How to Give Access to a Git Repository?

Collaboration is at the heart of modern software development, and sharing access to a Git repository is essential when working with a team. Granting the right level of access ensures that team members can contribute effectively while maintaining control over your codebase.

In this blog, we’ll cover how to give access to a Git repository hosted on popular platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket, including the steps to manage permissions, best practices, and tips for secure collaboration.

Understanding Access Levels in Git Repositories

When sharing a repository, you must assign appropriate access levels based on each contributor’s role. Common access levels include:

• Read Access: View and clone the repository but cannot push changes.
• Write Access: Make changes, push commits, and manage issues or pull requests.
• Admin Access: Full control, including managing repository settings and access.

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Granting Access in GitHub

1. Repository Settings

1. Navigate to your GitHub repository.
2. Click the Settings tab in the repository menu.

2. Manage Access

1. Select Collaborators and Teams under the “Access” section.
2. Click the Invite a Collaborator button.

3. Add Collaborators

1. Enter the GitHub username or email address of the person you want to invite.
2. Select their role:

• Read: View and clone the repository.
• Triage: Moderate issues and pull requests.
• Write: Contribute code and manage pull requests.
• Maintain: Manage repository settings.
• Admin: Full access.

1. Click Send Invitation. The invited user will receive an email notification to accept the invite.

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Granting Access in GitLab

1. Repository Settings

1. Navigate to your GitLab project.
2. Go to Settings > Members in the left sidebar.

2. Add Members

1. Enter the username, email address, or group name of the person you want to invite.
2. Set their Access Level:

• Guest: Read-only access to the repository.
• Reporter: Can view and download the repository and its issues.
• Developer: Can push changes and manage branches.
• Maintainer: Full repository management except for project deletion.
• Owner: Full control (available only for group-owned projects).

1. Set an optional Expiration Date for temporary access.
2. Click Invite.

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Granting Access in Bitbucket

1. Repository Settings

1. Navigate to your Bitbucket repository.
2. Click Repository Settings in the sidebar.

2. Manage User and Group Access

1. Select User and Group Access from the settings menu.
2. Click Add Users or Groups.

3. Assign Roles

1. Enter the username, email, or group name.
2. Assign a role:

• Read: Clone and view the repository.
• Write: Push changes and create pull requests.
• Admin: Manage repository settings and access.

1. Click Add.

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Using SSH Keys for Access

For more secure collaboration, especially with developers outside your organization, you can provide access using SSH keys.

Steps to Add an SSH Key

1. Ask the user to generate an SSH key pair and share their public key.

• Command to generate SSH keys:
  bash ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "[email protected]"

1. Add the public key to the repository or server:

• In GitHub: Go to Settings > Deploy Keys and click Add Key.
• In GitLab: Go to Settings > Repository > Deploy Keys.
• In Bitbucket: Go to Repository Settings > Access Keys.

This method allows secure, key-based access without requiring user credentials.

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Best Practices for Granting Repository Access

1. Assign Minimum Necessary Permissions: Only grant the access level required for the user’s role to maintain security.
2. Use Groups for Large Teams: Platforms like GitHub Teams, GitLab Groups, and Bitbucket Teams simplify permission management for multiple users.
3. Set Expiration Dates: For temporary collaborators, set access expiration dates to ensure access is revoked automatically.
4. Audit Access Regularly: Periodically review the list of collaborators to remove inactive users.
5. Monitor Activity: Use repository logs to track user activity and ensure compliance.

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Revoking Access

If a team member leaves the project or their access is no longer needed, you can revoke it:

• In GitHub: Go to Settings > Collaborators and remove the user.
• In GitLab: Navigate to Members and click the Remove button next to the user.
• In Bitbucket: Open User and Group Access and remove the user.

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Conclusion

Giving access to a Git repository is a straightforward process, but doing so responsibly ensures security and collaboration efficiency. By assigning appropriate permissions, using secure methods like SSH keys, and following best practices, you can manage repository access confidently.

Remember to audit and review access levels regularly to maintain the integrity of your project. Proper access management is a cornerstone of successful collaboration in software development.