Are you looking to leverage Bolt’s AI capabilities with your private GitHub repositories? The latest version of the Bolt to GitHub Chrome extension (v1.2.1) makes this possible, enabling seamless integration between Bolt and your private repositories. Let’s explore how this new feature transforms the AI development workflow.
The Challenge with Private Repositories
Previously, importing private GitHub repositories into Bolt would result in an access error, even for repositories you own. This limitation forced developers to either work exclusively with public repositories or manually make their private repositories public temporarily—neither option being ideal for security-conscious development.
Enter Bolt to GitHub Extension 1.2.1
The latest version of the Bolt to GitHub extension addresses this limitation through a clever solution that maintains security while enabling private repository access. Here’s how to get started:
Initial Setup
- Install the extension (compatible with Chrome, Brave, and Edge browsers)
- Pin it to your browser toolbar for easy access
- Configure your GitHub credentials:
- Create a GitHub account if you don’t have one
- Generate a GitHub token (Classic token recommended for quick setup)
- Ensure both ‘repo’ and ‘delete repo’ permissions are enabled
- Set token expiration according to your security preferences
How It Works
The extension implements a secure process for importing private repositories:
- Lists all your repositories (both private and public)
- Creates a temporary copy of your private repository when importing
- Briefly makes the temporary repository public for Bolt import
- Automatically deletes the temporary repository after import
- Maps the Bolt workspace to your original private repository for future pushes
Security Considerations
While the process involves temporarily making a copy of your repository public, several security measures are in place:
- The public exposure window is less than one minute
- Automatic deletion of the temporary repository
- Option for manual deletion through the extension
- Full control over the process through your personal GitHub token
Seamless AI Development Workflow
This new feature enables a complete AI development cycle:
- Import private repositories into Bolt
- Make changes using Bolt’s AI capabilities
- Push changes back to your private GitHub repository
- Switch between different AI development tools
- Pull updated code back into Bolt as needed
Getting Started
While version 1.2.1 is pending review in the Chrome Web Store, you can:
- Download the extension from the GitHub repository’s Releases page
- Follow the guided setup process
- Start importing your private repositories
Best Practices
- Regularly push your changes to GitHub to prevent loss of code
- Use the extension’s repository mapping feature for consistent version control
- Monitor the import process to ensure successful completion
- Verify repository deletion after imports
Community and Support
For questions and support:
- Check the Help tab within the extension
- Join our Discord server for community assistance
- Subscribe to AI-Driven Coder on YouTube for more AI development tutorials
Conclusion
The Bolt to GitHub extension’s private repository support marks a significant advancement in AI-assisted development workflows. By bridging the gap between Bolt’s AI capabilities and private GitHub repositories, developers can now maintain code privacy while leveraging cutting-edge AI development tools.
Give it a try and experience how this feature can enhance your development workflow while maintaining the security of your private code.
Want to see this in action? Check out the full video tutorial on the AI-Driven Coder YouTube channel.