Guide · Open source
How to use programmer-job-blacklist: read and check company reports
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
programmer-job-blacklist is an open GitHub list, written in Chinese, of links to Zhihu threads, forum posts and news articles about companies and co-founder disputes that developers reported. It is meant for developers who read Chinese and want a starting point before accepting a job or becoming a technical co-founder. This guide shows how the list is organised, how to read it offline, and how to treat what you find there.
programmer-job-blacklistshengxinjing/programmer-job-blacklist · ★ 28.4k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Clone the repository. Run the git clone command from the README to copy the list to your computer.
- 2Pick the matching section. Choose the section for your situation, such as 普通程序员 for an employer or 技术合伙人 for a co-founder offer.
- 3Open the linked sources. Read the Zhihu threads, forum posts or news articles behind each entry, including the replies.
- 4Note dates and context. Record when each source was written and what the entry actually reports, since the README gives few dates.
- 5Verify independently. Check the company or co-founder with other sources before you decide anything.
- 6Report problems. Use the GitHub issues page to flag broken links or suggest additions.
What the programmer-job-blacklist project is
The project is a README-based list of links, not a software tool. Its maintainer says they only collect links and that readers should judge the stories for themselves.
Entries are grouped by company and by the kind of problem reported, such as unpaid wages, forced resignations, or disputes with technical co-founders. Most linked sources are Zhihu threads, forum posts and news articles.
- Licence: MIT
- Main language of the repository: Shell
- Homepage: http://coder.shengxinjing.cn/
- Sections include 程序员黑名单 (programmer blacklist), 普通程序员 (ordinary programmers), 技术合伙人 (technical co-founders), 不确定的 (uncertain) and 选公司 (choosing a company).
Clone the repository to read it offline
The README gives one install command. It clones the repository so you can read the list offline. The project has no other prerequisites listed.
Because the project is read-online material, you do not need to run anything after cloning. Open the README in any text or Markdown viewer.
git clone https://github.com/shengxinjing/programmer-job-blacklistRead the list by company and by problem type
Find the company name under the section that matches your concern. Each company has one or more links with a short title that describes the reported event, often written as a question such as 如何看待 (what do you think of).
Some entries are about a single person or a single event rather than a company's general practice. The README itself gives examples of this, such as an entry about a founder's disputed share promises and an entry about an employee's personal decision to avoid a company after a layoff.
- Start with the section that matches your situation: an employer offer, a co-founder offer, or a general check.
- Open the linked threads and read the replies, not only the original post.
- Note the date on each source yourself, because the README does not give dates for most entries.
Judge the sources yourself
The README asks readers to judge the stories for themselves. Its maintainer states that the list only collects links and that the facts behind them are not verified by the project.
The README also says that some entries are not serious problems. For example, it notes that one listed company paid its staff but was listed for a dispute about shares, and that another listed company followed its contract in layoffs. Reading the context matters more than the presence of a name.
- Treat each link as one person's account or a news report, not as a confirmed finding.
- Compare several sources for the same company before drawing a conclusion.
- Check the company yourself with independent sources, such as a company registry. The README recommends checking a company's background before joining, and names one Chinese business information site as an example.
Contribute or report a missing link
The README invites readers to take part in maintaining the list through its GitHub issues page. Contributions and corrections are handled as issues on the repository.
If you find a broken link or a link that should be added, use the issues page. The maintainer also links a Weibo account for contact.
- Open the repository's issues page on GitHub to report a broken link or suggest an entry.
- Include the source link and a short description of what it says.
What people use it for
- Checking whether a company has public reports of unpaid wages before accepting an offer
- Reviewing past co-founder disputes before agreeing to share equity or responsibilities
- Finding Chinese-language discussions about a company's working culture or layoffs
- Starting a background check list for companies you are considering
Frequently asked questions
How do I install programmer-job-blacklist?
There is nothing to install. The README gives one command, git clone https://github.com/shengxinjing/programmer-job-blacklist, which copies the repository so you can read it offline. The project is read-online material.
Is programmer-job-blacklist free to use?
The repository is licensed under MIT. The README does not list any paid tier or price.
What are the requirements to use it?
The README lists no prerequisites. You need a way to read Markdown and, in practice, the ability to read Chinese, since most linked sources are in Chinese.
Are the facts in the list verified?
No. The list only collects links to unverified community posts and news reports. The maintainer says readers should judge the stories themselves.
Are there alternatives to programmer-job-blacklist?
The source does not name any comparable projects. For company background, the README suggests checking a company with a Chinese business information site, tianyancha.com, before joining.
Can I use it if I don't read Chinese?
It will be hard. The README is in Chinese and most linked sources are in Chinese, so you would need translation tools to get much from it.
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Our verdict
Use programmer-job-blacklist as a starting point if you read Chinese and want to see what has been publicly reported about a company or co-founder before you decide. Do not treat it as verified evidence, and pick a different resource if you need checked facts or software to run.
Install options & downloads