In team collaboration, Git repository permission management is like installing a “access control system” for the repository—it allows team members to work smoothly while preventing code from being accidentally modified, deleted, or even leaked. For beginners, understanding the basic concepts and setup methods of permissions is crucial. This article will teach you how to manage team members’ access permissions step by step in simple and easy-to-understand language.

I. Why is Permission Management Necessary?¶

Imagine: If your repository has no permission controls, anyone with the repository address can arbitrarily modify code, delete files, or even “destroy” the repository. With permission management, you can clarify:
- Who can view the code (e.g., new members first review documentation, not allowed to modify directly);
- Who can commit code (e.g., ordinary developers can only write code in their own branches);
- Who can manage the repository (e.g., only project owners can delete branches or change settings).

Core principle: The principle of least privilege—assign members only the minimum necessary permissions, avoiding over-granting access.

II. Common Permission Roles in Git Repositories¶

While role names may vary slightly across platforms (GitHub, GitLab, Gitee, etc.), the core permission types are consistent. There are 3 common types:

III. How to Set Team Member Permissions? (Taking GitHub as an Example; Similar for Other Platforms)¶

Using the most common GitHub as an example, follow these steps to complete the setup:

1. Access Repository Settings
   Open your Git repository (e.g., https://github.com/YourUsername/YourRepoName), then click Settings in the top-right corner.

2. Find “Manage Access”
   In the Settings page, locate Manage access in the left menu and click to enter.

3. Add Members and Assign Permissions
   - Click Add a collaborator, enter the member’s GitHub username, and click Add.
   - Select the permission type:

   • Regular members: Write (can commit code);
   • Read-only access: Read;
   • Project owner: Admin (Note: Admin permissions are extremely high—assign with caution!).

4. View and Modify Permissions
   On the “Manage access” page, you can see all members’ permissions. To adjust:
   - Click the dropdown arrow next to a member to select a new permission (Read/Write/Admin);
   - To remove a member, click Remove.

IV. Advanced: Branch Permission Protection (Prevent Code “Chaos”)¶

Beyond overall repository permissions, you can set stricter rules for specific branches (e.g., preventing direct commits to the main branch). Taking GitHub as an example:

1. Go to Repository → Settings → Branches.
2. Click Add rule and enter the branch name (e.g., main or master).
3. Check critical protection options:
   - Require pull request reviews before merging (PR reviews required before merging);
   - Require status checks to pass before merging (CI tests required before merging);
   - Require branches to be up to date before merging (ensure branch is latest before merging).

This ensures even with Write permissions, ordinary members must pass “Pull Request (PR) + review” to merge code into the main branch, preventing untested code from being deployed directly.

V. Tips for Permission Management¶

1. Avoid Over-Permissioning: Ordinary developers should get Write permissions at most, with branch protection rules adding extra safeguards to prevent accidental deletions/overwrites.
2. Regularly Clean Up Permissions: Remove access after project completion or member departure to prevent “zombie accounts” from misusing access.
3. Use Team-Based Management: For multi-person collaboration, create Teams first and assign permissions to teams (e.g., GitHub’s “Teams” feature) for bulk management.

Conclusion¶

The core of Git repository permission management is “clear division, least privilege, and branch protection”. By assigning Read/Write/Admin permissions reasonably and combining branch protection rules, you ensure both efficient team collaboration and code security. Remember: Permissions should not be overly strict but tailored to “each person having exactly what they need to do their job.”

Next time you set up a team repository, first clarify “who needs what permissions,” then follow the steps—you’ll master permission management easily!