renovate

Renovate dependency updates. Use for automated updates.

7 stars

byG1Joshi

View on GitHub Installation ↓

Best use case

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

Renovate dependency updates. Use for automated updates.

Teams using renovate 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/renovate/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/G1Joshi/Agent-Skills/main/skills/security/renovate/SKILL.md"

Manual Installation

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

How renovate Compares

Feature / Agent	renovate	Standard Approach
Platform Support	Not specified	Limited / Varies
Context Awareness	High	Baseline
Installation Complexity	Unknown	N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this skill do?

Renovate dependency updates. Use for automated updates.

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

# Renovate

Renovate is the power-user alternative to Dependabot. It runs on any platform (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure) and offers extreme configurability for how and when dependencies are updated.

## When to Use

- **Monorepos**: Handles complex multi-package repos better than Dependabot.
- **Non-GitHub**: If you use GitLab or Bitbucket.
- **Complex Schedules**: "Only update devDependencies on weekends", "Group all React related packages together".
- **Dashboard**: Need a dashboard to see all pending updates.

## Quick Start (`renovate.json`)

```json
{
  "$schema": "https://docs.renovatebot.com/renovate-schema.json",
  "extends": ["config:base"],
  "packageRules": [
    {
      "matchPackagePatterns": ["^react", "^@types/react"],
      "groupName": "react monorepo"
    },
    {
      "matchUpdateTypes": ["minor", "patch"],
      "matchCurrentVersion": "!/^0/",
      "automerge": true
    }
  ]
}
```

## Core Concepts

### Dependency Dashboard

Renovate creates a persistent "Issue" in your repo that acts as a dashboard. You can tick checkboxes to force-retry updates or see what's blocked.

### Presets

Shareable configuration bundles (`config:base`, `group:allNonMajor`).

### Automerge

Renovate's automerge is highly granular. You can automerge only linters, or only patch releases that pass CI.

## Best Practices (2025)

**Do**:

- **Use the Dependency Dashboard**. It's the control center.
- **Group Updates**: E.g., Group all `aws-sdk` packages.
- **Rate Limit**: Set `prHourlyLimit` or `prConcurrentLimit` to avoid DDoSing your CI system.

**Don't**:

- **Don't start with zero config**: The noise will overwhelm you. Start with conservative settings and expand.

## References

- [Renovate Docs](https://docs.renovatebot.com/)
- [Mend Renovate](https://www.mend.io/renovate/)