Troubleshooting 'Invalid username or password' errors with gh-pages and GitHub Actions

Embark on a journey to resolve the 'Invalid username or password' error encountered with gh-pages and GitHub Actions, ensuring a seamless deployment of your site to GitHub Pages.

Introduction

The Widespread Utilization of GitHub Pages: GitHub Pages emerges as a quintessential platform for hosting static websites and web apps. Its seamless integration with GitHub Actions workflow via the gh-pages npm package makes it a popular choice among developers. However, the journey isn't always devoid of hurdles. One such stumbling block is the notorious 'Invalid username or password' error that manifests during the commit process with gh-pages.
Embarking on a Troubleshooting Expedition: This error, albeit intimidating at a glance, often stems from incorrect or expired authentication details. The remedy lies in a systematic troubleshooting approach. This blog post unfolds a comprehensive guide to troubleshoot and fix this issue, reinstating the ease of deploying your site to GitHub Pages.

Step 1: Check your authentication details

The Genesis of the Error: The error message 'Invalid username or password' is more than just a call for attention; it's a beacon indicating discrepancies in the authentication details. The first step in resolving this error is to ensure the accuracy of the GitHub access token used for authentication with the gh-pages package. This token is your passport to interacting with GitHub, and any misstep here could lead to authentication failure.

// Example: Utilizing the correct token in your JavaScript code
const ghpages = require("gh-pages");
ghpages.publish(
    "dist",
    {
        branch: "gh-pages",
        repo: "https://USERNAME:TOKEN@github.com/USERNAME/REPO.git",
    },
    callback
);

Regenerating the Access Token: If doubts loom over the validity of your token, regenerating a new token is a prudent step. GitHub facilitates this through a straightforward process. Navigate to your GitHub account settings, delve into 'Developer settings', and opt to generate a new token under 'Personal access tokens'. Ensure the repo scope is selected to grant requisite access permissions. This new token should replace the old token in your GitHub Actions workflow, potentially resolving the error.

If you're not sure whether your token is correct, you can generate a new token with the repo scope by following these steps:

Log in to your GitHub account and navigate to your account settings page.
Click on "Developer settings", then click on "Personal access tokens".
Click the "Generate new token" button.
Give your token a description (e.g. "GitHub Actions deploy token").
Under "Select scopes", check the box next to "repo" to grant the token access to your repositories.
Click the "Generate token" button at the bottom of the page. Make sure to copy the token value and store it securely, as you won't be able to see it again once you leave the page.

Step 2: Ensure your access token is stored as a secret

The Vault of Secrets: Storing the access token as a secret is a cardinal rule to uphold. Secrets in GitHub serve as a secure vault, safeguarding sensitive information like your access tokens. Navigate to your repository settings on GitHub, unveil the 'Secrets' section, and promulgate a new secret bearing the name 'ACCESS_TOKEN', encapsulating your newly generated access token.

// Example: Accessing the secret in your JavaScript code
const token = process.env.ACCESS_TOKEN; // Ensure environment variables are set up to access secrets

Follow these steps:

Navigate to your repository on GitHub and click on "Settings".
In the left sidebar, click on "Secrets".
Click the "New secret" button.
Enter a name for your secret (e.g. "ACCESS_TOKEN").
Paste the access token value into the "Value" field.
Click the "Add secret" button.

The Significance of Secrecy: The act of storing access tokens as secrets not only fortifies security but also ensures the seamless functioning of your GitHub Actions workflow. Any deviation from this practice could lead to exposure of sensitive credentials, or in this case, the 'Invalid username or password' error.

Step 3: Update your workflow to use the secret

Amending the Workflow: With the secret securely stored, it's time to ensure your GitHub Actions workflow is attuned to utilize this secret. An amendment in your workflow file to include a step for deploying to GitHub Pages, with the environment variable ACCESS_TOKEN set to your secret, is essential.

// YAML snippet: Incorporating the secret in your GitHub Actions workflow
- name: Deploy to GitHub Pages
  env:
      ACCESS_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.ACCESS_TOKEN }}
  run: npm run deploy

The Culmination of Troubleshooting: This amendment channels the access token securely from the secrets vault to the gh-pages package, ensuring accurate authentication. With this, the 'Invalid username or password' error should bid adieu, reinstating the effortless deployment to GitHub Pages.

Conclusion

Reflection on the Troubleshooting Journey: The expedition to resolve the 'Invalid username or password' error unveils the significance of accurate authentication and the secure handling of access tokens. Each step in the troubleshooting guide is a stepping stone towards a seamless deployment experience with gh-pages and GitHub Actions.
Towards Effortless Deployments: By meticulously following the outlined troubleshooting steps, developers can transcend the authentication error, harnessing the full potential of GitHub Pages for hosting their projects. The path is now clear, leading towards effortless deployments and the broader horizon of continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) with GitHub Actions.

Navigate through the intricacies of troubleshooting the 'Invalid username or password' error encountered with gh-pages and GitHub Actions, ensuring a smooth sail towards deploying your site on GitHub Pages.

GitHub Pages is a popular platform for hosting static websites and web apps. With the gh-pages npm package, it's easy to deploy your website to GitHub Pages from a GitHub Actions workflow. However, sometimes you might run into an error that says "Invalid username or password" when trying to commit with the gh-pagespackage. In this post, we'll discuss some troubleshooting steps to help you fix this issue.