#Troubleshooting Guide

Resolve common issues and optimize your experience with GitHub tools in the MCP Chat AI Assistant.

#🔧 Connection Issues

#GitHub Account Connection Problems

Issue: "Failed to connect to GitHub"

Symptoms:

• Unable to connect GitHub account
• Connection timeout errors
• Authentication failures

Solutions:

1. Check your internet connection
2. Verify you're logged into GitHub in your browser
3. Clear browser cache and cookies
4. Try disconnecting and reconnecting
5. Check if two-factor authentication is properly configured

Issue: "Invalid GitHub token"

Symptoms:

• Authentication errors after initial connection
• "Unauthorized" messages
• Token expired errors

Solutions:

1. Refresh the page and try again
2. Disconnect and reconnect your GitHub account
3. Check if your GitHub personal access token is still valid
4. Verify the token has the required permissions
5. Generate a new token if necessary

Issue: "Rate limit exceeded"

Symptoms:

• "API rate limit exceeded" errors
• Requests failing after working fine
• Temporary inability to access GitHub data

Solutions:

1. Wait for the rate limit to reset (usually within an hour)
2. Check the rate limit status: "What's my current GitHub rate limit?"
3. Reduce the frequency of requests
4. Use more specific queries to reduce API calls
5. Consider upgrading your GitHub plan for higher limits

#📁 Repository Access Issues

#Repository Not Found

Issue: "Repository not found" or "404 errors"

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Verify the repository name is correct
2. Check if you have access to the repository
3. Ensure the repository isn't private (if you don't have access)
4. Confirm the repository owner/organization name
5. Try accessing the repository directly in GitHub

Solutions:

• "Show me my repositories" to see available repos
• "Check my permissions for this repository"
• Ask the repository owner to grant you access
• Verify the repository URL is correct

#Permission Denied

Issue: "Permission denied" or "Insufficient permissions"

Common Causes:

• Repository is private and you don't have access
• Your role doesn't allow the requested operation
• Organization restrictions preventing access
• Repository has special protection rules

Solutions:

1. Contact the repository owner or admin
2. Request appropriate permissions
3. Check organization settings
4. Verify your GitHub account status

#🔍 Search and File Operations Issues

#File Not Found

Issue: "File not found" or "Path does not exist"

Troubleshooting:

1. Verify the file path is correct
2. Check if you're on the right branch
3. Ensure the file hasn't been moved or deleted
4. Check spelling and case sensitivity

Solutions:

• "List files in the src directory" to explore structure
• "Search for files containing 'filename'"
• "Show me the current branch and recent changes"
• "Find files similar to what I'm looking for"

#Search Returns No Results

Issue: Search queries return empty results

Common Causes:

• Search terms too specific
• Typos in search query
• File content not indexed yet
• Wrong repository selected

Solutions:

1. Try broader search terms
2. Use semantic search instead of exact text
3. Check spelling and try variations
4. Search in different directories
5. Verify you're in the correct repository

Examples:

• Instead of: "Find getUserData function"
• Try: "Find user data functions" or "Find code that gets user information"

#Slow Search Performance

Issue: Search takes too long or times out

Causes:

• Large repository size
• Complex search queries
• Network connectivity issues
• High server load

Solutions:

1. Use more specific search terms
2. Limit search to specific directories
3. Break complex searches into smaller parts
4. Try again during off-peak hours
5. Use basic text search instead of semantic search for simple queries

#🐛 Issue Management Problems

#Cannot Create Issues

Issue: "Unable to create issue" or "Issue creation failed"

Troubleshooting:

1. Check repository permissions
2. Verify you have "Issues" write access
3. Ensure the repository has issues enabled
4. Check for required fields or templates

Solutions:

• "What permissions do I have in this repository?"
• Contact repository admin for issue creation rights
• Use the web interface to verify issue creation works
• Check if there are required issue templates

#Issues Not Displaying

Issue: Issues list is empty or incomplete

Possible Causes:

• Filters hiding issues
• No issues actually exist
• Permission restrictions
• Repository settings

Solutions:

1. Check active filters: "Show me all issues without filters"
2. Verify repository has issues: "How many issues exist in total?"
3. Check permissions: "What access level do I have?"
4. Try different views: "Show me closed issues too"

#Issue Updates Failing

Issue: Cannot update issue labels, assignees, or status

Troubleshooting:

1. Verify write permissions to the repository
2. Check if issue is locked
3. Ensure labels exist in the repository
4. Verify assignee has repository access

Solutions:

• "What labels are available in this repository?"
• "Who are the valid assignees for issues?"
• Ask repository admin to check issue settings

#🔄 Pull Request Issues

#Cannot Create Pull Requests

Issue: "Unable to create pull request" or "PR creation failed"

Common Causes:

• No differences between branches
• Target branch doesn't accept PRs
• Insufficient permissions
• Merge conflicts

Solutions:

1. Check branch differences: "Compare my-branch with main"
2. Verify target branch accepts PRs
3. Resolve merge conflicts first
4. Ensure you have push access to source branch

Diagnostics:

• "What changes are in my current branch?"
• "Are there any merge conflicts?"
• "What's the status of this branch compared to main?"

#Pull Request Actions Failing

Issue: Cannot merge, review, or update PRs

Troubleshooting:

1. Check PR status and requirements
2. Verify all required checks pass
3. Ensure proper permissions
4. Check for merge conflicts

Solutions:

• "What's blocking this PR from merging?"
• "Show me the PR requirements and status"
• "Are all checks passing for this PR?"
• Wait for required reviews or status checks

#🌿 Branch Operation Issues

#Branch Creation Failures

Issue: "Cannot create branch" or "Branch creation failed"

Causes:

• Branch name already exists
• Invalid branch name characters
• Insufficient permissions
• Network connectivity issues

Solutions:

1. Choose a different branch name
2. Use valid characters (letters, numbers, hyphens)
3. Check write permissions to repository
4. Try creating from web interface

Examples of valid branch names:

• feature/user-authentication
• fix/login-bug-123
• hotfix/security-patch

#Branch Not Showing Up

Issue: Created branch doesn't appear in branch list

Troubleshooting:

1. Check if branch was created on correct remote
2. Verify branch name spelling
3. Refresh the branch list
4. Check if you're looking at the right repository

Solutions:

• "Show me all branches including recent ones"
• "Refresh the repository branch list"
• "What branches exist on the remote?"

#🤖 AI Analysis Issues

#Analysis Takes Too Long

Issue: AI analysis times out or takes excessive time

Causes:

• Large codebase size
• Complex analysis requested
• High server load
• Network connectivity

Solutions:

1. Request analysis of specific components instead of entire repository
2. Break large analysis into smaller parts
3. Try again during off-peak hours
4. Use more targeted analysis queries

Better Approaches:

• Instead of: "Analyze the entire repository"
• Try: "Analyze the user authentication module"

#Inaccurate Analysis Results

Issue: AI provides incorrect or irrelevant analysis

Causes:

• Insufficient context provided
• Ambiguous request
• Code complexity beyond AI capabilities
• Outdated or incomplete code

Solutions:

1. Provide more specific context
2. Break down complex requests
3. Validate results with domain knowledge
4. Ask for clarification on unclear results

Improvement Tips:

• Be specific about what you want to analyze
• Provide context about the technology stack
• Ask follow-up questions for clarification

#Missing Analysis Features

Issue: Certain analysis features not available

Possible Reasons:

• Feature not implemented yet
• Repository type not supported
• Language not supported
• Dependencies not recognized

Solutions:

• Ask about feature availability: "What analysis features are available?"
• Try alternative approaches
• Provide feedback about missing features
• Use manual analysis for unsupported scenarios

#📊 Performance Issues

#Slow Response Times

Issue: Tools respond slowly to requests

Causes:

• Network connectivity
• Server load
• Large repository size
• Complex operations

Solutions:

1. Check internet connection
2. Try simpler requests first
3. Break complex operations into smaller parts
4. Retry during off-peak hours
5. Clear browser cache

Optimization Tips:

• Use specific file paths instead of searching entire repository
• Request specific information rather than broad analysis
• Use pagination for large result sets

#Memory or Loading Issues

Issue: Browser becomes slow or unresponsive

Causes:

• Large amount of data being processed
• Memory leaks in browser
• Too many concurrent operations

Solutions:

1. Refresh the browser tab
2. Close unnecessary browser tabs
3. Restart the browser
4. Reduce the scope of operations
5. Process data in smaller chunks

#🔒 Security and Privacy Issues

#Authentication Errors

Issue: Persistent authentication failures

Troubleshooting:

1. Check if GitHub account is properly authenticated
2. Verify two-factor authentication is working
3. Check for account restrictions
4. Ensure correct GitHub account is connected

Solutions:

• Log out and log back into GitHub
• Verify your GitHub account status
• Check organization restrictions
• Contact GitHub support if issues persist

#Permission Escalation Needed

Issue: Need higher permissions for certain operations

Scenarios:

• Want to modify organization repositories
• Need admin access for repository settings
• Require access to private repositories

Solutions:

1. Contact repository owner or organization admin
2. Request appropriate role assignment
3. Join relevant teams or organizations
4. Use personal repositories for testing

#🛠️ General Troubleshooting Steps

#Basic Diagnostics

When experiencing issues, try these steps:

1. Refresh and Retry:

   • Refresh the page
   • Wait a moment and try again
   • Clear browser cache

2. Check Status:

   • "What's my GitHub connection status?"
   • "Show me my current repository"
   • "What are my current permissions?"

3. Verify Settings:

   • Check GitHub account connection
   • Verify repository selection
   • Confirm you have necessary permissions

4. Simplify Request:

   • Use simpler, more specific requests
   • Break complex operations into smaller parts
   • Try alternative approaches

#Advanced Diagnostics

For persistent issues:

1. Check System Status:

   • GitHub API status
   • Network connectivity
   • Browser console for errors

2. Gather Information:

   • Note exact error messages
   • Document steps to reproduce
   • Check timing of issues

3. Alternative Approaches:

   • Try using GitHub web interface
   • Use different repository for testing
   • Test with simpler operations

#📋 Error Message Reference

#Common Error Messages and Solutions

"Repository not found (404)"

• Solution: Check repository name and access permissions

"Bad credentials (401)"

• Solution: Reconnect GitHub account, check token validity

"API rate limit exceeded (403)"

• Solution: Wait for rate limit reset, reduce request frequency

"Validation failed (422)"

• Solution: Check request parameters, ensure required fields are provided

"Not Found (404)"

• Solution: Verify resource exists and you have access

"Forbidden (403)"

• Solution: Check permissions, contact repository admin

"Internal Server Error (500)"

• Solution: Try again later, contact support if persistent

#🆘 Getting Help

#When to Seek Help

Contact support when:

• Issues persist after troubleshooting
• Error messages are unclear
• Features aren't working as documented
• Security concerns arise

#Information to Provide

When reporting issues, include:

• Exact error messages
• Steps to reproduce the problem
• Repository name (if relevant)
• Browser and operating system
• Time when issue occurred
• Screenshots if helpful

#Self-Help Resources

Before contacting support:

1. Check this troubleshooting guide
2. Review the best practices guide
3. Try the suggestions in the error messages
4. Search for similar issues in documentation
5. Test with a different repository or simpler operation

#✅ Prevention Tips

#Avoid Common Issues

1. Regular Maintenance: Keep connections active, clear cache periodically
2. Permission Awareness: Know your access levels in different repositories
3. Rate Limit Management: Space out requests, use specific queries
4. Clear Communication: Use specific, well-formed requests
5. Stay Updated: Keep browsers and tools updated

#Best Practices for Reliability

1. Test with Simple Operations: Start with basic requests to verify connectivity
2. Use Specific Queries: Avoid broad, resource-intensive operations
3. Monitor Performance: Watch for slow responses and adjust accordingly
4. Backup Important Work: Don't rely solely on AI tools for critical operations
5. Stay Informed: Keep track of GitHub API changes and tool updates

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Still experiencing issues? Don't hesitate to ask the AI assistant directly for help with your specific problem!