GitHub Repository Maintenance Guide

Maintaining a GitHub repository involves various tasks to ensure smooth collaboration and project management. Here's a guide to help you, as a repository maintainer, make your work more efficient.

Table of Contents

1. Auto Labelling
2. Issue and Pull Request Templates
3. Code of Conduct
4. Contributing Guidelines
5. Branch Protection Rules
6. Code Reviews
7. Automated Workflows
8. Security Alerts
9. Dependency Updates
10. Community and Discussions

Auto Labelling

Setting up Auto Labelling

Auto labelling helps categorize issues and pull requests based on keywords or patterns in their titles or descriptions.

1. Go to your repository on GitHub.
2. Click on the "Issues" tab.
3. On the right sidebar, click "Labels."
4. At the bottom of the labels list, click "Set up automated labelling."

Example Auto Label Rules

• Bug Reports:

  • Title contains: "bug"
  • Body contains: "error," "issue"

• Feature Requests:

  • Title contains: "feature request"
  • Body contains: "proposal," "idea"

Issue and Pull Request Templates

Creating Templates

Templates provide structured formats for creating issues and pull requests.

1. In your repository, go to the "Issues" or "Pull Requests" tab.
2. Click on the "Get started" link next to "Use a template."
3. Create your template using GitHub Flavored Markdown (opens in a new tab).

Example Issue Template

---
name: Bug Report
about: Create a report to help us improve
title: ''
labels: bug
assignees: ''
---
 
**Describe the Bug**
 
A clear and concise description of what the bug is.
 
**To Reproduce**
 
Steps to reproduce the behavior:
 
1. Go to '...'
2. Click on '....'
3. Scroll down to '....'
4. See error
 
**Expected Behavior**
 
A clear and concise description of what you expected to happen.
 
**Screenshots**
 
If applicable, add screenshots to help explain your problem.

Code of Conduct

Adding a Code of Conduct

A Code of Conduct sets expectations for behavior within your community.

1. Create a new file named CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md in your repository.

2. Use a template like this (opens in a new tab) and customize it for your project.

3. In your repository, go to "Settings" > "Options."

4. In the left sidebar, click "Community."

5. Under "Code of conduct," select your CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md file.

Contributing Guidelines

Providing Contribution Guidelines

Contribution guidelines help contributors understand how to submit meaningful contributions.

1. Create a new file named CONTRIBUTING.md in your repository.

2. Write your contribution guidelines using Markdown.

3. In your repository, go to "Settings" > "Options."

4. In the left sidebar, click "Community."

5. Under "Contributing," select your CONTRIBUTING.md file.

Branch Protection Rules

Protecting Important Branches

Branch protection prevents direct pushes to specific branches.

1. In your repository, go to "Settings" > "Branches."
2. Under "Branch protection rules," click "Add rule."

Example Rules

• main:

  • Require pull request reviews before merging.
  • Require status checks to pass before merging.
  • Include administrators.

• development:

  • Restrict who can push to this branch.

Code Reviews

Enabling Code Reviews

Code reviews ensure high code quality before merging.

1. In your repository, go to "Settings" > "Options."
2. In the left sidebar, click "Pull requests."

Recommended Settings

• Require review from Code Owners
• Allow edits from maintainers
• Require review for pull requests

Automated Workflows

Setting Up Automated Workflows

Automated workflows streamline development tasks.

1. Create a .github/workflows directory.
2. Add your workflow YAML files to this directory.

Example Workflow: Continuous Integration

name: CI
 
on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main
 
jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
    steps:
      - name: Checkout Repository
        uses: actions/checkout@v2
 
      - name: Set up Node.js
        uses: actions/setup-node@v2
        with:
          node-version: '14'
 
      - name: Install Dependencies
        run: npm install
 
      - name: Run Tests
        run: npm test

Security Alerts

Enabling Security Alerts

Security alerts notify you of vulnerable dependencies.

1. In your repository, go to "Settings" > "Security & analysis."
2. Under "Dependency alerts," click "Configure."

Dependency Updates

Automating Dependency Updates

Automated dependency updates keep your project secure and up-to-date.

1. Use a service like Dependabot (opens in a new tab).

2. Configure it in your repository.

Community and Discussions

Fostering Community

Engage with your community through discussions, forums, and social media.

1. Enable GitHub Discussions (opens in a new tab) in your repository settings.

2. Create channels for different topics or areas of interest.

3. Encourage respectful and inclusive conversations.

These practices will help you maintain your GitHub repository effectively, fostering a collaborative and positive open-source community. Happy coding! 🚀