Can I make releases public from a private github repo?

I have an application which is in a private github repo, and am wondering if the releases could be made public so that the app can auto-update itself from github instead of us having to host it.

Additionally I'm wondering if it's possible to use the github api from the deployed app to check for new updates.

A workaround would be to create a public repo, composed of:

• empty commits (git commit --allow-empty)
• each commit tagged
• each tag with a release
• each release with the deliveries (the binaries of your private app)

That way, you have a visible repo dedicated for release hosting, and a private repos for source development.

As @VonC mentioned we have to create a second Repository for that. This is not prohibited and i am doing it already. With github workflows i automated this task, I'm using a develop / master branching, so always when I'm pushing anything to the master branch a new version is build and pushed to the public "Realease" Repo.

In my specific use case I'm building an android apk and releasing it via unoffical github api "hub". Some additional advantage of this is you can have an extra issue tracker for foreign issues and bugs.

name: Master CI CD

# using checkout@v2 instead of v1 caus it needs further configuration

on:
  pull_request:
    types: [closed]

jobs:
  UnitTest:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    if: github.event.pull_request.merged
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - name: make executable
        run: chmod +x gradlew
      - name: Unit tests
        run: |
          ./gradlew test
  IncrementVersionCode:
    needs: UnitTest
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - name: set up JDK 1.8
        uses: actions/setup-java@v1
        with:
          java-version: 1.8
      - name: make executable
        run: chmod +x gradlew
      - name: increment version
        run: ./gradlew incrementVersionCode
      - name: Push new version to master
        run: |
          git config --local user.email "[email protected]"
          git config --local user.name "WorkflowBot"
          git commit -m "Increment Build version" -a
          # maybe better amend commits to avoid bot commits
  BuildArtifacts:
    needs: IncrementVersionCode
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - name: set up JDK 1.8
        uses: actions/setup-java@v1
        with:
          java-version: 1.8
      - name: make executable
        run: chmod +x gradlew
      - name: Build with Gradle
        run: ./gradlew build -x lint

      - name: Rename artifacts
        run: |
          cp app/build/outputs/apk/release/app-release.apk MyApp.apk
      - name: Upload Release
        uses: actions/upload-artifact@master
        with:
          name: Release Apk
          path: MyApp.apk
      - name: Upload Debug
        uses: actions/upload-artifact@master
        with:
          name: Debug Apk
          path: app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk

  # https://dev.to/ychescale9/running-android-emulators-on-ci-from-bitrise-io-to-github-actions-3j76
  E2ETest:
    needs: BuildArtifacts
    runs-on: macos-latest
    strategy:
      matrix:
        api-level: [21, 27]
        arch: [x86]
    steps:
      - name: checkout
        uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - name: Make gradlew executable
        run: chmod +x ./gradlew
      - name: run tests
        uses: reactivecircus/android-emulator-runner@v2
        with:
          api-level: ${{ matrix.api-level }}
          arch: ${{ matrix.arch }}
          script: ./gradlew connectedCheck

  Deploy:
    needs: E2ETest
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/master'
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v2 # Needed for gradle file to get version information
      - name: Get Hub
        run: |
          curl -fsSL https://github.com/github/hub/raw/master/script/get | bash -s 2.14.1
          cd bin
          chmod +x hub
          cd ..
      - name: Get Apk
        uses: actions/download-artifact@master
        with:
          name: Release Apk
      - name: Publish
        env:
          GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.RELEASE_REPO_SECRET }}"
        run: |
          APP_NAME=MyApp
          VERSION_NAME=`grep -oP 'versionName "\K(.*?)(?=")' ./app/build.gradle`
          VERSION_CODE=`cat version.properties | grep "VERSION_CODE" | cut -d'=' -f2`
          FILENAME="${APP_NAME}-v${VERSION_NAME}-${VERSION_CODE}"
          TAG="v${VERSION_NAME}-${VERSION_CODE}"
          TAG="latest-master"
          echo $APP_NAME
          echo $VERSION_NAME
          echo $VERSION_CODE
          echo $FILENAME
          echo $TAG
          git clone https://github.com/MyUser/MyApp-Releases
          cd MyApp-Releases
          ./../bin/hub release delete "${TAG}" || echo "Failed deleting TAG: ${TAG}" # If release got lost catch error with message
          ./../bin/hub release create -a "../${APP_NAME}.apk" -m "Current Master Build: ${FILENAME}" -p "${TAG}"
  EvaluateCode:
    needs: Deploy
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Get Hub
        run: |
          echo "TDOO: Run Jacoco for coverage, and other profiling tools"