GitHub integration

The Octopus Deploy GitHub App provides seamless integration between Octopus Deploy and GitHub.

To get started, go to the GitHub Connections page in the Library of your Octopus cloud instance, and follow the prompts.

GitHub App Connections

GitHub Connections is the recommended way to connect Octopus to your GitHub accounts (organizations or users). It provides seamless and secure connection via the Octopus GitHub App, without using personal access tokens.

Connecting a GitHub account

Before you can use an GitHub account in Octopus Deploy, you need to connect the account to the Space.

To connect a new account, select any currently disconnected account to go to the new connection screen where you can select the repositories and complete the connection. You can only connect each GitHub account once per Space. Once connected, the account will show at the top of the list with a Connected label.

If you don’t see an account that you’re expecting in this list, the app probably hasn’t been installed (Octopus cannot see an account that have the app installed). To install the Octopus GitHub App in a new account, select the link at the bottom of the screen to go to GitHub and complete the installation process.

Editing GitHub Connections

When you first open the GitHub connection page, you will be in view mode. This will show the connection details and the currently connected repositories. To edit the connection, click the edit button at the top of the screen. This will put the connection in edit mode, and load the GitHub repositories that you are able to connect.

You will not be able to save the connection unless you have at least 1 repository selected. To remove all of the repositories, disconnect the account completely using the Disconnect button in the overflow menu.

Selecting repositories on the GitHub Connection

Each GitHub Connection defines its own set of repositories (this is on top of the list of repositories configured on the installation in GitHub).

GitHub accounts can only have a single GitHub App installation, so this installation is shared by all Octopus instances connected to that account. By requiring repositories are set for each connection as well, you are able to fine-tune the GitHub resources that each connection in each Space can access. If you ever add more repositories to the installation in GitHub, you can be confident that any existing connections cannot access this repository until you explicitly add it to those connections. This does add an extra step every time you want to add a new repository, but we believe this is worth it for the extra security this provides.

If you can’t see a repository

Octopus can only see repositories that are available to the app installation and the current user. If you can’t see a repository that you expect to see on this screen, it may not be accessible to either you or the installation. To configure more repositories on a connection, follow the link at the bottom of the repository selection screen to configure more repositories on GitHub.

Only repository administrators can connect repositories

To connect a repository, you must be an administrator of the repository on GitHub. If you’re not an administrator (but can view the repository), you will still see the repository in the list, but will not be able to select it.

Using GitHub App Connections

You can currently use GitHub App Connections to connect to Configuration as Code projects. This removes the need for using Personal Access Tokens to connect to GitHub repositories, and allows users to commit as their GitHub users (rather than using a shared account).

More information on installing and authorizing the Octopus GitHub App

You install the Octopus GitHub App on an account (organization or user) to give the repositories or other content within that account. Authorizing gives the Octopus GitHub App permission to act on your behalf in any account that has the app installed.

Installing and authorizing are both GitHub concepts. If you want to find out more about what installing and authorizing GitHub App and how to manage these installation and authorizations, refer to the GitHub documentation:

• GitHub Apps documentation
• Installing GitHub apps documentation
• Authorizing GitHub apps documentation

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Page updated on Thursday, March 14, 2024