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Generate a GitHub personal access token

Looking for the token used by the automatic template update workflow? Follow the dedicated automatic template synchronization guide. It uses a repository-scoped fine-grained token with a different purpose and secret name.

If you want to work with GitHub repositories from your notebook, like cloning, editing, or pushing files, you’ll need a GitHub Personal Access Token (PAT). This token lets you authenticate your API calls and gives you the right permissions. The GIF below shows the steps to create a token.

The LabConstrictor repository form accepts only a classic token, which starts with ghp_. A fine-grained token (it starts with github_pat_) is rejected.

To see the full steps, follow the instructions below.

Create the token

1. Go to https://github.com/ and sign in.
2. Click your profile icon (top right) ➔ Settings
3. In the left sidebar, select Developer settings ➔ Personal access tokens ➔ Tokens (classic)
4. On the top right side (at the same level as Personal access tokens (classic)), click on Generate new token ➔ Generate new token (classic)
5. Give your token a descriptive Name (e.g., Notebook RW Token) and set an Expiration if desired
6. Under Scopes, tick repo
   - (Optional: To only work with public repositories, select public_repo instead of repo)
7. Click Generate token at the bottom
8. Copy your new token right away. You won’t be able to see it again later!
9. Paste the token into your notebook’s GitHub-token field, so API calls authenticate as the chosen owner.

A classic token with the repo scope can read and write your repositories, so keep it private.

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