github-issue-query

Query GitHub issues efficiently with jq argument support for filtering

4,265 stars

Best use case

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

Query GitHub issues efficiently with jq argument support for filtering

Teams using github-issue-query 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/github-issue-query/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/github/gh-aw/main/skills/github-issue-query/SKILL.md"

Manual Installation

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

How github-issue-query Compares

Feature / Agentgithub-issue-queryStandard Approach
Platform SupportNot specifiedLimited / Varies
Context Awareness High Baseline
Installation ComplexityUnknownN/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this skill do?

Query GitHub issues efficiently with jq argument support for filtering

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.

Related Guides

SKILL.md Source

# GitHub Issue Query Skill

This skill provides efficient querying of GitHub issues with built-in jq filtering support.

## Important: jq Parameter is Optional

The `--jq` parameter is **optional**. When called without `--jq`, this skill returns **schema and data size information** instead of the full data.
This prevents overwhelming responses with large datasets and helps you understand the data structure before querying.

Use `--jq '.'` to get all data, or use a more specific filter for targeted results.

## Usage

Use this skill to query issues from the current repository or any specified repository.

### Basic Query (Returns Schema Only)

To list issues from the current repository:

```bash
./query-issues.sh
# Returns schema and data size, not full data
```

### Get All Data

To get all issue data:

```bash
./query-issues.sh --jq '.'
```

### With Repository

To query a specific repository:

```bash
./query-issues.sh --repo owner/repo
```

### With jq Filtering

Use the `--jq` argument to filter and transform the output:

```bash
# Get only open issues
./query-issues.sh --jq '.[] | select(.state == "OPEN")'

# Get issue numbers and titles
./query-issues.sh --jq '.[] | {number, title}'

# Get issues by a specific author
./query-issues.sh --jq '.[] | select(.author.login == "username")'

# Get issues with specific label
./query-issues.sh --jq '.[] | select(.labels | map(.name) | index("bug"))'

# Count issues by state
./query-issues.sh --jq 'group_by(.state) | map({state: .[0].state, count: length})'
```

### Common Options

- `--state`: Filter by state (open, closed, all). Default: open
- `--limit`: Maximum number of issues to fetch. Default: 30
- `--repo`: Repository in owner/repo format. Default: current repo
- `--jq`: (Optional) jq expression for filtering/transforming output. If omitted, returns schema info

### Example Queries

**Find issues with many comments:**
```bash
./query-issues.sh --jq '.[] | select(.comments.totalCount > 5) | {number, title, comments: .comments.totalCount}'
```

**Get issues assigned to someone:**
```bash
./query-issues.sh --jq '.[] | select(.assignees | length > 0) | {number, title, assignees: [.assignees[].login]}'
```

**List issues with their labels:**
```bash
./query-issues.sh --jq '.[] | {number, title, labels: [.labels[].name]}'
```

**Get project board assignments:**
```bash
./query-issues.sh --jq '.[] | {number, title, projects: [.projectItems.nodes[]? | .project?.url]}'
```

**Find old issues (created over 30 days ago):**
```bash
./query-issues.sh --jq '.[] | select(.createdAt < (now - 2592000 | strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")))'
```

## Output Format

The script outputs JSON by default, making it easy to pipe through jq for additional processing.

## Requirements

- GitHub CLI (`gh`) authenticated
- `jq` for filtering (installed by default on most systems)