Question 1

What is GitWatchman?

Accepted Answer

GitWatchman is a free GitHub release notification service that monitors repositories and sends you email alerts whenever a new version is released. It helps developers stay up-to-date with their favorite open-source projects without manually checking for updates.

Question 2

How do I get notified when a GitHub repository releases a new version?

Accepted Answer

Simply sign up for GitWatchman with your GitHub or Google account, then add the repositories you want to track. Our system automatically checks for new releases every hour and sends you an email notification when a new version is detected, including release notes and a direct link.

Question 3

Is there a free GitHub release tracker?

Accepted Answer

Yes! GitWatchman is completely free during the beta period. You can monitor up to 5 GitHub repositories at no cost. Unlike other services, we focus on simplicity - just email notifications without complex setup or integrations.

Question 4

How can I track GitHub releases automatically?

Accepted Answer

GitWatchman automatically tracks GitHub releases for you. Just add any public repository by searching its name or pasting its URL (e.g., github.com/facebook/react). We'll check for new releases every hour, 24/7, and notify you via email instantly.

Question 5

How often does GitWatchman check for new GitHub releases?

Accepted Answer

Our automatic release monitoring system checks your tracked repositories for new releases every hour, around the clock. This ensures you're promptly notified when new versions are published while respecting GitHub's API rate limits.

Question 6

Can I get email alerts for GitHub releases?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Email notifications are GitWatchman's core feature. When any repository you're tracking releases a new version, you'll receive an email with the version number, release notes summary, and a direct link to the release page.

Question 7

What's the best alternative to GitHub's Watch feature for releases?

Accepted Answer

GitWatchman is designed specifically for release tracking, unlike GitHub's Watch feature which can flood your inbox with all repository activity. We send one clean email per release, making it easy to stay updated on new versions without notification overload.

Question 8

How does GitWatchman compare to NewReleases.io?

Accepted Answer

GitWatchman focuses on simplicity and ease of use for GitHub repositories specifically. While services like NewReleases support many platforms, GitWatchman offers a streamlined experience: quick signup with GitHub/Google, simple email notifications, and a clean dashboard to manage your monitored repos.

Question 9

Is my data secure with GitWatchman?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We use GitHub OAuth for authentication, meaning we never see or store your GitHub password. Your email is only used for release notifications. All data is stored securely on Supabase with row-level security enabled.

Question 10

How do I unsubscribe from GitHub release notifications?

Accepted Answer

You can remove individual repositories from your dashboard at any time to stop receiving notifications for them. To completely unsubscribe, you can delete your account from your profile settings, which removes all your data including monitored repositories.