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GitHub Setup

Before you can access any HackerOps labs, you need to be a member of our GitHub organization. This guide will walk you through the setup process.

Caution

Required: You must complete this setup before accessing any lab content. All labs are protected and require organization membership.

Step 1: Create a GitHub Account

If you don’t already have a GitHub account:

  1. Sign Up - Go to github.com and click “Sign up”

  2. Choose Username - Select a professional username that you’d be comfortable sharing with future employers

  3. Account Details - Use your real email address and complete the verification process

  4. Verify Email - Check your email and click the verification link to activate your account

Tip

Pro Tip: Choose a username you’d be comfortable sharing with future employers. Your GitHub profile is part of your professional portfolio!

Step 2: Join the HackerOps Organization

To get access to the labs and protected content:

  1. Contact Instructor - Send your GitHub username to your instructor to request organization access

  2. Accept Invitation - Check your email and GitHub notifications for the organization invitation and accept it

  3. Make Membership Public (Optional but recommended) - Go to github.com/orgs/hacker-ops-class/people, find your username, and click “Public”

Step 3: Configure Your Profile

Make your GitHub profile professional:

Profile Setup

  1. Add a profile photo (professional headshot recommended)
  2. Add your real name in the “Name” field
  3. Add a bio mentioning you’re a HackerOps student
  4. Add your location (city/state)
  5. Add your personal website (if you have one)

Security Settings

  1. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):

    • Go to Settings → Password and authentication
    • Click “Enable two-factor authentication”
    • Use an authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy, etc.)

  2. Create a Personal Access Token (for CLI access):

    • Go to Settings → Developer settings → Personal access tokens → Tokens (classic)
    • Click “Generate new token (classic)”
    • Set expiration to 90 days
    • Select scopes: repo, read:org, user:email
    • Save this token securely - you’ll need it for git operations

Step 4: Install Git

Step 5: Configure Git

Set up your global Git configuration:

Terminal window
# Set your name (use your real name)
git config --global user.name "Your Full Name"


# Set your email (use your GitHub email)
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"


# Set default branch name
git config --global init.defaultBranch main


# Improve git output
git config --global color.ui auto

Step 6: Test Your Access

Verify everything is working:

  1. Test Organization Access - Visit github.com/hacker-ops-class and verify you can see the organization repositories

  2. Test Platform Authentication - Try signing in to this platform using the “Sign In with GitHub” button and verify you have access to protected lab content

  3. Test Git Operations - Clone a test repository with git clone https://github.com/hacker-ops-class/lab1.git and verify it works without errors

Tip

Success! If you can see lab repositories and sign in to the platform, you’re ready to start your HackerOps journey!

Troubleshooting

Can’t see the organization?

  • Make sure you accepted the invitation email
  • Check your GitHub notifications
  • Contact your instructor to resend the invitation

Sign-in not working?

  • Ensure you’re a member of the hacker-ops-class organization
  • Try signing out and back in to GitHub first
  • Clear your browser cache and try again

Git authentication issues?

  • Use your Personal Access Token instead of your password
  • For HTTPS URLs, enter your token when prompted for a password
  • Consider setting up SSH keys for easier authentication

Next Steps

Now that your GitHub access is configured:

  1. Set up your development environment - Install VS Code and essential tools
  2. Start Lab 1 - Deploy your first DigitalOcean virtual machine
  3. Explore the course structure - Understand the learning path

Info

Remember: Keep your GitHub profile active throughout the course. Employers often check GitHub activity when hiring developers and security professionals!