Backfill in GitHub Jira integration is not working

Sourav Mazumder

Using GitHub Jira integration, I added commits, PRs, build, deploy etc for multiple tickets and the corresponding information are displayed in Jira.

Then to test the back fill feature, I uninstalled the integration from Jira and GitHub and then reinstalled and reconnected the repositories. 

Now, as per Backfill, all these information should be reflected in Jira. But it didn't.

I clicked Configure and do the backfill manually as well. but no information has been shown in Jira for those tickets. 

Please suggest why and if there is any mitigation step to be taken

Renata_Getint

Hi there,

It sounds like you're encountering an issue with the backfill functionality in the GitHub Jira integration. Let’s troubleshoot this step by step:

1. Verify Repository Connection
   Double-check that the GitHub repositories are properly connected to your Jira instance. Go to Jira Admin > Apps > GitHub Configuration and confirm that the repositories are listed and active. Similarly, verify in GitHub under Settings > Installed Apps that Jira is authorized for the required repositories.

2. Check Repository Permissions
   Ensure the user or token used to configure the integration has the correct permissions for the repositories. For backfill to work, the integration requires access to commits, pull requests, builds, and deployment data. Missing permissions can block backfill functionality.

3. Indexing Status
   Sometimes, reinstallation can cause delays in syncing data. Go to Jira Admin > Apps > GitHub Configuration and check if the repositories have been fully indexed. If indexing is incomplete, wait for it to finish before attempting another backfill.

4. Ensure the Commits Follow the Smart Commit Format
   Backfill depends on Smart Commits (e.g., JIRA-123 Fixing the bug) being present in your GitHub commit messages. Without this format, Jira won’t link the commits or PRs to tickets. Confirm that the commits you’re expecting to backfill are in the correct format.

5. Trigger a Manual Backfill Again
   After confirming the above, try a manual backfill:

   • Navigate to Jira Admin > Apps > GitHub Configuration.
   • Select the repository in question.
   • Click Configure and choose Backfill.

   Wait a few minutes and check the linked issues to see if the data appears.

6. Check Jira Logs for Errors
   If backfill still doesn’t work, there might be a configuration or syncing error logged in the Jira System Logs. You can find these logs under Jira Admin > System > Troubleshooting and Support Tools. Look for error messages related to GitHub integration.

Mitigation Steps

If none of the above resolves the issue:

• Reinstall and Reauthorize
  Try uninstalling the integration again, ensuring all previous configurations are cleared from both Jira and GitHub, then reinstall and reconnect the repositories.

• Consider Alternative Solutions
  If the native integration continues to present challenges, you might want to explore other robust options like Getint’s Git Connector for Jira. This integration supports seamless backfill, advanced configuration options, and integration with platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Azure DevOps.

• Contact Support
  If the problem persists, consider contacting Atlassian Support or GitHub Support with the details of your setup. They may be able to identify integration-specific issues that aren’t visible on the surface.

I hope this helps! Let us know how it goes or if you encounter additional issues.

Best regards,
Renata