Setup

Configure the following variables in /etc/default/githubbackup:

GITHUB_ORG=
BACKUP_DIR=/var/backups/github/

Authentication

Personal access token

This is the solution if you just want to back up your own repositories.

You can create a new personal access token for github with the help of this guide:

https://help.github.com/en/github/authenticating-to-github/creating-a-personal-access-token-for-the-command-line

GITHUB_USER=
GITHUB_TOKEN=

GitHub App

If you want to configure this application for an organization I recommend you configure it as a GitHub App, that way the backups aren't tied to a particular user.

1. Create a new github application either under your personal settings or your organisations settings. The menu item you want is "GitHub Apps".
2. Create a new GitHub App by pressing the "New GitHub App" button.
3. Set the App ID as GITHUB_APP_ID.
4. Once you have done that you need to generate a private key. This is done at the bottom of the General settings page under the GitHub App. Let GITHUB_APP_KEY point to that file.
5. Authorize the GitHub App in the "Install App" settings page under your GitHub App.
6. Extract the GitHub app installation id. This can be found by pressing the gear icon next to what you just installed. Set that ID as GITHUB_INSTALLATION_ID

GITHUB_APP_ID=
GITHUB_APP_KEY=
GITHUB_INSTALLATION_ID=