5 ms·

Clash, a tool to break China's Great Fire Wall, is Deleted in GitHub

78 points by basic_banana 3y ago

0dayz 3y ago
Is there any evidence that its foul play? Could potentially be that the author got burnt out after all.
- prepend 3y ago
  It’s really unusual for an author to delete their repo. Especially without a blogpost or something.
  - Doe-_ 3y ago
    Or for two other adjacent projects to also do the same, on the same day. https://github.com/MetaCubeX/Clash.Meta https://github.com/MetaCubeX/Clash.Meta https://github.com/zzzgydi/clash-verge https://github.com/zzzgydi/clash-verge
    - throwaway1103 3y ago
      There are actually a lot more than you think.. https://github.com/Fndroid/clash_for_windows_pkg https://github.com/Fndroid/clash_for_windows_pkg https://github.com/Dreamacro/clash https://github.com/Dreamacro/clash https://github.com/MetaCubeX/Clash.Meta https://github.com/MetaCubeX/Clash.Meta (archived and changed branch name) https://github.com/EAimTY/tuic https://github.com/EAimTY/tuic (deleted its master branch) https://github.com/fw876/helloworld https://github.com/fw876/helloworld https://github.com/juewuy/ShellCrash https://github.com/juewuy/ShellCrash (former ShellClash, changed repo name and branch name) https://github.com/Kr328/ClashForAndroid https://github.com/Kr328/ClashForAndroid (also disappeared from Google Play) Clash Multiplatform Alpha Android (was in closed alpha, developed by Kr328, testing group deleted on Telegram) https://github.com/ModuleList/ClashF https://github.com/ModuleList/ClashF (archived and changed branch name) https://github.com/CHIZI-0618/box4magisk https://github.com/CHIZI-0618/box4magisk (archived and changed branch name) https://github.com/lotusnetwork/lotusboard https://github.com/lotusnetwork/lotusboard (archived and changed branch name) https://github.com/zzzgydi/clash-verge https://github.com/zzzgydi/clash-verge (archived and changed branch name) https://github.com/MetaCubeX/ClashMetaForAndroid https://github.com/MetaCubeX/ClashMetaForAndroid (archived and changed branch name) https://github.com/immortalwrt/homebridger https://github.com/immortalwrt/homebridger https://github.com/Fclash/Fclash https://github.com/Fclash/Fclash (archived) https://github.com/openrhc/GUI.for.Clash https://github.com/openrhc/GUI.for.Clash https://github.com/Dreamacro/clash-dashboard https://github.com/Dreamacro/clash-dashboard (a web based interface for Clash using its RESTful API, its public hosted version is now 404 as well) https://github.com/Z-Siqi/Clash-for-Windows_Chinese https://github.com/Z-Siqi/Clash-for-Windows_Chinese (archived) https://github.com/BoyceLig/Clash_Chinese_Patch https://github.com/BoyceLig/Clash_Chinese_Patch https://github.com/mritd/tpclash https://github.com/mritd/tpclash https://github.com/yichengchen/clashX https://github.com/yichengchen/clashX (most popular Clash GUI distribution on macOS)
- nicognaw 3y ago
  As learned by the community, they leaked their personal information from emails used in git commits
FugeDaws 3y ago
wouldnt surprise me if github got a scary letter from the CCP and played it safe
- richbell 3y ago
  Or the author.
  - sonicanatidae 3y ago
    This is my guess. Most individuals are easier to push, with less drama.
  - throwaway1103 3y ago
    afaik, Fndroid, the author of Clash For Windows, the most popular distribution of Clash, was warned by the CCP in some kind of way. On the other hand, Dreamacro, the author of Clash itself, wanted to play safe due to an increased risk of being detained in mainland China.
tellarin 3y ago
https://github.com/fossabot/clash https://github.com/fossabot/clash ?
- waterplayer 3y ago
  He's been inactive since long, so he would face no problem at all.
Namidairo 3y ago
From what I can see, this tool also had it's docs hosted on GitHub Pages, but I don't seem to see any evidence of it existing in the repository. Did the author force-push to delete the documentation too?
- throwaway1103 3y ago
  It was deployed with GitHub Actions, you can check that in .github/workflows/deploy-docs.yml
plebecus 3y ago
This GUI for Clash by another author was also "removed" and archived (it seems the "main" branch is still there if you browse branches) https://github.com/zzzgydi/clash-verge https://github.com/zzzgydi/clash-verge
- Doe-_ 3y ago
  So has another adjacent project by yet another author, using the same technique: https://github.com/MetaCubeX/Clash.Meta https://github.com/MetaCubeX/Clash.Meta Which would suggest it's not anodin.
wingtw 3y ago
https://github.com/Ieooo/clash https://github.com/Ieooo/clash
dingi 3y ago
I hope this was not due to MS kissing CCPs butt.
- waterplayer 3y ago
  In this case, it's much better because they can just move to bitbucket or so. fyi, github has been blocked in China since 2020 (at least partially blocked).
ibigbug 3y ago
[dead]
mandeepj 3y ago
it can still be retrieved.....once on internet, archived (almost) forever.
_lvbh 3y ago
This is not uncommon. I know of many other repositories serving a similar purpose that disappears from GitHub. Author probably got caught (e.g. leaking their email in a git commit). Many Chinese people have QQ email addresses which are linked directly to their real identity.
throwaway1103 3y ago
being one of the developers of the Clash core (https://github.com/Dreamacro/clash https://github.com/Dreamacro/clash) and its closed-source (free of charge) premium version (clash-premium), i'm really heartbroken seeing this - everything is tearing down. even without the context of being in China or Iran, Clash is still an awesome piece of software that can be used everywhere, with proper understanding of computer networking. i ain't sure if both Dreamacro and Fndroid are physically safe now, but i'm sure they are both physically in mainland China. here's one thread on github of this entire event: https://github.com/net4people/bbs/issues/303 https://github.com/net4people/bbs/issues/303
Moldoteck 3y ago
Ppl should maintain forks in other platforms, like bitbucket or even the eu repository launched few years ago
- waterplayer 3y ago
  It's the people. They won't face any jailtime (this is for sure), but they might get controlled (e.g. more surveillance, limited internet, cannot buy new devices, rigorous checking of their bank account, etc.).
weelog 3y ago
[dead]

78 points by basic_banana 3y ago

0dayz 3y ago

Is there any evidence that its foul play? Could potentially be that the author got burnt out after all.

prepend 3y ago
It’s really unusual for an author to delete their repo. Especially without a blogpost or something.
- Doe-_ 3y ago
  Or for two other adjacent projects to also do the same, on the same day. https://github.com/MetaCubeX/Clash.Meta https://github.com/MetaCubeX/Clash.Meta https://github.com/zzzgydi/clash-verge https://github.com/zzzgydi/clash-verge
  - throwaway1103 3y ago
    There are actually a lot more than you think.. https://github.com/Fndroid/clash_for_windows_pkg https://github.com/Fndroid/clash_for_windows_pkg https://github.com/Dreamacro/clash https://github.com/Dreamacro/clash https://github.com/MetaCubeX/Clash.Meta https://github.com/MetaCubeX/Clash.Meta (archived and changed branch name) https://github.com/EAimTY/tuic https://github.com/EAimTY/tuic (deleted its master branch) https://github.com/fw876/helloworld https://github.com/fw876/helloworld https://github.com/juewuy/ShellCrash https://github.com/juewuy/ShellCrash (former ShellClash, changed repo name and branch name) https://github.com/Kr328/ClashForAndroid https://github.com/Kr328/ClashForAndroid (also disappeared from Google Play) Clash Multiplatform Alpha Android (was in closed alpha, developed by Kr328, testing group deleted on Telegram) https://github.com/ModuleList/ClashF https://github.com/ModuleList/ClashF (archived and changed branch name) https://github.com/CHIZI-0618/box4magisk https://github.com/CHIZI-0618/box4magisk (archived and changed branch name) https://github.com/lotusnetwork/lotusboard https://github.com/lotusnetwork/lotusboard (archived and changed branch name) https://github.com/zzzgydi/clash-verge https://github.com/zzzgydi/clash-verge (archived and changed branch name) https://github.com/MetaCubeX/ClashMetaForAndroid https://github.com/MetaCubeX/ClashMetaForAndroid (archived and changed branch name) https://github.com/immortalwrt/homebridger https://github.com/immortalwrt/homebridger https://github.com/Fclash/Fclash https://github.com/Fclash/Fclash (archived) https://github.com/openrhc/GUI.for.Clash https://github.com/openrhc/GUI.for.Clash https://github.com/Dreamacro/clash-dashboard https://github.com/Dreamacro/clash-dashboard (a web based interface for Clash using its RESTful API, its public hosted version is now 404 as well) https://github.com/Z-Siqi/Clash-for-Windows_Chinese https://github.com/Z-Siqi/Clash-for-Windows_Chinese (archived) https://github.com/BoyceLig/Clash_Chinese_Patch https://github.com/BoyceLig/Clash_Chinese_Patch https://github.com/mritd/tpclash https://github.com/mritd/tpclash https://github.com/yichengchen/clashX https://github.com/yichengchen/clashX (most popular Clash GUI distribution on macOS)
nicognaw 3y ago
As learned by the community, they leaked their personal information from emails used in git commits

FugeDaws 3y ago

wouldnt surprise me if github got a scary letter from the CCP and played it safe

richbell 3y ago
Or the author.
- sonicanatidae 3y ago
  This is my guess. Most individuals are easier to push, with less drama.
- throwaway1103 3y ago
  afaik, Fndroid, the author of Clash For Windows, the most popular distribution of Clash, was warned by the CCP in some kind of way. On the other hand, Dreamacro, the author of Clash itself, wanted to play safe due to an increased risk of being detained in mainland China.

tellarin 3y ago

https://github.com/fossabot/clash https://github.com/fossabot/clash ?

waterplayer 3y ago
He's been inactive since long, so he would face no problem at all.

Namidairo 3y ago

From what I can see, this tool also had it's docs hosted on GitHub Pages, but I don't seem to see any evidence of it existing in the repository. Did the author force-push to delete the documentation too?

throwaway1103 3y ago
It was deployed with GitHub Actions, you can check that in .github/workflows/deploy-docs.yml

plebecus 3y ago

This GUI for Clash by another author was also "removed" and archived (it seems the "main" branch is still there if you browse branches) https://github.com/zzzgydi/clash-verge https://github.com/zzzgydi/clash-verge

Doe-_ 3y ago
So has another adjacent project by yet another author, using the same technique: https://github.com/MetaCubeX/Clash.Meta https://github.com/MetaCubeX/Clash.Meta Which would suggest it's not anodin.

wingtw 3y ago

https://github.com/Ieooo/clash https://github.com/Ieooo/clash

dingi 3y ago

I hope this was not due to MS kissing CCPs butt.

waterplayer 3y ago
In this case, it's much better because they can just move to bitbucket or so. fyi, github has been blocked in China since 2020 (at least partially blocked).

ibigbug 3y ago

[dead]

mandeepj 3y ago

it can still be retrieved.....once on internet, archived (almost) forever.

_lvbh 3y ago

This is not uncommon. I know of many other repositories serving a similar purpose that disappears from GitHub. Author probably got caught (e.g. leaking their email in a git commit). Many Chinese people have QQ email addresses which are linked directly to their real identity.

throwaway1103 3y ago

being one of the developers of the Clash core (https://github.com/Dreamacro/clash https://github.com/Dreamacro/clash) and its closed-source (free of charge) premium version (clash-premium), i'm really heartbroken seeing this - everything is tearing down. even without the context of being in China or Iran, Clash is still an awesome piece of software that can be used everywhere, with proper understanding of computer networking. i ain't sure if both Dreamacro and Fndroid are physically safe now, but i'm sure they are both physically in mainland China. here's one thread on github of this entire event: https://github.com/net4people/bbs/issues/303 https://github.com/net4people/bbs/issues/303

Moldoteck 3y ago

Ppl should maintain forks in other platforms, like bitbucket or even the eu repository launched few years ago

waterplayer 3y ago
It's the people. They won't face any jailtime (this is for sure), but they might get controlled (e.g. more surveillance, limited internet, cannot buy new devices, rigorous checking of their bank account, etc.).

weelog 3y ago

[dead]