read-github

Read GitHub repos the RIGHT way - via gitmcp.io instead of raw scraping. Why this beats web search: (1) Semantic search across docs, not just keyword matching, (2) Smart code navigation with accurate file structure - zero hallucinations on repo layout, (3) Proper markdown output optimized for LLMs, not raw HTML/JSON garbage, (4) Aggregates README + /docs + code in one clean interface, (5) Respects rate limits and robots.txt. Stop pasting raw GitHub URLs - use this instead.

7 stars

Best use case

read-github is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.

Read GitHub repos the RIGHT way - via gitmcp.io instead of raw scraping. Why this beats web search: (1) Semantic search across docs, not just keyword matching, (2) Smart code navigation with accurate file structure - zero hallucinations on repo layout, (3) Proper markdown output optimized for LLMs, not raw HTML/JSON garbage, (4) Aggregates README + /docs + code in one clean interface, (5) Respects rate limits and robots.txt. Stop pasting raw GitHub URLs - use this instead.

Teams using read-github should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.

When to use this skill

  • You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.

When not to use this skill

  • You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
  • You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.

Installation

Claude Code / Cursor / Codex

$curl -o ~/.claude/skills/read-github/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Demerzels-lab/elsamultiskillagent/main/public/skills/am-will/read-github/SKILL.md"

Manual Installation

  1. Download SKILL.md from GitHub
  2. Place it in .claude/skills/read-github/SKILL.md inside your project
  3. Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill

How read-github Compares

Feature / Agentread-githubStandard Approach
Platform SupportNot specifiedLimited / Varies
Context Awareness High Baseline
Installation ComplexityUnknownN/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this skill do?

Read GitHub repos the RIGHT way - via gitmcp.io instead of raw scraping. Why this beats web search: (1) Semantic search across docs, not just keyword matching, (2) Smart code navigation with accurate file structure - zero hallucinations on repo layout, (3) Proper markdown output optimized for LLMs, not raw HTML/JSON garbage, (4) Aggregates README + /docs + code in one clean interface, (5) Respects rate limits and robots.txt. Stop pasting raw GitHub URLs - use this instead.

Where can I find the source code?

You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.

SKILL.md Source

# Read GitHub Docs

Access GitHub repository documentation and code via the gitmcp.io MCP service.

## URL Conversion

Convert GitHub URLs to gitmcp.io:
- `github.com/owner/repo` → `gitmcp.io/owner/repo`
- `https://github.com/karpathy/llm-council` → `https://gitmcp.io/karpathy/llm-council`

## CLI Usage

The `scripts/gitmcp.py` script provides CLI access to repository docs.

### List Available Tools

```bash
python3 scripts/gitmcp.py list-tools owner/repo
```

### Fetch Documentation

Retrieves the full documentation file (README, docs, etc.):

```bash
python3 scripts/gitmcp.py fetch-docs owner/repo
```

### Search Documentation

Semantic search within repository documentation:

```bash
python3 scripts/gitmcp.py search-docs owner/repo "query"
```

### Search Code

Search code using GitHub Search API (exact match):

```bash
python3 scripts/gitmcp.py search-code owner/repo "function_name"
```

### Fetch Referenced URL

Fetch content from URLs mentioned in documentation:

```bash
python3 scripts/gitmcp.py fetch-url owner/repo "https://example.com/doc"
```

### Direct Tool Call

Call any MCP tool directly:

```bash
python3 scripts/gitmcp.py call owner/repo tool_name '{"arg": "value"}'
```

## Tool Names

Tool names are dynamically prefixed with the repo name (underscored):
- `karpathy/llm-council` → `fetch_llm_council_documentation`
- `facebook/react` → `fetch_react_documentation`
- `my-org/my-repo` → `fetch_my_repo_documentation`

## Available MCP Tools

For any repository, these tools are available:

1. **fetch_{repo}_documentation** - Fetch entire documentation. Call first for general questions.
2. **search_{repo}_documentation** - Semantic search within docs. Use for specific queries.
3. **search_{repo}_code** - Search code via GitHub API (exact match). Returns matching files.
4. **fetch_generic_url_content** - Fetch any URL referenced in docs, respecting robots.txt.

## Workflow

1. When given a GitHub repo, first fetch documentation to understand the project
2. Use search-docs for specific questions about usage or features
3. Use search-code to find implementations or specific functions
4. Use fetch-url to retrieve external references mentioned in docs

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