head to head · open source
refined-github vs Deta Surf
refined-github has 32,432 GitHub stars, 1,935 forks, 80 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. Deta Surf has 3,617 stars, 252 forks, 32 open issues and last shipped 2 months ago. refined-github leads on adoption by 797% (32,432 vs 3,617 stars). refined-github is written in TypeScript under MIT; Deta Surf is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0. refined-github has attracted 6% as many forks as stars, Deta Surf 7%. refined-github was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| refined-github | Deta Surf | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 32K | ★ 3.6K |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-11-03 | 2026-08-24 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.9K | ⑂ 252 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick refined-github if
- You weight community size — 32K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Deta Surf if
- You want the Deta Surf feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and Deta Surf fits your workflow better
About refined-github
Refined GitHub Browser extension that simplifies the GitHub interface and adds useful features We use GitHub a lot and notice many annoyances we'd like to fix. So here be dragons. Our hope is that GitHub will notice and implement some of these much needed improvements. So if you like any of these improvements, please open a discussion on GitHub feedback or contact GitHub support about doing it. GitHub Enterprise is also supported: How to enable it. The GITHUB and REFINED GITHUB trademarks are owned by GitHub, Inc. and used under license. Install [link chrome]: 'Version published on Chrome Web Store' [link…
read the full refined-github overview →
About Deta Surf
Website Discord Deta Surf: Your AI Notebook Deta Surf is an AI notebook that brings all your files and the web directly into your stream of thought. It’s meant for simultaneous research and thinking that minimizes the grunt work: manually searching, opening windows & tabs, scrolling, copying and pasting into a document editor. Surf is primarily built in Svelte, TypeScript and Rust, runs on MacOS, Windows & Linux, stores data locally in open formats, and is open source. Motivation Most applications are focused on a single task, or a single media type: notes, websites, or PDFs. Real thinking requires juggling…
read the full Deta Surf overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is refined-github or Deta Surf more popular?
refined-github has 32,432 GitHub stars and Deta Surf has 3,617. refined-github has the larger community by that measure.
Are refined-github and Deta Surf free?
Both are open source. refined-github is licensed under MIT and Deta Surf under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between refined-github and Deta Surf?
refined-github is written in TypeScript and Deta Surf in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, refined-github or Deta Surf?
Choose refined-github if you want the larger community (32,432 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose Deta Surf if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.