> bloated, buggy JavaScript framework

Isn't that the unfortunate status quo? At least hard requirement for JS, that is.

Google's homepage started requiring this recently. Linux kernel's git, openwrt, esp32.com, and many many others now require it too, via dreaded "Making sure you're not a bot" thing:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44962529

If anything, github is (thankfully) behind the curve here - at least some basics do work without JS.