Overview
Git mirroring keeps a cached copy of your repository on Whim’s infrastructure. When a task starts, the container clones from this local mirror instead of fetching directly from GitHub, which significantly reduces container startup time — especially for large repositories.Why mirroring matters
Every Whim task runs in a fresh container that needs a copy of your repository. Without mirroring, each container clones directly from GitHub, which means:- Slower startup — large repos take longer to clone over the public internet
- Rate limit pressure — many parallel tasks multiply GitHub API usage
- Variable latency — clone speed depends on network conditions between the container and GitHub
How it works
Repository connected
When you connect a GitHub repository to a workspace, Whim creates a mirror — a bare clone of the repo stored on Whim’s infrastructure.
Mirror stays in sync
Each time code is pushed to your repository, a GitHub webhook triggers a mirror sync. The mirror fetches the latest changes so it stays up to date with your remote.
Tasks clone from the mirror
When a task launches, its container clones from the mirror instead of GitHub. This is faster because the data travels over a local network rather than the public internet.
Mirror sync triggers
The mirror is updated automatically in two scenarios:| Trigger | When it happens |
|---|---|
| Workspace creation | Initial mirror is created when the workspace connects to a repo |
| Code push | Mirror syncs whenever commits are pushed to any branch in the repository |
Troubleshooting
Task startup seems slow
If tasks are taking longer than expected to start, the mirror may be out of sync or temporarily unavailable. The container will fall back to cloning from GitHub directly, which is slower but still works. Mirror issues typically resolve automatically on the next push event.Recent commits not appearing in a task
The mirror syncs on push events. If you pushed code very recently and immediately launched a task, there may be a brief delay before the mirror reflects the latest commits. Wait a few seconds and try again, or the task container will fall back to GitHub and pick up the latest code.Mirror not updating after push
Verify that the Whim GitHub App is installed on your repository with webhook permissions. The mirror relies on push event webhooks to trigger syncs. Check your repository’s webhook delivery logs in GitHub Settings > Webhooks to confirm events are being sent.Branch Isolation
How every task gets its own isolated Git branch.
GitHub Integration
Setting up the Whim GitHub App and webhook permissions.