Can GitHub/BitBucket be made as your local repository?

Question

I'm a bit new to git and github, but I understand how it works.

From the theory I've learnt, github or bitbucket acts as the remote repository when using git locally. Now say that I am using a tool like "cloud9" or "nitrous.io" where you can do all your development in the browser and remotely, I would like to know:

1) Is it possible to make github/bitbucket your "local" repository, without having a local git?

2) How can this be done? I assume SSH keys will be involved, but I would like to avoid using a local git and do everything between github/bitbucket and the online coding tool only.

Thanks for all the help.

Answer 1

1/ Is it possible to make github/bitbucket your "local" repository, without having a local git?

No. GitHub or BitBucket repos are always upstream repo (top be clone), not local repo.

2/ How can this be done

From this thread, you can clone from a cloud9 console:

    git clone git@github.com:whatever

That means you have a local repo on the cloud side (on the cloud9 server).
That is one of Cloud9 key features:

Version control is essential to every codebase. That’s why git and mercurial are baked into every aspect of your Cloud9 project, from creation to the command-line.
Run git and hg commands in the command-line, just like you would on your local terminal.

Answer 2

Git comes pre-installed on all Nitrous.IO boxes as well. We make incredibly easy to generate an SSH key for your cloud box and then add it to Github so you can clone / push to your upstream repositories.

Here's a little guide about adding your Nitrous.IO SSH keys to Github:

http://help.nitrous.io/github-add-key/