Why do I need GitHub?
GitHub Actions runs your scheduled blog posts for free. This is the magic that makes AlphaPost free for everyone.
Without GitHub, we would have to run the posts on our own server. That would cost us money, and we would need to charge you. By using your GitHub account, we keep the tool free.
Will it use up my GitHub account?
Not really. GitHub gives every user:
- Unlimited free private repos.
- 2,000 minutes of free Actions per month for private repos.
One AlphaPost post takes about 1 to 2 minutes of Actions time. So you can run 1,000 to 2,000 posts per month on the free tier. That is more than enough.
What does AlphaPost do with my GitHub?
When you connect, AlphaPost will:
- Create one private repo called alphapost-cron in your account.
- Add workflow files inside that repo (these are the schedule rules).
- Add encrypted secrets (your API keys) so the workflow can use them.
- That is all.
We do NOT touch any of your other repos. We can only see and edit the alphapost-cron repo.
Step 1: Sign up for GitHub (if you do not have it)
- Go to github.com/signup.
- Make a free account. Use any email.
- Confirm your email.
Step 2: Connect GitHub in AlphaPost
- Go to your AlphaPost dashboard.
- Click Auto Post.
- Click New Order.
- Go to Step 3 (GitHub).
- Click the Connect with GitHub button.
- You will go to a GitHub page. It will say "AlphaPost wants to access your account".
- Click Authorize AlphaPost.
- You will come back to AlphaPost. You will see "GitHub Connected" with your username.
That is it.
Step 3: Verify the repo was made
- Open github.com in a new tab.
- Click your profile icon (top right), then Your repositories.
- You should see a private repo called alphapost-cron.
- Click on it. You will see a README that explains what it is for.
This repo is yours. We just create and update it on your behalf when you set up an order.
What if I want to remove GitHub access?
Any time you can:
- Click Disconnect GitHub in your AlphaPost dashboard, or
- Go to github.com/settings/applications and remove AlphaPost.
When you do this, your scheduled posts will stop. But your blog stays the same.
What if I delete the alphapost-cron repo?
Your scheduled posts will stop because the workflow files are gone. To start again, come back to AlphaPost and click Connect GitHub. We will make the repo again.
What happens if my GitHub action fails?
If a post fails for any reason (API down, wrong key, etc.), the run will be marked as failed. You can see it in the run history in AlphaPost.
You can also see it on GitHub by going to your alphapost-cron repo, clicking Actions, and seeing the run logs.
Need help?
Email contactalphapost@gmail.com with your problem and a screenshot if you can. We reply within 24 to 48 hours.