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Build confidence before granting write access. This journey begins with an exact package version and a narrow read-only plan, then introduces apply only after the desired and observed states are clear.

Safe starting point: the first four stages do not change GitHub. The final stage mutates only the repository and setting you explicitly review.

Journey

01 · Runtime

Install Octoform

Pin the documented package, choose how to invoke it, and verify the executable.

Prepare the CLI

02 · Identity

Authenticate safely

Select a credential for interactive or automated use and expose it only to the current process.

Choose authentication

03 · Intent

Write one policy

Declare a single managed value and leave every omitted repository setting untouched.

Create the first policy

04 · Evidence

Produce a plan

Read GitHub state, narrow the repository selection, and interpret changes, warnings, and capability blocks.

Review the first plan

05 · Change

Apply and verify

Approve the exact plan, confirm the result, and plan again to prove the desired state is converged.

Apply deliberately

06 · Model

Understand the model

Learn why omitted values are unmanaged, how precedence is resolved, and why an uncertain operation is blocked instead of guessed.

Read core concepts

What you need

Requirement Minimum Purpose
Node.js 20 Run the ESM command-line package
GitHub owner Personal account or organization Identify the repository owner to inspect
GitHub credential Read access to the selected repositories Obtain observed state and capability evidence
Local YAML file One explicit policy Declare only the state Octoform may manage

Use a disposable or low-risk repository for the first apply. A representative repository is useful; a production-critical repository is not required to learn the workflow.

Where to go afterwards