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GitHub star a repository for the authenticated user action to star a GitHub repository on behalf of the authenticated user. This is a write action that programmatically adds a star to a repository, marking it as a favorite or important for later reference.

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Prerequisites

  • Your admin must install and configure the GitHub connector, add the GitHub actions pack under Admin > Actions, and enable this action.
  • A GitHub app must be installed on the relevant organization(s) and linked to the correct GitHub datasource in the Glean admin console.
  • The GitHub app must have the necessary permissions to star repositories on behalf of users.

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Supported parameters

ParameterTypeDescription
OwnerStringThe owner of the target GitHub repository (user or organization).
RepositoryStringThe name of the target GitHub repository to star.

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Usage examples

  • “Star the ‘react’ repository from ‘facebook’ on GitHub so I can keep track of it for my frontend project.”
  • “Add a star to the ‘tensorflow/tensorflow’ repository.”
  • “Star the ‘microsoft/vscode’ repository for later reference.”

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Troubleshooting

  • Possible cause: The GitHub connector is not fully set up, the GitHub app is not installed on the target organization, or the app is missing required permissions.
  • Fix: Confirm that the GitHub connector is installed and authenticated, that the GitHub app is installed on the correct organization(s), and that it has the necessary repository scopes. If using a custom app, verify that permissions for starring repositories are enabled.
  • Possible cause: The owner or repository name is incorrect, the repository does not exist, or the authenticated user does not have access to it.
  • Fix: Verify that the repository exists at https://github.com/owner/repo and that the authenticated user has at least read access to it. Check for typos in the owner or repository name.
  • Possible cause: There may be a delay in GitHub updating the star count, or the star was applied but not immediately visible due to caching.
  • Fix: Wait a few moments and refresh the repository page or check your starred repositories list at https://github.com/stars to confirm the star was applied.
  • Possible cause: The GitHub organization has restricted third-party OAuth apps, so the app used by this action is not allowed to star repositories even if credentials appear to be correct.
  • Fix: Ask your GitHub organization admin to enable the app or adjust OAuth App access restrictions for the relevant repositories.

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FAQs

Yes, you can star private repositories as long as the authenticated user has access to them. The repository will appear in your starred list, but it will only be visible to you and others who have access to the private repository.
GitHub does not impose a hard limit on the number of repositories you can star, but you should be mindful of rate limiting if you are starring many repositories in quick succession. The GitHub API has rate limits that may affect bulk operations.
No. This action only stars repositories. To unstar a repository, you would need a separate action or do it manually through the GitHub interface.
This action is designed for GitHub.com and GitHub Enterprise Cloud. Support for GitHub Enterprise Server depends on your GitHub connector configuration. Confirm with your admin if you are using GitHub Enterprise Server.