diff --git a/tools/github_tool.py b/tools/github_tool.py
index 6e9c081..c41226d 100644
--- a/tools/github_tool.py
+++ b/tools/github_tool.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from .base_tool import BaseTool
 import requests
 import os
+import base64
 
 class GitHubTool(BaseTool):
     def __init__(self):
@@ -110,8 +111,6 @@ class GitHubTool(BaseTool):
             return self._create_branch(kwargs["branch_name"], kwargs.get("base_branch", "main"))
         elif function_name == "commit_file":
             return self._commit_file(kwargs["branch_name"], kwargs["file_path"], kwargs["content"], kwargs["commit_message"])
-        elif function_name == "push_branch":
-            return self._push_branch(kwargs["branch_name"])
         elif function_name == "create_pull_request":
             return self._create_pull_request(kwargs["title"], kwargs["body"], kwargs["head"], kwargs.get("base", "main"))
         else:
@@ -149,16 +148,27 @@ class GitHubTool(BaseTool):
             return "Cannot commit directly to main branch"
         
         url = f"{self.base_url}/repos/{self.repo}/contents/{file_path}"
+        
+        # First, check if the file already exists
+        response = requests.get(url, headers=self.headers, params={"ref": branch_name})
+        
         data = {
             "message": commit_message,
-            "content": content,
+            "content": base64.b64encode(content.encode()).decode(),
             "branch": branch_name
         }
+        
+        if response.status_code == 200:
+            # File exists, so we need to update it
+            file_sha = response.json()["sha"]
+            data["sha"] = file_sha
+        
         response = requests.put(url, headers=self.headers, json=data)
+        
         if response.status_code in [200, 201]:
             return f"File committed successfully to branch '{branch_name}'"
         else:
-            return f"Error committing file: {response.status_code}"
+            return f"Error committing file: {response.status_code}\nResponse: {response.text}"
 
     def _create_pull_request(self, title, body, head, base):
         url = f"{self.base_url}/repos/{self.repo}/pulls"
@@ -174,21 +184,3 @@ class GitHubTool(BaseTool):
         else:
             return f"Error creating pull request: {response.status_code}\nResponse: {response.text}"
 
-    def _push_branch(self, branch_name):
-        url = f"{self.base_url}/repos/{self.repo}/git/refs/heads/{branch_name}"
-        response = requests.get(url, headers=self.headers)
-        if response.status_code != 200:
-            return f"Error getting branch information: {response.status_code}"
-        
-        sha = response.json()["object"]["sha"]
-        
-        push_url = f"{self.base_url}/repos/{self.repo}/git/refs/heads/{branch_name}"
-        data = {
-            "sha": sha,
-            "force": True
-        }
-        response = requests.patch(push_url, headers=self.headers, json=data)
-        if response.status_code == 200:
-            return f"Branch '{branch_name}' pushed successfully"
-        else:
-            return f"Error pushing branch: {response.status_code}\nResponse: {response.text}"