L&D series: Generate GitHub token

https://docs.idalko.com/exalate/download/attachments/46203067/select_repo.png?version=1&modificationDate=1607965624107&api=v2&effects=drop-shadow

Learning and Development chapter 16.

Hi, Learning & Development series is BACK !!! I hope we can study together more often.

What is token?

GitHub token or known as Personal access token is another way to authenticate GitHub other than using a password. We could use token when we try to hit GitHub API or send GitHub command via terminal.

Generate token

• Go to https://github.com/settings/tokens.
• Click Generate new token button.

• Input GitHub password.

• Input Note as a token name.
• Set Expiration date.
• Choose token access in Select scopes section. We can ticked all the checkboxes or select specific scope.

• Click Generate token button.

• Please read carefully in section Make sure to copy your personal access token now. You won’t be able to see it again!, because we have to re-generate different token with same purpose if we lost the token.

Note: GitHub token always starts with ghp_.

Where to store the token?

I’ll using GitHub secret for this article.

• Go to our repo link + /settings/secrets/actions.
• Click New repository secret button.

• Input Name for secret name.
• Input token in Value field.
• Click Add secret button.

Once secret key is created, we can only update the value without being able to see the previous key again.

• Click Update button.

• We can update to new token with empty previous token only.

https://i2.wp.com/tutswinds.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/personal_access_tokens_tab.png?resize=262%2C204&ssl=1

What do you want to use the GitHub token for? — MperMperPisang.

Reference

• https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/keeping-your-account-and-data-secure/creating-a-personal-access-token