# Using GitHub with ChatGPT: A Beginner's Guide [Open the live, styled tutorial](https://bortlip.github.io/SharedInfo/tutorials/github-chatgpt-setup/tutorial.html) This guide shows you how to create a GitHub account and repository, connect GitHub to ChatGPT, and ask ChatGPT to create and edit files. You do not need to know programming, Git, or source control. You also do not need to install anything. ## What you will do 1. Create a free GitHub account. 2. Create a private repository. 3. Connect the GitHub plugin to ChatGPT. 4. Ask ChatGPT to edit the repository's README. 5. Ask ChatGPT to create a new file. 6. Learn when a pull request is useful. ## 1. The basic ideas **GitHub** is a website for storing projects and keeping a history of their files. A project on GitHub is called a **repository**, usually shortened to **repo**. It is similar to an online folder, except GitHub remembers the changes made to it. A saved change is called a **commit**. Git is the underlying system GitHub uses to track those changes. You do not need to learn Git commands for this tutorial. **For more information, read:** - [About GitHub and Git](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/about-github-and-git) - [About repositories](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/creating-and-managing-repositories/about-repositories) - [About Git](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/using-git/about-git) ## 2. Create a GitHub account 1. Go to [github.com](https://github.com/). 2. Select **Sign up**. 3. Sign up with an email address, or choose **Continue with Google** or **Continue with Apple**. 4. Choose a username. 5. Follow the instructions to verify your email address. Choose a username you are comfortable showing other people. It may appear on your GitHub profile and in repository addresses. GitHub also supports two-factor authentication, which adds an extra login check. Enabling it is recommended. Save any recovery codes somewhere safe. **For more information, read:** [Creating a GitHub account](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/start-your-journey/creating-an-account-on-github) ## 3. Create your first repository After signing into GitHub: 1. Select the **+** button near the upper-right corner. 2. Select **New repository**. 3. Enter a name, such as `my-chatgpt-files`. 4. Add an optional description, such as `Files and notes that I manage with ChatGPT.` 5. Select **Private**. 6. Turn on **Add a README file**. 7. Select **Create repository**. The README is the introductory page for the repository. Leave the default text in place for now; updating it will be ChatGPT's first task. Do not store passwords, recovery codes, API keys, banking information, or other secrets in the repository. **For more information, read:** [Creating a new repository](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/creating-and-managing-repositories/creating-a-new-repository) ## 4. Connect GitHub to ChatGPT In ChatGPT: 1. Open **Plugins**. 2. Scroll down and select **Browse plugins**. 3. Find the **GitHub** plugin. 4. Select it and choose **Connect**. If **Plugins** is not visible in the sidebar, open **Settings → Plugins**. ChatGPT will send you to GitHub to install or authorize the **ChatGPT Codex Connector**. When GitHub asks which repositories it may access: 1. Choose **Only select repositories**. 2. Select `my-chatgpt-files`. 3. Review the requested permissions. 4. Select **Install** or the equivalent confirmation button. Return to ChatGPT when the connection is complete. A newly connected repository may take a few minutes to appear. When you ask ChatGPT to use the repository, it may select GitHub automatically. If it does not, start the request with `@GitHub`, or select **+ → More → GitHub** before sending it. **For more information, read:** - [Plugins in ChatGPT and Codex](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001256) - [ChatGPT Codex Connector on GitHub](https://github.com/apps/chatgpt-codex-connector) ## 5. Give ChatGPT its first task Start a normal ChatGPT conversation and enter: ```text Use GitHub to update README.md in my repository named my-chatgpt-files. Replace the default README with a short, beginner-friendly explanation that this repository contains files and notes that I manage with ChatGPT. ``` ChatGPT may ask you to approve the action. Review the request and approve it when it matches what you asked for. ## 6. Check the result Return to GitHub and open the `my-chatgpt-files` repository. Open `README.md`. You should see the text created by ChatGPT. GitHub also keeps a record of the change, so you can inspect what changed and see earlier versions later. ## 7. Ask ChatGPT to create a file Return to ChatGPT and enter: ```text Create a file named ideas.md in my repository named my-chatgpt-files. Add the heading "Ideas" and a short list of useful things I could store in this repository. ``` Return to GitHub and confirm that `ideas.md` appears. You have now used ChatGPT to edit an existing file and create a new one. ## 8. How to ask for future changes A useful request normally needs only: - The repository name - What you want created or changed - Any important requirements for the result For example: ```text Update ideas.md in my repository named my-chatgpt-files. Organize the ideas into Personal, Home, and Work sections. ``` Concentrate on describing the result you want. ## 9. Ideas for using GitHub with ChatGPT Once everything is connected, a repository can become a shared workspace where ChatGPT collects information, creates documents, and keeps the supporting material organized. ### Research a topic deeply Ask ChatGPT to find and evaluate up to 50 credible sources about a subject. It can save detailed notes about each source, maintain an index of what has been collected, identify gaps, and eventually create a referenced report from the research. Example prompt: ```text Use my repository named [repository name] to create a research project about [topic]. Find and evaluate up to 50 credible sources. For each source, save its title, author or publisher, date, link, detailed notes, key findings, and important limitations. Maintain a source index that shows what has been collected and what gaps remain. After the source collection is strong enough, create a detailed report based on the collected research, with references back to the source notes. ``` ### Compare a major decision Use a repository to research a major purchase, trip, move, school, service, or other important decision. ChatGPT can preserve your requirements, source material, comparisons, unanswered questions, and final reasoning. Example prompt: ```text Use my repository named [repository name] to help me decide between [options]. Create a document listing my requirements and priorities. Research each option, record the sources and findings, compare the tradeoffs, identify unanswered questions, and maintain a current recommendation that can change as new evidence is added. ``` ### Develop a writing or learning project Store research notes, outlines, drafts, lessons, glossaries, exercises, and progress notes in one repository. ChatGPT can help organize the material and combine it into a polished final result. Example prompt: ```text Use my repository named [repository name] to help me [learn a subject or develop a writing project]. Create an outline, glossary, notes, exercises or drafts, and a progress checklist. Update them as we work, explain difficult ideas, and combine the completed material into a polished final document. ``` ## 10. What a pull request is A **pull request**, usually shortened to **PR**, lets you review proposed changes before adding them to the main version of a repository. PRs are useful for larger or important changes because GitHub clearly shows what will change. To ask for one, add: ```text Make the changes on a new branch and open a pull request for me to review. ``` ### Review and merge a PR 1. Open the pull request link in GitHub. 2. Read the summary on the **Conversation** tab. 3. Open **Files changed**. 4. Review the changes. Green lines were added; red lines were removed. 5. To flag a problem, leave a comment in GitHub or ask ChatGPT to correct it. 6. Check the updated files after corrections are made. 7. When the result looks right, select **Merge pull request**, then **Confirm merge**. **Merging** means accepting the proposed changes and adding them to the repository's main version. GitHub may then offer to delete the temporary branch used for the PR. **For more information, read:** - [About pull requests](https://docs.github.com/en/pull-requests/collaborating-with-pull-requests/proposing-changes-to-your-work-with-pull-requests/about-pull-requests) - [Reviewing proposed changes](https://docs.github.com/en/pull-requests/how-tos/review-pull-requests/reviewing-proposed-changes-in-a-pull-request) - [Merging a pull request](https://docs.github.com/en/pull-requests/collaborating-with-pull-requests/incorporating-changes-from-a-pull-request/merging-a-pull-request) ## 11. Give ChatGPT access to another repository The ChatGPT Codex Connector can use only repositories you authorize. After creating another repository: 1. Open GitHub **Settings**. 2. Open **Applications**. 3. Find **ChatGPT Codex Connector** under installed GitHub apps. 4. Select **Configure**. 5. Add the new repository under **Repository access**. 6. Save the change. You normally do not need to reinstall the connector. You only need to add the new repository to its allowed list. ## Basic safety - Do not store passwords, recovery codes, API keys, or financial information in GitHub. - Give the connector access only to repositories it needs. - Review the result after ChatGPT changes a repository, especially for important work. - Use a pull request when you want a separate review step. - Remove repository access when it is no longer needed. ## The complete workflow 1. Create a repository on GitHub. 2. Give the ChatGPT Codex Connector access to it. 3. Ask ChatGPT in a normal conversation to create or edit something. 4. Review the result on GitHub. 5. Use a pull request when a change deserves an extra review step.