Section 3
Getting Started with Open Authoring
Learning Objectives
- Set up the Git Sync link to invite reader contributions
- Compare how GitHub, Codeberg and GitLab handle proposed changes
- Describe the fork-and-propose workflow for GitHub visitors
Open authoring closes the loop between publishing content openly and actively inviting others to improve it. The goal isn't just making content readable – it's making it editable.
The Git Sync Link
This site's theme can add a link to each page that connects visitors directly to its source Markdown file in your Git repository. In the Admin Panel, go to Themes → My Theme → Git Sync Link (or the settings of the theme your site uses), set the type to View/Edit Page in Git Repository, and choose where the link appears (the menu, the footer or the page).
A single link serves two audiences:
- Contributors with repository access can edit the file directly
- Everyone else sees the file in the repository viewer, where they can fork it and propose changes
Proposing Changes on Different Platforms
| Platform | Visitors without repository access |
|---|---|
| GitHub | Sign in, then select the edit (pencil) button – GitHub forks the repository and guides them through opening a pull request |
| Codeberg | Sign in, fork the repository, then open a pull request |
| GitLab | Sign in, fork the repository, then open a merge request |
GitHub handles visitors without repository access most smoothly, making it well suited for open authoring workflows.
Inviting Contributions
The simplest invitation is a single sentence at the top of your reader home page:
Found an error or want to suggest an improvement? Use the link on any page to view the source and propose a change.
Readers who are comfortable with GitHub can open a pull request. Those who aren't can email you the suggested change. Either way, the source file is visible and accessible.