Netlify-cms: Git Gateway + private repo

[iamjesper]

Hi,

Is it possible to use the Git Gateway with Netlify Identity to push changes to a private repo with the CMS?

[tech4him1]

Yes, it is. Are you having problems getting it working?

[iamjesper]

Yes, it doesn't work for me unfortunately.

If I duplicate and deploy the gatsby-starter-netlify-cms repo and change the repository to private, all files disappear from the CMS. I can still sign in, but no files are visible. It works fine as long as the repo is public.

Would appreciate any help or tips. Thanks!

[tech4him1]

After you change the repo to private, go into your Git Gateway settings in Netlify, and try re-issuing the token.

https://www.netlify.com/docs/git-gateway/#getting-started

[iamjesper]

That did the trick, thanks a lot!

[MCDELTAT]

I just ran into this issue as well. Going to the Netlify Identify page and reissuing the token worked.

[tech4him1]

@erquhart @verythorough I'm thinking we should document this. Maybe on Netlify.com, and then the CMS links to it?

[erquhart]

Agreed, it should definitely be documented. It used to be in the Netlify docs, but it seems to have been removed.

[mkozhukharenko]

After you change the repo to private, go into your Git Gateway settings in Netlify, and try re-issuing the token.

I did so, but I'm getting Cannot read property 'hasWriteAccess' of undefined error because of {domain}/.netlify/git/settings 404 (Not Found)

[tech4him1]

@mkozhukharenko You often need to trigger a new deploy after you have made changes to the Git Gateway settings. If you try that and are still having problems, can you open a new issue?

[mkozhukharenko]

hm.. I didn't try.
I've delete whole netlify site and created from scratch. It helped

[amyrlam]

I have a Netlify site on a private GitHub repo. The private repo was recently transferred to new ownership on GitHub under me (still private).

I've reissued the Git Gateway with the one click feature and triggered a deploy. Try to log into my site at /admin and doesn't work - get Git Gateway Error: Please make sure Git Gateway is enabled on your site. (401 "Bad credentials")

I tried adding a GitHub Personal API token with full access (except delete repo!) into the Git Gateway and triggered a deploy. Same error.

I've emailed Netlify for help. Any debugging ideas?

One other thing - on Netlify, the owner is still the person with the original GitHub repo. But I'm an admin.

[amyrlam]

Emailed Netlify support. To fix https://github.com/netlify/netlify-cms/issues/971#issuecomment-423424844, I had to re-link the repo to the site. This can be done from https://app.netlify.com/sites//settings/deploys. Thank you Netlify support!

[tech4him1]

@amyrlam Sorry we missed this! If you can submit a pull request to add that to our docs, that would be great!

[amyrlam]

@tech4him1 sure I can take a stab at that, what is the repo? I just see the mailto here https://www.netlify.com/docs/git-gateway/.

[tech4him1]

@amyrlam This repo, just a subdirectory: https://github.com/netlify/netlify-cms/tree/master/website/content/docs

[verythorough]

@amyrlam That would be awesome! The netlify.com docs repo is closed, so I just added a section there that you can link to from the netlifycms.org docs:
https://www.netlify.com/docs/git-gateway/#reconnect-after-changing-repository-permissions

In terms of where to add, I think maybe a similar sub-section at the end of the "Git Gateway with Netlify Identity" section of https://www.netlifycms.org/docs/authentication-backends/. What do you think?

[amyrlam]

@tech4him1 @verythorough Sorry for the delay!

Since I mentioned a note re: https://www.netlify.com/docs/git-gateway/#reconnect-after-changing-repository-permissions, I didn't rewrite the instructions in netlify-cms, but I can if that is preferred, let me know!

[verythorough]

This is now documented thanks to @amyrlam in #1783. 🎉

[offre2010]

Please i need help here...
After setting up my CMS, i try to log into it, this is what i got (Your Git Gateway backend is not returning valid settings. Please make sure it is enabled.)...
Any way around this?

[erezrokah]

Hi @offre2010, can you please open a new issue and follow the template?

[offre2010]

Good, thanks...

[timbomckay]

I've been trying to debug this for a couple hours now. I happened to change the repo from private to public and I was suddenly able to access the CMS. I changed it back and was redirected to the login screen with API_ERROR: Not Found. I've tried reconnecting the repo multiple times, even though it was private to begin with, and I've generated a new access token multiple times. The only thing I haven't done is generate a personal access token in GitHub because I'm creating something for clients and want everything tied to the repo and not my profile.

Am I missing something or is this just not going to work without a personal access token?

Here's the config.yml backend settings btw:

backend:
  name: git-gateway
  branch: master

[talves]

Try resetting your Git Gateway access token under Identity/Services in the Netlify admin console under the site if you have not tried that yet.

Here are the docs: https://www.netlify.com/docs/git-gateway/

[timbomckay]

I've done this multiple times.

(Also had the wrong error message previously, it's giving API_ERROR: Not Found)

[talves]

The only thing I haven't done is generate a personal access token in GitHub because I'm creating something for clients and want everything tied to the repo

You have to create a new private token, I believe once you flip the repo to public. I think the token is not valid any longer.

[timbomckay]

A private token being a personal one and not one tied to the repo? I can't find a way to generate a repo specific token, when I follow the links it takes me to my github profile to generate a personal access token.

[talves]

Right. Needs to be created once you flip it back to private.

[timbomckay]

Click the link to generate a token, or you may supply your own Personal Access Token. Be sure the token is generated for a user with sufficient permission on your linked repository to perform the actions you want to pass through the Gateway.

So _"you may supply your own"_ should really say _"a private repo requires a Personal Access Token"_?

And the _Generate access token in GitHub_ button in the Netlify admin is irrelevant when it's a private repo?

Am I understanding this correctly?

[talves]

I don't change my site from public to private often, so can't remember everything exactly. There is something about making sure you reconnect the repo.

https://docs.netlify.com/visitor-access/git-gateway/#reconnect-after-changing-repository-permissions

[timbomckay]

Yeah I've done that nearly every time as well. Guess I'll just have to keep it public.

[tomrutgers]

Is the repo part of an organization account?

[timbomckay]

It is

[tomrutgers]

Try this: https://github.com/netlify/netlify-cms/issues/1703#issuecomment-622334889

[talves]

Good recommend @tomrutgers . Forgot all about the organization rights.

[timbomckay]

Thanks for that. I'll check it out. I was wonder last night if that was a factor. haha. I'll get back to you.

[timbomckay]

Thanks for pointing me in the direction. This comment in #1816 worked for me. At least until I hand the repo over to a client, might have to just disable restrictions if I remove myself as a member for the org.

Thanks again.