contributing to github repo without write access: pull from origin repo, push to your own fork

contribute_github_without_write_access.md

Whenever I want to create pull requests to a repo that I don't have write access to, I:

1. Fork the original repo to my account.
2. Clone the original repo to my local machine.
3. Add my fork as an additional remote and make it the push default.
4. Make changes in a new branch locally.
5. Push this branch to my fork.
6. Create a pull request from there.

git clone https://github.com/<origin_org>/<repo_name>.git
cd <repo_name>
git remote add fork [email protected]:<your_name>/<your_repo>.git
git config remote.pushDefault fork

This way, at a later time point I can easily:

1. Pull changes from origin into the local master branch.
2. Create another contribution branch.
3. Push that to my fork.
4. Create a new pull request.

cd <repo_name>
git checkout master
git pull
git push # update the fork, which can be relevant for continuous integration checking against the master branch
git checkout -b new-contribution-branch
# make changes and commit
git push

Sources:

• Setting the push default: https://stackoverflow.com/a/30488025

Can confirm this works -- thank you!

For those using Sourcetree:

1. Clone the original repository.
2. Click Settings.
3. On the Remotes pane, click Add.
4. For the URL/Path, enter the value for your fork. Configure the account settings appropriately.
5. On the Advanced tab, you may wish to specify different values for the name and email address used when committing.
6. Create a local branch and commit your changes.
7. When ready to push, be sure to select your personal remote as the target.
8. Create a pull request to merge the working branch from your fork into the default branch from the original repo.