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Buster uses a GitHub App to enable agents to read your code, create pull requests, and provide automated feedback.
GitHub integration is required for agents to access your repositories. You must have organization ownership or administrator permissions to install the app.

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Installing the GitHub App

Install the Buster GitHub App from the Buster web app under Settings → Integrations → GitHub.
Buster GitHub App installation page

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Permissions

When you install the GitHub app, you will be prompted to grant the following permissions: Read permissions:
  • metadata — Basic repository information
Read and write permissions:
  • contents — Read files and commit changes
  • pull_requests — Create and comment on pull requests
  • issues — Create and manage issues
  • checks — Create and update check runs
The app only accesses repositories that you explicitly grant it access to. If you have branch protection rules enabled, the app respects those rules.

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How Agents Use GitHub

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Webhooks

The GitHub App automatically configures webhooks to notify Buster when events occur:
  • Pull request events — Opened, updated, reopened
  • Push events — Commits pushed to branches
  • Installation events — App installed, uninstalled, or permissions changed

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Check Runs

Every agent execution creates a GitHub Check Run:
  • Visible in the PR’s “Checks” tab
  • Shows agent status (queued, in progress, completed)
  • Includes agent output and summary

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Git Operations

Agents can perform Git operations using installation tokens:
  • Clone repositories
  • Create branches
  • Commit and push changes
  • Create pull requests via gh CLI

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Managing Repository Access

When installing the Buster GitHub App, you can grant access to:
  • All repositories — Current and future repos
  • Selected repositories — Only specific repos
You can modify this selection anytime in your GitHub settings:
  1. Go to GitHub Settings → Applications → Installed GitHub Apps
  2. Click Configure next to Buster
  3. Update repository access

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Troubleshooting

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GitHub App Connection Issues

If you encounter problems with the GitHub app, resetting the connection can solve most issues.
1

Uninstall the Buster app through GitHub

  1. In GitHub, go to Installed Apps and select Configure next to Buster
  2. Scroll down and select Uninstall
  3. Go to Authorized GitHub Apps and select Revoke next to Buster
2

Reinstall the Buster app

  1. In your Buster account, go to Settings → Integrations → GitHub
  2. Click Install GitHub App
  3. Complete the authorization flow
  4. Verify the connection shows as “Connected”

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Agent Not Triggering on Pull Requests

If your agent isn’t running when PRs are created:
1

Verify GitHub App installation

Check that the Buster app is installed on the repository in your GitHub installations.
2

Check repository access

Ensure the repository is in the app’s accessible repositories list.
3

Check webhook deliveries

In GitHub, go to Settings → Webhooks and verify recent webhook deliveries are successful.
4

Review agent configuration

Ensure your agent file:
  • Is referenced in buster.yml
  • Has a valid pull_request trigger
  • Has includes patterns that match the changed files
# buster.yml
agents:
  - .buster/agents/my-agent.yml

# .buster/agents/my-agent.yml
triggers:
  - event: pull_request
    includes:
      - "models/**/*.sql"  # Must match changed files
5

Check deployment

Verify the agent was deployed:
buster deploy --verbose

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Permission Denied Errors

If agents can’t create pull requests or comments:
1

Check GitHub App permissions

Go to GitHub Settings → Applications → Installed GitHub Apps → Buster and verify:
  • Contents: Read and write
  • Pull requests: Read and write
  • Issues: Read and write
  • Checks: Read and write
2

Check branch protection

If pushing to protected branches fails, agents will create a separate PR instead (when auto_commit: false).