Transfer a Gist into a new GitHub repository

transfert-gist-into-github-repository.md

Transfer a gist into a new GitHub repository

1) Create an empty repository on GitHub

Create a new repository on GitHub (in my case git-and-bash-aliases).

To avoid errors, do not initialize the new repository with README, license, or gitignore files. You can add these files after your project has been pushed to GitHub.

2) Clone the gist

$ git clone git@gist.github.com:09912ca4188a4ba3c610d7f61c200c38.git git-and-bash-aliases
$ cd git-and-bash-aliases

With the git clone command, the folder will be named by default with the gist reference (in this case 09912ca4188a4ba3c610d7f61c200c38).

I prefer to give my folder a more explicit name to make it easier to find my way around my gists.

3) Adjust the remote names (gist & origin)

remote	target
origin	new GitHub repository
gist	original gist repository

Convert origin name to gist

$ git remote -v 
origin	git@gist.github.com:09912ca4188a4ba3c610d7f61c200c38.git (fetch)
origin	git@gist.github.com:09912ca4188a4ba3c610d7f61c200c38.git (push)

$ git remote rename origin gist

$ git remote -v 
gist	git@gist.github.com:09912ca4188a4ba3c610d7f61c200c38.git (fetch)
gist	git@gist.github.com:09912ca4188a4ba3c610d7f61c200c38.git (push)

Connect the new GitHub repository to origin

$ git remote add origin git@github.com:jprivet-dev/git-and-bash-aliases.git

$ git remote -v 
gist	git@gist.github.com:09912ca4188a4ba3c610d7f61c200c38.git (fetch)
gist	git@gist.github.com:09912ca4188a4ba3c610d7f61c200c38.git (push)
origin	git@github.com:jprivet-dev/git-and-bash-aliases.git (fetch)
origin	git@github.com:jprivet-dev/git-and-bash-aliases.git (push)

4) Push all on the new GitHub repository

$ git branch -M main
$ git push -u origin main

That's all ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Resources

• https://docs.github.com/en/github/writing-on-github/creating-gists
• https://docs.github.com/en/github/importing-your-projects-to-github/adding-an-existing-project-to-github-using-the-command-line
• Transfer a gist to a GitHub repository - https://gist.github.com/ishu3101/830b556b487de5d69690

FYI, you can save yourself the trouble and use GitHub's import tool:

1. Go to your gist, copy the URL for "Clone via HTTPS"
2. Go to your repositories, click on New then click on the "import a repository" link (or just click here)
3. Paste the URL, choose a name and click on "Begin Import"

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hat tip to @rolfen