GitHub Unfollow Script

auto unfollow script for those you follow but not following back on GitHub !

Run With GitHub Codespaces

you can even simply do this on GitHub Codespaces

To run the script in GitHub Codespaces:

1. (optional) Fork the repository to your own GitHub account.
2. Open a GitHub Codespace:
   • If you forked the repository, open it in GitHub Codespaces. The unfollow.js file should already exist.
   • Otherwise, open any other Codespace. Create a new file named unfollow.js and paste the JavaScript code into it.
3. Open a terminal in Codespaces (View > Terminal).
4. Replace 'your_username' and 'your_token_with_correct_permission' in the script with your actual GitHub username and personal access token.
   • Get the correct token with the necessary permissions here:
     https://github.com/settings/tokens/new?scopes=user:follow&description=Unfollow+Script+Token
5. in the terminal, to install the Octokit library, run

   npm install
   

   note: if you're using GitHub Codespaces, this step may have already been run automatically
6. run the script with

   SCRIPT_USERNAME=your_username SCRIPT_TOKEN=your_token SCRIPT_LIMIT=2500 node unfollow.js
   

   (Change SCRIPT_LIMIT to your desired subset size. If not set, defaults to 1000.)

Note:

• The above one-line command works in Codespaces, as I tested it myself.
• On local Windows (Command Prompt or PowerShell), this command might not work as shown. If you are on Windows and encounter issues, it is highly encouraged to use GitHub Codespaces for a seamless experience.

USE CASE

I tested it in one run—up to 4K users can be scanned, but it will take a few minutes. Make sure you have a stable connection, and I did not hit the rate limit during my tests. Enjoy!

You can safely process your following list in chunks (for example, 2,500 users at a time, running the script 4 times, or increasing the limit to 10,000 to ensure none are left). This approach helps ensure all non-followers are eventually unfollowed while keeping each run fast and manageable.

This script is optimized for accounts with up to 25,000 following and 25,000 followers (about 50,000 users total). It is safe and efficient for these sizes on most modern systems.

Recommended usage for best performance:

• For faster runs and to avoid long waits, process your following list in chunks (e.g., 2,500–10,000 users per run).
• You can re-run the script multiple times with different random samples to ensure all non-followers are eventually unfollowed.
• Example: Run with a limit of 2,500 users, four times, or increase the limit to 10,000 for broader coverage per run.

Note:

• For much larger accounts (over 50,000 following or followers), consider using a more advanced version with persistent storage or batching.
• Always monitor for GitHub API rate limits if processing very large lists.