Sync With GitHub: Import Lovable & Base44 Apps in 2026

So you've built something in CatDoes. What now?

Connecting your project to GitHub turns your AI-generated app into something you can version, share, and grow with a team. It also hands you a real safety net: a full history of every change, so a bad update is never the end of the world.

This guide covers both directions of the integration. You'll learn how to sync an app you built inside CatDoes, and how to import an existing GitHub repo, including projects you started in Lovable, Bolt, or Base44. Either way, GitHub becomes the shared source of truth for your code.

Table of Contents

• Why Sync Your CatDoes App With GitHub

• Connecting CatDoes to Your GitHub Account

• Importing an Existing GitHub Project Into CatDoes

• Your Core GitHub Sync Workflow in CatDoes

• Using Branches and Pull Requests for Team Collaboration

• How to Troubleshoot Common Sync Issues

• Common Questions About Syncing With GitHub

Why Sync Your CatDoes App With GitHub

Syncing to GitHub can feel like an extra technical step you'd rather skip. It's worth doing anyway. Whether you're a solo founder building on weekends or a small team moving fast, this integration gives you stability, control, and a clear path to growth.

The biggest win comes right away: a solid version history. Every time you push a change, GitHub saves a snapshot of your entire project. If a new feature breaks something, you can roll back to a working version in seconds. No more lost work.

Adopt Professional Development Workflows

Syncing with GitHub also gives you the same collaboration tools used across the software industry. They aren't only for big engineering teams. Even as a solo developer, a structured workflow saves you a lot of headaches.

The core idea is working in branches. Instead of changing your main app directly, you create a separate branch to experiment. That gives you a few concrete advantages:

• Safe experimentation: Got a wild idea for a new feature? Build it on a branch. If it works, you merge it into the main project. If it doesn't, you delete the branch. No harm done.

• A clear project history: Each time the agent saves your work, it writes a commit message explaining what changed and why. That becomes a running logbook of your app's evolution, which helps when you need to remember a decision you made six months ago.

• Easier team collaboration: When you bring on a partner or a freelancer, the handoff is clean. They pull the latest code, create their own branch, and submit a pull request for you to review before anything merges.

Connecting CatDoes to GitHub moves your project from a quick AI build to a version-controlled software asset that's ready to grow.

Connect to a Global Standard

This one step also plugs your project into the standard tool for software development. GitHub is more than a tool; it's an ecosystem. It's home to over 100 million developers and used by more than 90% of Fortune 100 companies.

When your CatDoes app lives on GitHub, you tap into that community. It gets easier to attract technical talent, connect other developer tools, and follow common conventions. In short, you're building on a foundation the whole industry already trusts.

Connecting CatDoes to Your GitHub Account

Before you can sync anything, you need to let CatDoes talk to your GitHub account. There's no fiddling with passwords, SSH keys, or access tokens. You authorize the official CatDoes app on GitHub, the same one-click flow you've used to sign in to other developer tools.

One note: GitHub integration requires an active paid subscription. Once you're on a paid plan, the connection takes under a minute.

Authorize CatDoes on GitHub

From your project dashboard, click Connect GitHub. That sends you to GitHub, where you authorize the CatDoes app and choose exactly which repositories it can access.

The repository picker is your security control. Instead of handing over your whole account, you grant access to only the repos your CatDoes projects need. CatDoes can read and write the code in those repositories and nothing else. You can widen or narrow that access anytime from your GitHub settings.

Link Your Repository and Branch

After you authorize, you land back in CatDoes to finish the link:

• Select the repository you want to connect from the dropdown.

• Choose the working branch (CatDoes pre-selects the repository's default branch).

• Click Link Repository.

That's it. The AI agent can now read, modify, commit, and push code to the branch you selected, and every change lands in your git history like any other commit.

If you ever need to switch repos or branches, or unlink entirely, use the Change and Disconnect options on the GitHub Integration card. Disconnecting removes the link but never touches your actual repository on GitHub.

Building on a secure foundation is a habit worth forming early, which we cover in our guide to mobile app security best practices. With the connection live, you're ready to start managing your code.

Importing an Existing GitHub Project Into CatDoes

Syncing works in both directions. If you already have a codebase on GitHub, you can pull it into CatDoes and let the AI agent take over. This is how people move projects built in Lovable, Bolt, Base44, or any other tool into CatDoes to turn them into native iOS and Android apps.

Importing from GitHub requires a Plus plan or above. Public projects are free to create; private projects need an active subscription.

When to Import via GitHub

CatDoes can often build from just a public website URL. But if your app has pages behind a login, like a dashboard, account area, or admin panel, a URL scan can't reach them. Importing the GitHub repo fixes that: the agent gets full access to all of your code, including the screens behind authentication.

Tools like Lovable and Base44 make the export easy. In your project there, open the GitHub section and connect it to a repository, and the tool pushes your code to GitHub for you. That repo is then ready to import.

How to Import a Repo Into CatDoes

The flow mirrors the connection steps above, with a couple of extra choices:

• In CatDoes, start a New Project and choose Import from GitHub.

• Authorize CatDoes on GitHub and select which repositories to grant access to.

• Pick your repository, then the branch to import (the default branch usually works).

• Name the project, choose Public or Private, and click Import.

CatDoes pulls in the whole project, wires everything up, and drops you into a new workspace already linked to that repository. From there, the day-to-day push-and-pull workflow is the same whether you started in CatDoes or imported from elsewhere.

Converting Lovable, Bolt, and Base44 Projects Into Native Apps

This same import path is the fastest way to turn projects from other AI builders into real native apps:

• Convert a Lovable app into a mobile app: connect Lovable to GitHub, then import the repo to turn your Lovable site into a React Native app for iOS and Android.

• Turn a Bolt.new project into a native app: push your Bolt.new project to GitHub and import it to ship to the Apple App Store and Google Play.

• Publish a Base44 app to iOS and Android: Base44 builds React and Tailwind web apps, so importing through GitHub converts one into a true native mobile app instead of a WebView wrapper.

In every case the flow is identical: push to GitHub from the source tool, then choose Import from GitHub in CatDoes.

Your Core GitHub Sync Workflow in CatDoes

Once the connection is in place, day-to-day syncing comes down to two actions: pushing and pulling. Get into a rhythm with these and your AI-generated code stays aligned with your repository.

Think of your GitHub repo as the official source of truth for your app. CatDoes is the workshop where you build new things with AI, and GitHub is the library where the final version is stored. Every sync keeps those two in step.

Pushing Changes to GitHub

A push sends your changes from CatDoes to GitHub. This is what happens most often.

Say you prompt the AI to add a feature, redesign a screen, or fix a bug. When the agent applies those changes, it commits them with a descriptive message like "Add user profile page component" and pushes them to your repo, creating a new checkpoint in your project's history.

A consistent push habit means every meaningful change you generate in CatDoes gets saved to your version history, so you can track progress and jump back to an earlier version whenever you need to.

Pulling Changes Into CatDoes

A pull does the opposite: it fetches the latest code from GitHub into CatDoes. You'll do this less often, but it matters, especially on a team or when manual code edits are part of your process.

Here's a common case. A developer on your team clones the repo and makes a quick fix in their code editor, then pushes it to GitHub. Your CatDoes project is now out of sync, because it doesn't have that fix yet.

To realign, the agent pulls the latest changes. It checks the repository, sees the new commit, and brings those changes into your project. That keeps outside contributions in place before you ask the AI to build on top of them. If the two ever drift far apart, the agent can reset to the remote state for a clean, known-good baseline.

Push vs Pull Sync Actions in CatDoes

Here's a quick reference for when to use each action and how it affects your repo.

Establishing a Repeatable Process

Your daily routine should become a simple, repeatable loop that keeps your work consistent and conflict-free. Build these Git actions into your creative cycle and you're adopting a real standard for software development, not just moving files around.

This rhythm is the operational heart of the CatDoes and GitHub integration, and it's a core idea in most continuous deployment best practices.

Using Branches and Pull Requests for Team Collaboration

Past a simple push-and-pull rhythm, branches are where a professional workflow really opens up. For teams, or solo creators who want to experiment without breaking things, they're essential. They let you build new features in an isolated space before touching your main app.

Think of your main branch as the live, stable version of your app. When an idea for a new feature strikes, you create a feature branch from the CatDoes interface. That gives you a clean copy where you can make changes freely, knowing nothing affects the main codebase until you're ready.

Creating an Isolated Feature Branch

The process is simple. In the branch dropdown, click Create New Branch, give it a descriptive name like feature/user-profile-redesign, optionally pick a source branch, and create it. The branch is created on GitHub instantly and selected in CatDoes. From then on, every change the AI generates and every commit it makes is recorded there, and only there.

This isolation is valuable. You can chip away at a big feature without pressure, while a teammate knocks out a quick bug fix in a separate branch. Neither of you steps on the other's toes, which keeps development moving and keeps unstable code out of your main project.

The Power of the Pull Request

So your new feature is built, tested, and looking great on its branch. Now it's time to merge it back into the main project. That's what a Pull Request (PR) is for: a formal request to merge one branch into another, created right inside your GitHub repository.

A PR opens a space for collaboration. Teammates can review the new code, leave comments, and suggest improvements where the changes were made. This peer review is a cornerstone of quality software, catching bugs and keeping things consistent before code goes live.

Research from GitHub and Accenture found that modern workflows using practices like PRs can cut development cycle times by up to 75%. For mobile apps, that kind of speed is a real competitive advantage.

Once the PR is approved, the feature branch merges and your new code becomes part of the main app. Isolated branches plus collaborative reviews is a best practice for teams of any size.

As your team finds its groove, knowing how to manage and delete Git branches keeps your repository clean. And if you want to build even faster, it's worth exploring the rapid app development tools that pair well with this workflow.

How to Troubleshoot Common Sync Issues

Even in a polished workflow, a sync error shows up eventually. It's part of the process, and most of these issues are common and easy to fix.

When a sync fails, it's almost always one of a few usual suspects: repository access, authorization, or conflicting edits. An error doesn't mean your setup is broken. It usually just means your CatDoes project and the remote repository have drifted out of alignment, and the fix is to figure out why.

Dealing With Authorization and Access Issues

One early error is a "permission denied" or "authentication failed" message when the agent tries to push. That almost always means CatDoes has lost access to the repository, usually because the GitHub authorization was revoked or the repo was never added to the allowed list.

The fix is quick:

• Open the GitHub Integration card in your project dashboard.

• Reconnect and re-authorize the CatDoes app on GitHub.

• Make sure the repository you're working on is included in the list of repos you've granted access to.

Re-authorizing restores the secure handshake between the two platforms and gets you moving again.

A failed push due to access is actually a good sign. It confirms your security is working and that only authorized tools can touch your repository.

Resolving Merge Conflicts

The term "merge conflict" sounds worse than it is. It's a normal part of teamwork, and it just means the same part of a file was changed in two places at once. Git doesn't know which version is right, so it pauses the sync and asks for your help.

Picture this: you change a button's color from blue to green in CatDoes. At the same time, a teammate pushes a commit that changes the same button's text. When you sync, Git sees both edits to the same block of code and flags a conflict.

The agent handles many of these automatically when it pulls. For the trickier ones, modern code editors and GitHub's own interface make it painless by showing both versions side by side.

You decide which to keep: yours, the remote one, or a blend of both. Once you commit the resolution, the sync continues. Tackle conflicts as soon as they appear to keep your history clean.

Common Questions About Syncing With GitHub

Here are the questions that come up most often about the CatDoes GitHub sync. Getting them clear upfront saves you time later.

Can I connect a CatDoes project to a GitHub repo that already exists?

Yes. When you connect GitHub, you authorize the CatDoes app, choose which repositories it can access, then select the specific repo and branch to link from a dropdown. Linking to a repository you already have is the standard path, whether it's one CatDoes has been pushing to or an existing codebase you're bringing in.

Can I import a project I built in Lovable, Bolt, or Base44?

Yes. On their own, tools like Lovable and Base44 build web apps rather than native mobile apps, but you can convert them into real iOS and Android apps through CatDoes.

Push your code to GitHub from within that tool (Lovable and Base44 both have a GitHub section that does this), then use Import from GitHub in CatDoes to pull the whole repo in. That gives the AI agent full access to your code, including pages behind a login. Importing from GitHub requires a Plus plan or above.

What happens if I make manual code edits directly in GitHub?

This is where the integration earns its keep. Many teams run a hybrid workflow where AI generates the foundation and developers make manual tweaks, and the sync is built for exactly that.

If you or a teammate pushes code changes directly to your GitHub repository, CatDoes doesn't get confused or overwrite them. The next time you work in that project, the agent pulls the latest changes from GitHub and merges them into your workspace.

We treat your GitHub repository as the single source of truth. The pull function keeps your CatDoes workspace aligned with any manual commits, so no one's work gets lost.

That flexibility matters for teams where some people prompt the AI and others work in the code.

Does syncing with GitHub also back up my backend?

Good question, and an important distinction. The answer is no.

The CatDoes GitHub integration covers your application's source code, the project that runs your app or website. Your CatDoes Cloud backend, which includes your database, authentication, storage, and edge functions, is a separate system managed for you on the platform.

Think of the GitHub sync as version control for your source code, and CatDoes Cloud as the managed infrastructure it runs on.

How does CatDoes handle different Git branches?

Working with branches is a core part of any serious workflow, and CatDoes is built for it. Inside the editor, a dropdown lets you pick which branch to work on, or create a new one on the spot.

Any changes you request from the AI are committed only to the branch you have selected. You can switch branches anytime, say from a new-feature branch to main. When you do, CatDoes pulls the latest code from that branch, so you can safely work on several features at once without destabilizing your main codebase.

Ready to combine the speed of AI-driven development with the power of professional version control? CatDoes is the fastest way to turn your idea into a production-ready app. Start building for free today.