Git & GitHub Interview Question #143

How do you troubleshoot 'repository not found' or authentication errors with GitHub?

Security, Team Workflows, Troubleshooting & Senior Git/GitHub Scenarios Senior Advanced

Quick Interview Answer

First verify the remote URL, repository existence, account access, and whether the repository is private. Then confirm that the selected authentication method is correctly configured and that the credential has the required permissions.

Detailed Explanation

First verify the remote URL, repository existence, account access, and whether the repository is private. Then confirm that the selected authentication method is correctly configured and that the credential has the required permissions.

For HTTPS, inspect the credential or token configuration. For SSH, verify the remote uses an SSH URL and test the SSH identity. Do not paste access tokens or private keys into troubleshooting logs or chat messages.

Code Example

git remote -v

# Inspect the exact configured URL
git remote get-url origin

# For SSH-based GitHub access:
ssh -T git@github.com