Populated repository shows empty; git and GraphQL still work

[joshuasundance-swca]

🏷️ Discussion Type

Bug

Body

A populated public repository is being treated as empty by GitHub’s web interface and several REST endpoints, while Git cloning and GraphQL work. Support ticket #4860798 was closed because my account has self-service support only. Could GitHub staff route this apparent service inconsistency to the appropriate team? The text of the original support ticket and associated technical evidence follows.

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My public repository incorrectly displays “This repository is empty”:

https://github.com/joshuasundance-swca/throttlebrawl

The problem was reproduced on October 15, 2026, between 06:07 and 06:09 UTC. The repository root, /tree/main, and the current commit’s tree page all display the empty-repository message.

However:

• A fresh, non-shallow HTTPS clone succeeds and passes git fsck --full --no-dangling, with 740 commits reachable from main.
• GraphQL reports isEmpty=false, isLocked=false, and isDisabled=false, and returns the current commit and root tree.
• REST repository contents and branch endpoints work.
• REST commit, tree, and Git-reference endpoints return HTTP 409 with “Git Repository is empty.”
• Both authenticated and anonymous REST requests reproduce the failures.

Current main commit:
65a04dafbc771b3f96d28e40d39ab8de603da0da

Root tree:
dd74f0158d46600ba3315ee9e643b0b82c80570f

Example failing endpoints:

https://api.github.com/repos/joshuasundance-swca/throttlebrawl/git/trees/dd74f0158d46600ba3315ee9e643b0b82c80570f

https://api.github.com/repos/joshuasundance-swca/throttlebrawl/git/commits/65a04dafbc771b3f96d28e40d39ab8de603da0da

Request IDs captured around 06:09:25 UTC:

• Web page: B068:26D7D1:92CFB0:AA9BEA:6AD06E15
• REST tree, HTTP 409: 989D:488FA:CB668A:D89844:6AD06E15
• REST Git commit, HTTP 409: BDBC:1084D7:CC70C5:D9A9A9:6AD06E15

An unrelated control repository loads normally, and GitHub Status reported no active incident during these checks. No repository changes or speculative repair pushes were attempted during diagnosis.

Please investigate why the web interface and REST endpoints disagree with Git and GraphQL, confirm repository data integrity, and advise whether pushes and merges are safe while this persists.

Additional timestamped response bodies and diagnostic logs are available upon request.

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[joshuasundance-swca]

related: https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/210335