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Git-Tulkun: Procedural Generation and GitHub Activity Visualization

Author: Dev Borah (bitzzdev)
Date: November 2026
Status: Evaluated

Abstract

This paper reviews git-tulkun, an open-source procedural visualization project created by Pramuditha Nadun. We evaluate its animation mechanics, GitHub GraphQL API data ingestion, logarithmic scaling algorithms, and non-destructive git branch workflows.

1. Algorithmic Growth Model

git-tulkun visualizes developer commit velocity by generating an animated pixel-art whale that grows dynamically throughout the year.

Mechanics:

  • Logarithmic scaling: Contribution counts are mapped across developmental stages (from infant calf to armored bull) using logarithmic curves. This prevents early activity spikes from maxing out stages prematurely while rewarding steady contributions.
  • Dynamic color extraction: Top language percentages from the user's public repositories determine the color palette of the whale's spine, fins, and body textures.
  • Annual lifecycle: A reset triggers automatically on January 1st (or on a rolling 365-day window) to establish yearly milestones.

2. GitHub Actions Automation

To maintain a zero-maintenance workflow without polluting repository commit logs, git-tulkun uses an orphan branch deployment pattern:

name: Generate Git Tulkun
on:
  schedule:
    - cron: "0 0 * * *"
  workflow_dispatch:

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - uses: PramudithaN/git-tulkun@main
        with:
          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}

Execution steps:

  1. Gathers contribution stats via GitHub GraphQL API.
  2. Renders GIF frames and composite share cards in headless memory.
  3. Force-pushes the rendered assets to an orphan branch (tulkun-output), keeping the main git tree clean.

3. Findings

git-tulkun represents a clean implementation of self-updating repository telemetry, showing how GitHub Actions can automate media generation without manual human intervention.