Error: ssh-private-key argument is empty

[thorwhalen]

I'm getting this error in the "check-in" section:

Error: The ssh-private-key argument is empty. Maybe the secret has not been configured, or you are using a wrong secret name in your workflow file.

Where do I find this ssh private key and where do I put it?

[thorwhalen]

The error you're encountering indicates that the ssh-private-key required by the i2mint/isee/actions/check-in@master GitHub Action is either not set or incorrectly referenced in your workflow. This SSH private key is used to authenticate with GitHub for operations that require a higher level of access, like pushing commits.

Here's how to resolve this:

1. Generate an SSH Key Pair

If you don't already have an SSH key pair that you want to use for this purpose, you can generate one. Here's how to do it on a Unix-like system:

1. Open a terminal.
2. Run ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com", replacing your_email@example.com with your email.
3. When prompted to "Enter a file in which to save the key," press Enter to use the default location.
4. At the prompt, enter a secure passphrase.

This generates a new SSH key, using the provided email as a label.

2. Add the Public Key to Your GitHub Repository

1. Navigate to your GitHub repository.
2. Go to "Settings" > "Deploy keys".
3. Click on "Add deploy key".
4. Enter a title for the key, paste the public key (id_ed25519.pub content), and decide if you want the key to have write access.
5. Click "Add key".

3. Add the Private Key to GitHub Secrets

1. Open the file that contains your private key (typically id_ed25519).
2. Copy the entire content of the file.
3. Go back to your GitHub repository.
4. Navigate to "Settings" > "Secrets".
5. Click on "New repository secret".
6. Name the secret SSH_PRIVATE_KEY (or another name, but ensure it matches what you use in your workflow file).
7. Paste the content of your private key into the value field.
8. Click "Add secret".

4. Update Your Workflow File

Make sure your workflow file references the secret correctly. If you named your secret SSH_PRIVATE_KEY, then your workflow file should have:

ssh-private-key: ${{ secrets.SSH_PRIVATE_KEY }}

If you used a different name, replace SSH_PRIVATE_KEY with the name you chose.

Security Note:

• Be very careful with your private key. Never share it or commit it to your repository.
• The passphrase you set for your SSH key is separate and not used in this process. GitHub Actions uses the key itself.
• Make sure that the deploy key you added to your repository has the correct permissions. If it only needs to read from the repository, don't give it write access.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the error and allow your GitHub Action to authenticate properly using the SSH key.