Bridging Bolt.new and GitHub: A Chrome Extension for Seamless Integration

For developers who love using bolt.new for rapid web application development, there’s been a persistent challenge: the lack of direct GitHub integration. Today, I’m excited to introduce a solution that bridges this gap – the Bolt to GitHub Chrome extension, now available on the Chrome Web Store.

The Challenge with Bolt.new

Bolt.new is a powerful platform for quickly building web applications and projects. However, its limitation in terms of GitHub integration has been a significant pain point for developers. Without direct GitHub integration, maintaining version control, tracking changes, and collaborating with team members becomes more challenging than it needs to be.

Enter the Bolt to GitHub Extension

The Bolt to GitHub Chrome extension is an open-source solution designed to seamlessly connect your bolt.new projects with GitHub. You can now find it on the Chrome Web Store at this link.

Key Features:

• Direct GitHub integration from the bolt.new interface
• Automated file handling and repository updates
• Secure GitHub token storage
• Simple and intuitive user interface

Installation and Setup

Chrome Web Store Installation

1. Visit the Chrome Web Store listing
2. Click “Add to Chrome” to install the extension

Manual Installation (for developers)

If you prefer to install the extension locally or want to contribute to its development:

1. Ensure you have Node.js installed (version 20 or higher recommended)
2. Clone the repository:

   git clone [repository-url]

3. Install dependencies:

   npm install

4. Build the extension:

   npm run build

Note: Developers can use npm run watch for continuous development

5. Load in Chrome:

• Navigate to chrome://extensions/
• Enable Developer Mode
• Click “Load unpacked”
• Select the dist folder from the project

Using the Extension

1. Initial Setup
   • Click the GitHub button that appears on bolt.new
   • Configure your GitHub settings:
     • Generate and add your GitHub token
     • Enter your GitHub username
     • Specify your repository name
     • Set your branch (defaults to “main”)
2. Pushing Changes
   • Make your changes in bolt.new
   • Click the GitHub button
   • Confirm the upload
   • Your changes will be automatically pushed to your repository

Security Considerations

Security is a top priority for this extension. Here’s what you should know:

• Your GitHub token is securely stored in your browser’s local storage
• The extension only communicates directly with GitHub
• No external services or servers are involved
• All interactions occur solely between your browser and GitHub

Future Development

While bolt.new may implement similar functionality in the future, this extension continues to evolve. Planned features include:

• Support for multiple repositories
• Enhanced error reporting
• Additional integration features

Getting Involved

The extension is open-source, and we welcome community involvement:

• Star the repository to show your support
• Check out the documentation for detailed information
• Review the troubleshooting guide if you encounter issues
• Contribute to the project if you have ideas or improvements

Conclusion

The Bolt to GitHub extension bridges an important gap in the bolt.new ecosystem, providing developers with the GitHub integration they need for professional development workflows. Whether you’re working on personal projects or collaborating with a team, this extension simplifies the process of managing your bolt.new projects with GitHub.

Try it out today and let us know what you think! Your feedback and suggestions will help shape the future development of this tool.

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Note: For the latest updates, documentation, and support, please visit the extension’s GitHub repository.