html               ← dashboard page template
│   ├── nav.js                   ← shared nav renderer (configurable)
│   ├── nav.css                  ← nav styles
│   └── github-actions.yml       ← GitHub Actions workflow template
└── references/
    └── setup-guide.md           ← step-by-step setup instructions

Quick Setup

1. Variables to Customize

In assets/build.html, search for these TODOs:

TODO	Replace With
YOUR_PROJECT_NAME	Your project's display name (e.g. MyApp)
YOUR_BORN_DATE	ISO date your project started (e.g. 2026-01-01T00:00:00-05:00)
YOUR_BRAND_COLOR	Hex color (default: #7c6eff)
YOUR_COIN_CA	Token contract address, or remove the coin section entirely
YOUR_IDEAS_API_URL	Base URL of your ideas API (e.g. https://myapp.fly.dev/public/ideas)
YOUR_TWITTER_HANDLE	Your @handle for the nav badge
YOUR_QUEUE_ITEMS	What you're building next (edit the queue section)

In assets/github-actions.yml, set these:

Variable	Description
SITE_REPO	Your public site repo (e.g. username/my-site)
SITE_REPO_PATH	Directory name for checkout (e.g. my-site)
BOT_NAME	Committer name (e.g. StatusBot)
BOT_EMAIL	Committer email

In assets/nav.js, edit the config object at the top:

const NAV_CONFIG = {
  brand: 'MYAPP',            // nav logo text
  links: [
    { href: '/', label: 'Home' },
    { href: '/build', label: 'The Build' },
  ],
  badge: { label: '@yourhandle ↗', href: 'https://x.com/yourhandle' },
};

2. GitHub Secret Required

Add to your private repo → Settings → Secrets and variables → Actions:

• GH_PAT — Personal Access Token with repo scope (to push to the public site repo)

3. Deploy Your Public Site

The build.html file is a standalone static page. Deploy anywhere:

• Fly.io: fly launch + fly deploy in your site repo
• Netlify: drag & drop or connect repo
• GitHub Pages: push to a gh-pages branch
• Vercel: connect repo, zero config

4. Add the Ideas API (Optional)

The community ideas board requires a running API. Copy scripts/ideas-api.js into your backend app and mount the routes. It uses a flat JSON file for storage — no database needed.

Or skip it entirely: remove the coin/ideas section from build.html and it works as a pure static display.

5. Add the Workflow to Your Private Repo

Copy assets/github-actions.yml to .github/workflows/update-build-status.yml in your private repo. Push a commit — the workflow fires automatically.

status.json Shape

The workflow generates this file and commits it to your public site repo:

{
  "generatedAt": "2026-02-28T21:00:00Z",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "project": {
    "name": "MyApp",
    "description": "Your project description.",
    "born": "2026-01-01T00:00:00-05:00",
    "status": "building",
    "statusText": "Online · Building"
  },
  "lastCommit": {
    "message": "feat: add dark mode",
    "time": "2026-02-28T20:55:00Z"
  },
  "commitsThisWeek": 12,
  "shipped": [],
  "queue": [],
  "ideas": []
}

Design System

The template uses:

• Syne (display headings) + DM Sans (body) + DM Mono (mono/labels)
• Dark theme — #050508 background, #7c6eff brand accent
• Noise overlay, animated orbs, fixed ticker bar
• Fully responsive (desktop → tablet → mobile)

Swap --nova / --nova2 CSS vars for your brand color.

See a Live Example

The pattern was built for novaiok-site.fly.dev/build. That's the reference implementation.

Files to Read Next

• references/setup-guide.md — detailed step-by-step with commands
• assets/build.html — the template (search TODOs)
• assets/github-actions.yml — the workflow