using-github

kevindurb's avatarfrom kevindurb

Use when working with GitHub repositories, pull requests, issues, releases, or other GitHub operations via the gh CLI

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[Developer Tools]

When & Why to Use This Skill

This Claude skill integrates the official GitHub CLI (gh) to streamline repository management and development workflows. It enables the agent to perform complex GitHub operations such as managing pull requests, tracking issues, and handling releases directly through the command line. By automating these tasks, it enhances developer productivity, ensures consistent workflow execution, and reduces the need for manual context switching between the terminal and web interface.

Use Cases

  • Automated Pull Request Lifecycle: Creating, drafting, and merging pull requests with detailed descriptions and appropriate labels based on code changes.
  • Efficient Issue Management: Searching for existing bugs, creating new feature requests, and updating issue statuses or comments during the development process.
  • Repository Administration: Initializing new repositories, managing forks, and configuring repository settings or secrets via the gh CLI.
  • Release and Tagging Automation: Streamlining the software delivery process by creating git tags and drafting comprehensive release notes for new versions.
  • CI/CD Workflow Monitoring: Checking the status of GitHub Actions runs and viewing logs to debug deployment or build failures.
nameusing-github
descriptionUse when working with GitHub repositories, pull requests, issues, releases, or other GitHub operations via the gh CLI

Using GitHub CLI

Use the gh CLI tool via the Bash tool for all GitHub operations.

Authentication & Account Issues

IMPORTANT: If you encounter "repository not found" or authentication errors:

  1. Check authentication status:

    gh auth status

  2. If multiple accounts are configured, try switching accounts:

    gh auth switch

  3. If not authenticated, prompt user to run:

    gh auth login

Commands & Usage

See @common-commands.md for detailed command reference, examples, and common operations.

Best Practices

  • Use gh commands instead of git+web workflows when possible
  • Always check gh <command> --help for options
  • Use --json flag for machine-readable output when parsing
  • Use heredoc for multiline bodies (PR descriptions, issue bodies)