I’m trying to find a way to work on GitHub wikis using my favorite text editor (Emacs) on my computer. I know Google Code wikis can be downloaded and edited like regular code repositories. Does GitHub have something similar for their wikis? Or are there other Git hosting services that let you do this?
I’d love to be able to:
- Download the wiki content to my computer
- Make changes using Emacs or another text editor
- Push those changes back to GitHub
Is this possible with GitHub or any other Git-based platform? I’m not sure if wikis are treated differently from regular code repos. Any tips or alternatives would be really helpful!
I’ve actually been doing this with GitHub wikis for a while now, and it’s totally possible! Here’s how I set it up:
First, you need to clone the wiki repository separately from the main project repo. The URL is usually something like https://github.com/username/repo.wiki.git. Once cloned, you can edit the files locally in Emacs or any text editor.
The wiki pages are stored as .md files, so it’s easy to work with them. Make your changes, commit them like you would with any Git repo, and then push back to GitHub. The changes will show up in the web interface automatically.
One thing to watch out for is merge conflicts if multiple people are editing. I usually pull before making changes to avoid this. Also, be careful with file names as they determine the wiki structure.
Overall, it’s a great workflow that lets you use your preferred tools. Hope this helps!
Yes, it’s absolutely possible to edit GitHub wikis locally using your preferred text editor. I’ve been doing this for several projects, and it’s quite straightforward.
To get started, you’ll need to clone the wiki repository separately. The URL typically follows this format: https://github.com/username/repo.wiki.git. Once cloned, you can edit the .md files in Emacs or any text editor of your choice.
After making your changes, simply commit and push as you would with any Git repository. The updates will automatically reflect in the web interface.
One word of caution: be mindful of potential merge conflicts if others are editing simultaneously. It’s good practice to pull before making changes.
This method allows for a seamless workflow, leveraging your familiar tools while maintaining the collaborative benefits of GitHub wikis.
I’ve been using this method for a while now, and it’s a game-changer for wiki management. One thing I’d add is that you can set up a local server to preview your changes before pushing. I use Jekyll for this - it’s what GitHub uses for their wiki pages.
Just install Jekyll, navigate to your cloned wiki directory, and run ‘jekyll serve’. This lets you see how your edits will look in the browser before committing. It’s especially useful for complex formatting or when adding images.
Also, I’ve found it helpful to use Git branches for major wiki revisions. This way, you can work on big changes without affecting the main content, and merge when ready. It’s saved me a few headaches when reorganizing large wikis.
Remember to keep your local wiki repo updated regularly. I’ve set up a cron job to pull changes daily, which helps avoid conflicts.
yep, its totally doable! i edit github wikis locally all the time. just clone the wiki repo (usually like https://github.com/username/repo.wiki.git) and edit the .md files in emacs. commit and push like normal git stuff. watch out for merge conflicts tho. its pretty sweet being able to use your fave editor!