Give a web developer access to your website code

If IT Solver keeps your website code on GitHub, a web developer can work on it with their own GitHub account. You request their access in the dashboard, and IT Solver approves and applies it.

Before you start

• You must be an Owner or IT manager of your business in the dashboard. Web designer and Billing only members cannot request source code access. See What each dashboard role can do.
• Your web hosting must be active, and IT Solver must have set up a source repository for the website. If the website has no Source code access section, ask IT Solver.
• Get the developer's exact GitHub username from their GitHub profile.

Request access for a developer

1. Sign in at dashboard.itsolver.net.
2. In the sidebar, select Web Hosting.
3. Find your website, then open Source code access.
4. Under Request a contractor invitation, type the username in GitHub username.
5. In Reason, type a short note about the work. This is optional.
6. Select Request invitation. The dashboard shows The request is waiting for MSP approval.
7. Email support@itsolver.net to tell IT Solver the request is ready for approval. Include the website and the GitHub username. The dashboard does not tell IT Solver about new requests.
8. Wait for IT Solver to approve the request. The request shows in Access requests. When GitHub sends the invitation, the username shows in Pending GitHub invitations. If the request stops waiting but no invitation shows, email support@itsolver.net.
9. Select Copy message in Contractor handover message, and send the message to the developer. Send it only after the invitation shows in Pending GitHub invitations.
10. The developer accepts the invitation in GitHub. Their username then moves to Active collaborators.

A request does not give access by itself. IT Solver checks GitHub again before it applies each change.

Important: when the developer merges a change into the branch named in Source code access, the change can publish to your live website. The handover message tells the developer which checks to run first. A review of the developer's work by IT Solver is optional and billable.

Remove a developer's access

1. Go to Web Hosting, then open Source code access for your website.
2. In Active collaborators, find the developer's username.
3. In the confirmation box next to the username, type the username exactly.
4. Select Request removal.
5. Email support@itsolver.net to tell IT Solver the removal request is ready for approval. Include the website and the GitHub username.
6. Wait for IT Solver to approve and apply the removal.

Removing access stops future GitHub access. It does not delete copies of the code that the developer already has.

Some collaborators show Protected. You cannot request removal of these accounts. They include IT Solver's own account, the repository owner, and accounts with admin or maintain access.

Cancel an invitation or a request

• To stop an invitation that the developer has not accepted, select Request cancellation next to the username in Pending GitHub invitations. Then email support@itsolver.net to tell IT Solver the request is ready for approval. IT Solver approves and applies it.
• To withdraw a request before IT Solver applies it, select Cancel request in Access requests. Only the person who made the request can cancel it.

Limits

• The dashboard accepts up to 10 invitation, removal or cancellation requests an hour from one connection. If the dashboard refuses a request, wait one hour and try again.
• If you send the same request again while the first one is still open, the dashboard keeps the first request.
• You cannot invite a username that already has access or a pending invitation.
• This does not change who can use the website editor (CloudCannon). See Edit your website in CloudCannon. For cPanel, see Sign in to cPanel and reset its password.

Examples

A new developer needs to change the website

You hire a freelancer to update your service pages. They send you their GitHub username.

To fix it: do the steps in Request access for a developer. When their username shows in Pending GitHub invitations, copy the handover message and send it to them.

The dashboard shows "Enter a valid GitHub username."

A GitHub username has only letters, numbers and single hyphens, and has a maximum of 39 characters. You may have typed the developer's email address or display name.

To fix it: ask the developer for the username in the address of their GitHub profile, for example github.com/username. Then request the invitation again.

The developer has finished the work

The project is done, and you do not want the developer to keep access.

To fix it: do the steps in Remove a developer's access. If the developer has copies of the code, ask them to delete them.

The section shows that GitHub source access is not configured

You open Source code access, but it shows "GitHub source access is not configured. Ask IT Solver to check the repository token." There is no request form. Or an error shows instead of the lists.

To fix it: email support@itsolver.net. Tell IT Solver which website it is and what the section shows.

The developer did not get the invitation

The username shows in Pending GitHub invitations, but the developer cannot find the invitation.

To fix it: check that the username is correct. If it is wrong, select Request cancellation, then request a new invitation with the correct username. If it is correct, ask the developer to look in their GitHub notifications and the email address on their GitHub account.

Still have a problem?

Questions? Email support@itsolver.net or phone 07 3123 6000.