fix: default github export to private and stop blind-pushing on 422 (issue #1872)

src/routes/main_routes.py

@@ -436,18 +436,29 @@ def export_github(project_id):
     username = user_resp.json().get('login')
 
     # 2. Create the repository
+    # Visibility defaults to private unless the user explicitly opts in to public.
+    visibility = (request.form.get("visibility") or "").strip().lower()
+    if visibility not in ("public", "private"):
+        visibility = "private"
+
     repo_payload = {
         "name": repo_name,
         "description": f"Starter code for DevPath project: {project['title']}",
-        "private": False,
+        "private": visibility != "public",
         "auto_init": False
     }
 
     create_resp = requests.post("https://api.github.com/user/repos", json=repo_payload, headers=headers)
 
     if create_resp.status_code == 422:
-        # 422 usually means the repository already exists
-        pass
+        # 422 means the repository already exists. Refuse to blind-push into an
+        # existing repository the user did not explicitly target.
+        flash(
+            f"Repository {repo_name} already exists on your GitHub account. "
+            "Rename or remove it, then try exporting again.",
+            "error",
+        )
+        return redirect(url_for('main.project_detail', project_id=project_id))
     elif create_resp.status_code == 403:
         flash("GitHub API rate limit exceeded or lack of permissions. Please try again later.", "error")
         return redirect(url_for('main.project_detail', project_id=project_id))
@@ -458,8 +469,6 @@ def export_github(project_id):
     elif create_resp.status_code != 201:
         flash(f"Failed to create repository. GitHub API responded with {create_resp.status_code}.", "error")
         return redirect(url_for('main.project_detail', project_id=project_id))
-
-    # If 422, the repo might already exist, which is fine, we can try to push the file anyway.
 
     # 3. Create the file in the repository
     file_payload = {

src/templates/project.html

@@ -111,8 +111,14 @@ <h1 class="detail-title">{{ project.title }}</h1>
             Download Starter Code
           </a>
 
-          <form method="POST" action="/project/{{ project.id }}/export_github" style="margin: 0;">
+          <form method="POST" action="/project/{{ project.id }}/export_github" style="margin: 0; display: flex; gap: 0.5rem; align-items: center;">
             <input type="hidden" name="csrf_token" value="{{ csrf_token() }}"/>
+            <label for="repo-visibility" style="font-size: 0.85rem; color: #555;">Repo:</label>
+            <select id="repo-visibility" name="visibility" aria-label="Repository visibility"
+              style="font-size: 0.85rem; padding: 0.35rem 0.5rem; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 6px; background: #fff; color: #333;">
+              <option value="private" selected>Private</option>
+              <option value="public">Public</option>
+            </select>
             <button type="submit" class="btn-download" style="background: #24292e; color: white; border: none; cursor: pointer;" aria-label="Start on GitHub">
               <svg aria-hidden="true" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor">
                 <path d="M12 0c-6.626 0-12 5.373-12 12 0 5.302 3.438 9.8 8.207 11.387.599.111.793-.261.793-.577v-2.234c-3.338.726-4.033-1.416-4.033-1.416-.546-1.387-1.333-1.756-1.333-1.756-1.089-.745.083-.729.083-.729 1.205.084 1.839 1.237 1.839 1.237 1.07 1.834 2.807 1.304 3.492.997.107-.775.418-1.305.762-1.604-2.665-.305-5.467-1.334-5.467-5.931 0-1.311.469-2.381 1.236-3.221-.124-.303-.535-1.524.117-3.176 0 0 1.008-.322 3.301 1.23.957-.266 1.983-.399 3.003-.404 1.02.005 2.047.138 3.006.404 2.291-1.552 3.297-1.23 3.297-1.23.653 1.653.242 2.874.118 3.176.77.84 1.235 1.911 1.235 3.221 0 4.609-2.807 5.624-5.479 5.921.43.372.823 1.102.823 2.222v3.293c0 .319.192.694.801.576 4.765-1.589 8.199-6.086 8.199-11.386 0-6.627-5.373-12-12-12z"/>

tests/test_basic.py

@@ -1073,21 +1073,89 @@ def test_export_github_api_failures(mock_put, mock_post, mock_get):
         assert response.status_code == 302
         assert "/project/1000" in response.headers["Location"]
 
-    # Test 422 Conflict (repo exists) but file push succeeds
+    # Test 422 Conflict (repo exists) must NOT blind-push into the existing repo
     with app.test_client() as client:
         with client.session_transaction() as sess:
             sess['github_token'] = {'access_token': 'dummy_token'}
 
         mock_get.return_value.status_code = 200
         mock_get.return_value.json.return_value = {"login": "testuser"}
         mock_post.return_value.status_code = 422
-        mock_put.return_value.status_code = 201
 
         response = client.post("/project/1000/export_github")
 
         assert response.status_code == 302
-        assert "github.com/testuser/DevPath-Starter-valid-code" in response.headers["Location"]
+        assert "/project/1000" in response.headers["Location"]
+        mock_put.assert_not_called()
+
+
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+@patch("routes.main_routes.requests.get")
+@patch("routes.main_routes.requests.post")
+@patch("routes.main_routes.requests.put")
+def test_export_github_defaults_to_private_repo(mock_put, mock_post, mock_get):
+    """Exporting without a visibility choice must create a private repo (issue #1872)."""
+    with app.app_context():
+        from models import db, Project
+        p = db.session.get(Project, 1000)
+        if not p:
+            p = Project(
+                id=1000, title="Valid Code", level="Beg", interest="Web", time="Low",
+                description="Desc", starter_code="expense_tracker.py"
+            )
+            db.session.add(p)
+            db.session.commit()
+
+    with app.test_client() as client:
+        with client.session_transaction() as sess:
+            sess['github_token'] = {'access_token': 'dummy_token'}
+
+        mock_get.return_value.status_code = 200
+        mock_get.return_value.json.return_value = {"login": "testuser"}
+        mock_post.return_value.status_code = 201
+        mock_put.return_value.status_code = 201
+
+        response = client.post("/project/1000/export_github")
 
+        assert response.status_code == 302
+        repo_payload = mock_post.call_args.kwargs["json"]
+        assert repo_payload["private"] is True
+
+
+@patch("routes.main_routes.requests.get")
+@patch("routes.main_routes.requests.post")
+@patch("routes.main_routes.requests.put")
+def test_export_github_public_visibility_opt_in(mock_put, mock_post, mock_get):
+    """A repo can only be public when the user explicitly selects public (issue #1872)."""
+    with app.app_context():
+        from models import db, Project
+        p = db.session.get(Project, 1000)
+        if not p:
+            p = Project(
+                id=1000, title="Valid Code", level="Beg", interest="Web", time="Low",
+                description="Desc", starter_code="expense_tracker.py"
+            )
+            db.session.add(p)
+            db.session.commit()
+
+    with app.test_client() as client:
+        with client.session_transaction() as sess:
+            sess['github_token'] = {'access_token': 'dummy_token'}
+
+        mock_get.return_value.status_code = 200
+        mock_get.return_value.json.return_value = {"login": "testuser"}
+        mock_post.return_value.status_code = 201
+        mock_put.return_value.status_code = 201
+
+        response = client.post(
+            "/project/1000/export_github",
+            data={"visibility": "public"},
+        )
+
+        assert response.status_code == 302
+        repo_payload = mock_post.call_args.kwargs["json"]
+        assert repo_payload["private"] is False
 
 
 def test_sitemap_includes_compare():