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GitHub repositories

Add GitHub repositories to include documentation, README files, and code comments in your chatbot's knowledge base.

tip

File content remains private. Your chatbot won't expose file links as sources to users.

When to use GitHub repositories​

Use GitHub repositories for:

  • Documentation stored with code (README files, docs folders)
  • Private internal documentation
  • API documentation and code examples
  • Developer guides and technical content

Add repositories​

Public repositories​

  1. Go to app.biel.ai
  2. Select Projects > your project > Settings > Sources
  3. Select GitHub
  4. Enter the repository URL: https://github.com/owner/repo
  5. Click Save

Private repositories​

For private repositories, create a GitHub personal access token:

  1. Generate token:

  2. Add to Biel.ai:

    • Go to app.biel.ai
    • Select Projects > your project > Settings > Sources
    • Select GitHub
    • Enter the repository URL: https://github.com/owner/repo
    • Expand Advanced options
    • Paste token in GitHub Token field
    • Click Save

Filter files​

Control which repository files get indexed.

Include patterns - Only index matching files:

*.md              # Markdown files
docs/             # Files in docs folder
README.md         # README files
*.rst             # reStructuredText files

Exclude patterns - Skip matching files:

*.log             # Log files
node_modules/     # Dependencies
.git/             # Git metadata
*.test.js         # Test files
build/            # Build artifacts

Example configuration:

  • Include: *.md, docs/, README.md, *.rst
  • Exclude: node_modules/, .git/, build/, *.test.*, coverage/

Advanced options​

  • Multiple repositories: Add different repositories as separate sources
  • Branch selection: Default branch is indexed (usually main or master)
  • Submodules: Not automatically indexed—add as separate sources

Best practices​

Repository organization:

  • Use clear, descriptive file names
  • Group related documentation in folders
  • Maintain README files at each level
  • Use consistent formatting (Markdown or reStructuredText)

Security:

  • Use minimal token permissions (repo scope only)
  • Rotate tokens every 6-12 months
  • Monitor token usage in GitHub settings

Troubleshooting​

Repository not found

  • Check URL format: https://github.com/owner/repo
  • Verify repository is accessible with your token

Files not indexing

  • Check include patterns match file paths
  • Review exclude patterns for over-exclusion
  • Verify files are in supported formats (Markdown, plain text)

Token issues

  • Verify repo scope for private repositories
  • Check token hasn't expired
  • Confirm repository permissions haven't changed

Need help? Contact support at support@biel.ai if you experience issues with content processing or indexing takes too long.