One developer’s journey bringing Dependabot to GitHub Enterprise Server

Dependabot, now generally available on GitHub Enterprise Server (GHES), addresses the challenges of managing dependencies and security vulnerabilities by automating updates, which previously required significant manual effort. Before its introduction to GHES, development teams spent considerable time manually tracking and updating dependencies, often delaying upgrades until critical issues arose. This was due to the architecture of GHES, which initially limited Dependabot's deployment. By porting Dependabot’s backend to run on Nomad and adapting it for self-hosted GitHub Actions runners, GitHub made it possible for GHES users to automate dependency updates efficiently. The result means teams can now manage updates more easily and focus on feature development rather than patching vulnerabilities, enhancing security and productivity. The author, having experienced the challenges firsthand, expresses satisfaction in contributing to Dependabot's integration with GHES, which promises to benefit developers globally.