Hi Nicolas Anderson,
Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum.
I understand your confusion and I'll clarify the objectives of this exercise:
Objective of the Exercise:
The main goal here is to migrate your existing repository from another version control system (like Mercurial, Subversion, or another Git platform) to GitHub. This involves transferring your project’s history and files to GitHub using tools like the GitHub Importer.
Key Steps and Considerations:
Step1:Plan the Migration
Why Move to GitHub? :GitHub offers feature-rich tools and collaborative opportunities to enhance your project.
Important Considerations: Decide if you need to preserve all historical data, including issues, discussions, and pull requests. Review historical commit messages for sensitive information.
Step 2: Prepare the Project
Handling Binary Files: Remove unsuitable binary files or use git-lfs for large files.
Adding .gitignore: Create a .gitignore file to exclude unnecessary files from version control. Templates are available in the github/gitignore repository.
Step 3: Private or Public Repository
Visibility Options: Choose between private (limited access) or public (open access) repositories. Ensure compliance with licensing and code of conduct for public repositories.
Step 4: Complete the Import
Using GitHub Importer: Transfer your repository from its current version control system to GitHub. Follow the instructions in the Code tab of your repository for importing.
Addressing Your Concerns:
Read-Only Repository: If encountering a read-only status, verify permissions to ensure you can proceed with migration.
Clarity of Instructions: If any step is unclear, please specify which part for detailed guidance.
Next-Steps:
Seek Further Assistance: For specific issues or personalized help, consider posting on the GitHub Community board.
Review Your .gitignore File: Ensure your .gitignore file is correctly configured to maintain a clean repository structure. Utilize templates from the github/gitignore repository. if needed.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions. If you found this answer helpful, please click the "Accept answer/Upvote" button so it can benefit other members of the Microsoft Q&A community.
Thank you.