Why are my GitHub commits not showing up in my contribution chart?
All commits should show up in your repositories, but there are some criteria that has to be met in order for a GitHub commit to be counted as a contribution on your profile page.
Does it matter if my commits are in my repositories, but not counted on my profile page?
The importance of showcasing your commits via green squares can vary. Some say it’s not important because the evidence is already in your repositories. Others say that your contributions chart on your profile page is very important because it’s the first look at how much work/practice you’ve accumulated over the years. If a potential employer takes a look at your profile page and see’s that you’ve been making no commits for the past few months (even though you have), they may be left wondering what’s going on and hesitate to hire you. Did you quit? Were you unmotivated? Do you know how to use GitHub? It’s probably best to avoid these doubts as a first impression from an employer.
So how do I make sure my commits are counted as acceptable contributions?
Well, here is an article from the GitHub docs that explains what is counted as a contribution: https://docs.github.com/en/free-pro-team@latest/github/setting-up-and-managing-your-github-profile/why-are-my-contributions-not-showing-up-on-my-profile
I meet all of the criteria, but my commits are not being counted. What do I do? You are probably missing some criteria. One of the biggest mistakes (and one that I’ve personally made) is that your GitHub email address is different from the email associated with the Git commits you make in your terminal. This article shows you how to set both up correctly and make sure they match: https://docs.github.com/en/free-pro-team@latest/github/setting-up-and-managing-your-github-user-account/setting-your-commit-email-address
Another helpful tool I’ve recently discovered is the Contribution Checker. To see if your GitHub commit will be counted as a contribution, use this tracker: http://contribution-checker.herokuapp.com/
