Create your first repository
A repository is where you track one biological asset in CellRepo.
If you think in lab terms, a repository usually corresponds to: - one strain, - one construct, - one cell line, - or one engineered biological entity.
Each repository has its own history, updates, and records.
What a repository represents
A repository does not represent a project or a collection of assets.
It represents one thing, tracked over time.
For example: - one engineered E. coli strain - one plasmid design - one mammalian cell line
If you have multiple strains or constructs, they usually belong in separate repositories, even if they are part of the same project.
Projects group work.
Repositories track individual assets.
(If this distinction feels unclear, you can revisit the definitions in the
CellRepo vocabulary.)
When to create a new repository
Create a new repository when:
- you start working with a new biological asset
- an asset becomes important enough to track properly
- you want a clear history of changes to one entity
You do not need to wait until the asset is final or complete.
Repositories are designed to evolve as the biology evolves.
Steps: create a repository
- Open the project where this asset belongs
(see Create your first project if you haven’t done this yet). - Click Create repository (or New repository).
- Give the repository a clear, specific name.
Good examples: - “CRISPR knockout strain ΔlacZ” - “Plasmid pABC-GFP v1” - “CHO cell line – stability testing”
Avoid: - “Strain 1” - “Final version” - “Test repo”
Because names are how you will recognise assets months later.
What information to add (and what can wait)
At creation time, you may be asked for: - a short description - basic metadata about the asset
Add what you know comfortably.
You do not need: - full sequences - complete experimental history - perfectly formatted data
Those can be added gradually as you make updates.
What happens after creation
Once the repository exists: - it is empty until you record something - nothing is “saved” yet - no history exists
The next step is to make a commit, which records the current state of the asset.
This is where CellRepo becomes useful.
Repositories and visibility
Repositories inherit visibility from the project they belong to.
That means: - you do not need to manage access separately at this stage - access can be refined later if needed
If you are unsure about visibility or access control, the
Visibility and access section explains this in more detail.
If you’re unsure how to structure things
Many users worry about “doing it right” at this stage.
You can always: - create a second repository later - reorganise assets - archive unused repositories
CellRepo is designed to support change, not lock you into early decisions.
Getting help
If you’re unsure whether something should be a separate repository, or how to name or structure it, you don’t need to guess.
You can always reach us at
support@cellrepo.com
We’re happy to help you think through real lab scenarios.
What to read next
Once your repository exists, the next step is to record its current state: