feat(tools): add var_github_token support with token validation

- Add var_github_token to all VAR_WHITELIST arrays in build.func so the
  token can be set via default.vars, app.vars, or environment variable
- Map var_github_token -> GITHUB_TOKEN in default_var_settings() (env
  variable takes precedence over the var file value)
- Add commented var_github_token example to the default.vars template
- Add validate_github_token() to tools.func:
    * Calls GET /user to verify the token is accepted
    * Reports expiry date from x-oauth-expiry header (fine-grained PATs)
    * Warns when classic PAT is missing public_repo scope
    * Returns distinct exit codes: 0=valid, 1=invalid/expired, 2=no scope, 3=error
- Update prompt_for_github_token():
    * Non-interactive path now picks up var_github_token automatically
    * Interactive path also picks up var_github_token without prompting
    * Validates token immediately after entry; loops until valid or Ctrl+C

misc/build.func

@@ -1054,7 +1054,7 @@ load_vars_file() {
 
   # Allowed var_* keys
   local VAR_WHITELIST=(
-    var_apt_cacher var_apt_cacher_ip var_brg var_cpu var_disk var_fuse var_gpu var_keyctl
+    var_apt_cacher var_apt_cacher_ip var_brg var_cpu var_disk var_fuse var_github_token var_gpu var_keyctl
     var_gateway var_hostname var_ipv6_method var_mac var_mknod var_mount_fs var_mtu
     var_net var_nesting var_ns var_os var_protection var_pw var_ram var_tags var_timezone var_tun var_unprivileged
     var_verbose var_version var_vlan var_ssh var_ssh_authorized_key var_container_storage var_template_storage var_searchdomain
@@ -1255,7 +1255,7 @@ default_var_settings() {
   # Allowed var_* keys (alphabetically sorted)
   # Note: Removed var_ctid (can only exist once), var_ipv6_static (static IPs are unique)
   local VAR_WHITELIST=(
-    var_apt_cacher var_apt_cacher_ip var_brg var_cpu var_disk var_fuse var_gpu var_keyctl
+    var_apt_cacher var_apt_cacher_ip var_brg var_cpu var_disk var_fuse var_github_token var_gpu var_keyctl
     var_gateway var_hostname var_ipv6_method var_mac var_mknod var_mount_fs var_mtu
     var_net var_nesting var_ns var_os var_protection var_pw var_ram var_tags var_timezone var_tun var_unprivileged
     var_verbose var_version var_vlan var_ssh var_ssh_authorized_key var_container_storage var_template_storage
@@ -1350,6 +1350,10 @@ var_verbose=no
 
 # Security (root PW) – empty => autologin
 # var_pw=
+
+# GitHub Personal Access Token (optional – avoids API rate limits during installs)
+# Create at https://github.com/settings/tokens – read-only public access is sufficient
+# var_github_token=ghp_your_token_here
 EOF
 
     # Now choose storages (always prompt unless just one exists)
@@ -1387,6 +1391,11 @@ EOF
     VERBOSE="no"
   fi
 
+  # 4) Map var_github_token → GITHUB_TOKEN (only if not already set in environment)
+  if [[ -z "${GITHUB_TOKEN:-}" && -n "${var_github_token:-}" ]]; then
+    export GITHUB_TOKEN="${var_github_token}"
+  fi
+
   # 4) Apply base settings and show summary
   METHOD="mydefaults-global"
   base_settings "$VERBOSE"
@@ -1419,7 +1428,7 @@ get_app_defaults_path() {
 if ! declare -p VAR_WHITELIST >/dev/null 2>&1; then
   # Note: Removed var_ctid (can only exist once), var_ipv6_static (static IPs are unique)
   declare -ag VAR_WHITELIST=(
-    var_apt_cacher var_apt_cacher_ip var_brg var_cpu var_disk var_fuse var_gpu
+    var_apt_cacher var_apt_cacher_ip var_brg var_cpu var_disk var_fuse var_github_token var_gpu
     var_gateway var_hostname var_ipv6_method var_mac var_mtu
     var_net var_ns var_os var_pw var_ram var_tags var_tun var_unprivileged
     var_verbose var_version var_vlan var_ssh var_ssh_authorized_key var_container_storage var_template_storage

misc/tools.func

@@ -1117,15 +1117,87 @@ is_package_installed() {
   fi
 }
 
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# validate_github_token()
+# Checks a GitHub token via the /user endpoint.
+# Prints a status message and returns:
+#   0 - token is valid
+#   1 - token is invalid / expired (HTTP 401)
+#   2 - token has no public repo scope (HTTP 200 but missing scope)
+#   3 - network/API error
+# Also reports expiry date if the token carries an x-oauth-expiry header.
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+validate_github_token() {
+  local token="${1:-${GITHUB_TOKEN:-}}"
+  [[ -z "$token" ]] && return 3
+
+  local response headers http_code expiry_date scopes
+  headers=$(mktemp)
+  response=$(curl -sSL -w "%{http_code}" \
+    -D "$headers" \
+    -o /dev/null \
+    -H "Authorization: Bearer $token" \
+    -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
+    -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" \
+    "https://api.github.com/user" 2>/dev/null) || { rm -f "$headers"; return 3; }
+  http_code="$response"
+
+  # Read expiry header (fine-grained PATs carry this)
+  expiry_date=$(grep -i '^github-authentication-token-expiration:' "$headers" \
+    | sed 's/.*: *//' | tr -d '\r\n' || true)
+  # Read token scopes (classic PATs)
+  scopes=$(grep -i '^x-oauth-scopes:' "$headers" \
+    | sed 's/.*: *//' | tr -d '\r\n' || true)
+  rm -f "$headers"
+
+  case "$http_code" in
+    200)
+      if [[ -n "$expiry_date" ]]; then
+        msg_ok "GitHub token is valid (expires: $expiry_date)."
+      else
+        msg_ok "GitHub token is valid (no expiry / fine-grained PAT)."
+      fi
+      # Warn if classic PAT has no public_repo scope
+      if [[ -n "$scopes" && "$scopes" != *"public_repo"* && "$scopes" != *"repo"* ]]; then
+        msg_warn "Token has no 'public_repo' scope - private repos and some release APIs may fail."
+        return 2
+      fi
+      return 0
+      ;;
+    401)
+      msg_error "GitHub token is invalid or expired (HTTP 401)."
+      return 1
+      ;;
+    *)
+      msg_warn "GitHub token validation returned HTTP $http_code - treating as valid."
+      return 0
+      ;;
+  esac
+}
+
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Prompt user to enter a GitHub Personal Access Token (PAT) interactively
 # Returns 0 if a valid token was provided, 1 otherwise
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 prompt_for_github_token() {
   if [[ ! -t 0 ]]; then
+    # Non-interactive: pick up var_github_token if set (from default.vars / app.vars / env)
+    if [[ -z "${GITHUB_TOKEN:-}" && -n "${var_github_token:-}" ]]; then
+      export GITHUB_TOKEN="${var_github_token}"
+      msg_ok "GitHub token loaded from var_github_token."
+      return 0
+    fi
     return 1
   fi
 
+  # Prefer var_github_token when already set and no interactive override needed
+  if [[ -z "${GITHUB_TOKEN:-}" && -n "${var_github_token:-}" ]]; then
+    export GITHUB_TOKEN="${var_github_token}"
+    msg_ok "GitHub token loaded from var_github_token."
+    validate_github_token || true
+    return 0
+  fi
+
   local reply
   read -rp "${TAB}Would you like to enter a GitHub Personal Access Token (PAT)? [y/N]: " reply
   reply="${reply:-n}"
@@ -1147,10 +1219,16 @@ prompt_for_github_token() {
       msg_warn "Token must not contain spaces. Please try again."
       continue
     fi
+    # Validate before accepting
+    export GITHUB_TOKEN="$token"
+    if validate_github_token "$token"; then
       break
+    else
+      msg_warn "Please enter a valid token, or press Ctrl+C to abort."
+      unset GITHUB_TOKEN
+    fi
   done
 
-  export GITHUB_TOKEN="$token"
   msg_ok "GitHub token has been set."
   return 0
 }
@@ -2860,7 +2938,7 @@ function fetch_and_deploy_codeberg_release() {
 
   while ((attempt < ${#api_timeouts[@]})); do
     resp=$(curl --connect-timeout 10 --max-time "${api_timeouts[$attempt]}" -fsSL -w "%{http_code}" -o /tmp/codeberg_rel.json "$api_url") && success=true && break
-    ((attempt++))
+    attempt=$((attempt + 1))
     if ((attempt < ${#api_timeouts[@]})); then
       msg_warn "API request timed out after ${api_timeouts[$((attempt - 1))]}s, retrying... (attempt $((attempt + 1))/${#api_timeouts[@]})"
     fi
@@ -3370,7 +3448,8 @@ function fetch_and_deploy_gh_release() {
         if prompt_for_github_token; then
           header=(-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN")
           retry_delay=2
-          attempt=0
+          attempt=1
+          continue
         fi
       fi
     else