Collaboration is at the heart of modern software development, and Git repositories—especially those hosted on platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket—make it easy to work together. Whether you’re onboarding a new team member, bringing in a contributor, or sharing your project with a client, knowing how to grant access to your Git repository is essential.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to give access to a Git repository on GitHub, along with tips for managing permissions securely and effectively.
Why Manage Access Carefully?
Providing access to a Git repository gives others the ability to view, clone, and potentially modify your code. It’s critical to:
- Protect sensitive data.
- Prevent unauthorized changes.
- Maintain clear version control and auditability.
That’s why access should be granted based on roles and responsibilities.
Step-by-Step: Giving Access to a GitHub Repository
🔐 Prerequisites
- A GitHub account.
- Admin permissions for the repository you want to share.
🧑🤝🧑 1. Add a Collaborator (for Personal Repositories)
If you own the repository under a personal GitHub account:
- Go to your repository on GitHub.
- Click on Settings (next to Insights).
- Scroll down to Collaborators and teams or Manage access.
- Click Invite a collaborator.
- Enter the GitHub username or email of the person you want to invite.
- Select the appropriate role:
- Read: Can view and clone the repo.
- Triage: Can manage issues and pull requests.
- Write: Can push commits and create branches.
- Maintain: Can manage repository settings and users (except deletion).
- Admin: Full control, including changing access permissions.
- Click Add or Send Invite.
The invited user will receive an email or notification to accept access.
🏢 2. Add a Team Member (for Organization Repositories)
If your repository belongs to a GitHub Organization:
- Go to the organization’s page on GitHub.
- Navigate to Teams or People.
- Create or select an existing team.
- Add members to the team.
- Go to the repository, then to Settings > Manage Access.
- Click Invite a team or person, and select the team.
- Assign the appropriate access level (Read, Write, Admin, etc.).
Using teams is ideal for managing access at scale, especially in large projects or companies.
🖥️ 3. Clone and Share a Public Repo (No Permission Needed)
If your repository is public, anyone can:
- Clone it using:
git clone https://github.com/username/repository.git
- View and fork it directly from the GitHub interface.
You don’t need to give access explicitly—unless you want someone to push changes, in which case they must fork the repo and submit a pull request.
Bonus: GitLab and Bitbucket
GitLab
- Go to the project > Project Information > Members.
- Invite by username or email.
- Set a role (Guest, Reporter, Developer, Maintainer, Owner).
- Optional: Set an access expiration date.
Bitbucket
- Go to the repository > Settings > User and group access.
- Add the user and assign a permission (Read, Write, Admin).
Best Practices for Repository Access
- Follow the Principle of Least Privilege: Only give users the minimum access they need.
- Use Teams for Scalability: Especially useful in organizations with many members.
- Regularly Audit Access: Remove access when no longer needed.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security for all collaborators.
- Keep Sensitive Repos Private: Don’t expose critical or confidential code unless necessary.
Conclusion
Granting access to a Git repository is a simple but powerful capability. Whether you’re inviting a single collaborator or managing a team, using the right permissions ensures secure, efficient, and collaborative development. By following these steps and best practices, you can foster a productive coding environment—without compromising security.
