Allison explains how GitHub now allows repository administrators to post in Discussions with an ‘Admin’ badge, helping clarify official guidance for the community.

Post as Admin Feature in GitHub Discussions

GitHub has introduced a new capability for repository administrators, allowing them to post and comment in GitHub Discussions with an “Admin” badge. This enables clear differentiation between official repository responses and personal input.

Feature Overview

  • Admin Badge: Administrators can choose to post as themselves or as “Admin.” Replies posted as Admin are easily recognized by community members as official guidance.
  • No Need for Separate Accounts: Previously, some communities created separate admin accounts for this purpose, which created security and access management challenges. The new feature addresses these issues by leveraging existing permissions.
  • Community Benefits: This distinction helps in identifying authoritative responses and maintaining healthy community engagement.

Screenshot of a discussion forum interface showing the 'Start a new discussion' page with a dropdown menu to select between posting as the user or 'Admin', demonstrating the new admin alias feature.

How to Use the Admin Badge

  1. Administrator Permissions: Ensure you have administrator rights for the repository.
  2. Discussions Enabled: The repository must have GitHub Discussions enabled.
  3. Posting as Admin: When starting a new discussion or replying to a thread, select “Admin” from the dropdown menu to post using the badge.

For more details, refer to GitHub Docs: Managing Discussions.

Availability

  • This feature is now available on github.com for all repositories with Discussions enabled.

Benefits

  • Authority: Community members can quickly spot official guidance.
  • Security: Reduces the need for shared admin accounts and associated risks.
  • Flexibility: Maintainers retain the ability to participate personally or officially as needed.

Source: Allison, GitHub Blog Announcement (Original post)

This post appeared first on “The GitHub Blog”. Read the entire article here