Frequently Asked Questions
Project Selection
What projects are included in LFX Insights?
For now, Insights includes Linux Foundation-hosted projects and a selection of critical non-LF projects. Our focus is on software that is actively maintained and widely used in the open source ecosystem.
How do you decide which non-Linux Foundation projects are added?
We use the OpenSSF Criticality Score to identify impactful projects. We apply manual filters to remove non-code or mirrored repositories.
Why isn’t my project listed?
If your project isn’t hosted by the LF and doesn’t meet our criticality criteria, it may not be included. We’re working on expanding coverage continuously.
My project is listed, but the data looks incorrect — how can I fix it?
You can suggest changes or flag issues via the Insights dashboard ("report issue") or by emailing us at [email protected].
Understanding Metrics
What do the different scores mean?
We documentented detailed explanations for each metric. You can find them grouped by the four different dimensions: Contributors, Development, Health Score, Popularity, and Security & Best Practices.
How is the overall project healthscore calculated?
The total score is a weighted sum of the four dimensions. Each dimension is scored on a fixed scale and based on transparent benchmarks. You can read more details in the Health Score section.
What does “criticality” mean in this context?
“Criticality” reflects how essential a project is to the broader ecosystem. It includes factors like usage, dependency footprint, contributor activity, and update frequency. We determine criticality based on the OpenSSF Criticality Score.
How often are the metrics updated?
Most project data is refreshed daily. Some metrics tied to contributor identity or external data sources may update less frequently.
Contributors & Organizations
How do you track contributor activity across different platforms and email addresses?
We use AI-assisted identity resolution to unify contributor profiles across multiple handles and domains. Manual review and community feedback also help improve accuracy.
Why are my contributions not showing up?
This usually happens if we haven’t correctly linked your identity or if contributions occurred under an unrecognized alias. Please refer to How You Can Help to Improve Data Quality to learn how to report incorrect data.
Why is my organization not properly affiliated to our contributions?
We do organizational affiliation based on publicly available profile data (e.g. from GitHub), email domains, and other public and private signals. Nevertheless, it happens that affiliations are not correct. Please refer to How You Can Help to Improve Data Quality to learn how to report incorrect affiliations.
Data Quality and Corrections
Where does LFX Insights get its data?
Our data comes from our internal Community Data Platform, which covers 20+ different sources. Learn more about Data Sources.
Why is open source data so difficult to get right?
There’s no single source of truth, and most data comes from weak control data sources. For example: Contributors use multiple emails, organizations have complex naming conventions, and projects span diverse platforms.
Q: How do you ensure accuracy in your contributor and project data?
We use a multi-step process involving AI enrichment, human curation, and direct user feedback. Our goal is 90%+ correctness in production data. Learn more about Data Quality.
Q: Can I suggest a correction or improvement?
Yes — you can submit feedback via the Insights interface or by contacting us at [email protected]. We welcome community-submitted improvements!
Using Insights
How can I use the Insights data to make better decisions?
Insights can help identify healthy projects, track contributor impact, and assess technical trustworthiness. It’s useful for OSPOs, foundations, security teams, and developers alike.
Can I export data or integrate it into our internal dashboards?
Direct data export isn’t supported today.
Can I embed my project’s score or badge in a README?
Yes — we offer embeddable project badges. These can be added to your GitHub README or documentation to showcase your project’s status.
Roadmap and Feedback
Will more projects or metrics be added?
Yes. We’re constantly expanding coverage, refining the scoring model, and integrating more data dimensions based on community needs.
How can I give feedback or request a feature?
You can send an email to [email protected].