Changing repository description in git

Question

I'd like to change repository description of the project I'm working on but "Edit" button does not appear in GitHub web site.

I use GitHub for Windows and provided shell.

Although description is present on web site .git\description file has default contents and \description file is absent in root folder. Where is the description of the project is stored then if it is present on GitHub?

I changed .git\description but the changes are not visible to the git status.

How to change the project description without creating \description file in the root folder or creating links to its .git\description version?

Cittern

Answer 1

You can only change the GitHub repository descriptions of projects which you own. Simple read/write access is not enough to change that. You basically need the same privileges as you need to access the administration section of a project.

Spunky

no, I do not own the projects. then for some repos I'm granted with permissions to change description I presume. even if I put \description file that will not take effect? – Cittern

The description file, as @Undeviating explained, only affects the repository you change it in. It will not transfer to other repositories. – You should be able to (only) edit the GitHub descriptions for projects where you can see a “Settings” tab (which only the owner has). If that’s not the case, I’d say you have to contact GitHub support. – Spunky

Answer 2

The .git\description file is only used in the Git-Web program. Github doesn't even bother about it, and the description that you enter in your local git repo remains local to you and will never be transmitted to the remote repo.

To change project description on Github, look here: How do you change a repository description on GitHub?

Undeviating

in my case Edit is present in some repos and not present on others. I have full RW access to all of them – Cittern

@ChesnokovYuriy - Make sure you do have proper access. – Undeviating

I do have RW access displayed in github for that repo but no Edit button to appear. Other repos with the same RW access display Edit button. – Cittern

Answer 3

The edit button should show up when you move your mouse over the area where the description would show up.

A comment from the link manojlds pasted:

apparently the description only appears in the details of the project if the project is not empty !. I had to commit something before being able to change it

Sherborn

The edit button is displayed on some repos and is not displayed on anothers. Though I have RW access to all of them. – Cittern

project is not empty and we all commit to it – Cittern

@ChesnokovYuriy ah okay, check poke's answer – Iridescent