issue-update
Update existing ticket/issue with status changes, comments, or field updates
Best use case
issue-update is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
It is a strong fit for teams already working in Codex.
Update existing ticket/issue with status changes, comments, or field updates
Teams using issue-update 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
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/issue-update/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How issue-update Compares
| Feature / Agent | issue-update | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Codex | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Update existing ticket/issue with status changes, comments, or field updates
Which AI agents support this skill?
This skill is designed for Codex.
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.
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SKILL.md Source
# Issue Update
## Purpose
Update an existing ticket/issue with status transitions, progress comments, assignee changes, or metadata updates. Automatically uses the configured ticketing provider (Gitea, GitHub, Jira, Linear) or local file-based tracking.
## Task
Given a ticket ID and update parameters:
1. **Load configuration** from `.aiwg/config.yaml` or project `CLAUDE.md`
2. **Validate ticket exists** on provider or in local files
3. **Apply updates** (status, comment, assignee, labels, priority)
4. **Return confirmation** with updated ticket details
## Parameters
- **`<ticket-id>`** (required): Issue identifier (e.g., `ISSUE-001`, `#42`, `PROJECT-123`, `ENG-456`)
- **`--status STATE`** (optional): Update ticket status
- Valid states: `open`, `in_progress`, `closed`, `blocked`, `review`
- Provider-specific mappings applied automatically
- **`--comment "text"`** (optional): Add progress comment or note
- **`--assignee USER`** (optional): Assign to user (or `unassigned` to clear)
- **`--labels "label1,label2"`** (optional): Replace labels (comma-separated)
- **`--add-labels "label1,label2"`** (optional): Add labels without replacing existing
- **`--remove-labels "label1,label2"`** (optional): Remove specific labels
- **`--priority LEVEL`** (optional): Update priority (low|medium|high|critical)
- **`--milestone NAME`** (optional): Associate with milestone (provider-dependent)
- **`--provider NAME`** (optional): Override configured provider
## Inputs
**Configuration sources** (same as `/issue-create`):
1. `.aiwg/config.yaml` - Project-level configuration
2. `CLAUDE.md` - User-level configuration
3. Default: `local` provider
## Outputs
**All Providers**:
- Confirmation of update
- Updated ticket details
- URL or file path to view changes
## Workflow
### Step 1: Parse Parameters
Extract from command invocation:
```bash
# Update status
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --status in_progress
# Add comment
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --comment "Completed authentication module, working on authorization next"
# Update status with comment
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --status closed --comment "Fixed in commit abc123"
# Assign ticket
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --assignee johndoe
# Update multiple fields
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --status in_progress --assignee johndoe --priority high --comment "Started implementation"
# Add labels without replacing
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --add-labels "urgent,needs-review"
# Remove labels
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --remove-labels "wip,blocked"
# Replace all labels
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --labels "completed,tested"
```
**Parameter extraction**:
- Issue ID: First argument (required)
- Flags: Parse `--flag value` pairs
- At least one update flag required (status, comment, assignee, labels, priority)
### Step 2: Load Configuration
Same as `/issue-create` command:
1. Check `.aiwg/config.yaml`
2. Fallback to `CLAUDE.md`
3. Default to `local` provider
Override with `--provider` if specified.
### Step 3: Validate Issue Exists
**Gitea**:
```bash
# Fetch issue to verify existence
curl -s -H "Authorization: token $(cat ~/.config/gitea/token)" \
"${URL}/api/v1/repos/${OWNER}/${REPO}/issues/${TICKET_NUM}"
# Check HTTP status: 200 = exists, 404 = not found
```
**GitHub**:
```bash
# Fetch issue via gh CLI
gh issue view "${TICKET_NUM}" --repo "${OWNER}/${REPO}"
# Exit code 0 = exists, non-zero = not found
```
**Jira**:
```bash
# Fetch issue via REST API
curl -s -u "${JIRA_EMAIL}:${JIRA_API_TOKEN}" \
"${JIRA_URL}/rest/api/3/issue/${ISSUE_KEY}"
# Check HTTP status: 200 = exists, 404 = not found
```
**Linear**:
```bash
# Fetch issue via GraphQL
curl -s -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
-H "Authorization: ${LINEAR_API_TOKEN}" \
-d '{"query": "query { issue(id: \"'${ISSUE_ID}'\") { id identifier title } }"}'
# Check if issue returned in response
```
**Local**:
```bash
# Check if file exists
if [ -f ".aiwg/issues/${TICKET_ID}.md" ]; then
echo "Issue exists"
else
echo "Issue not found"
fi
```
**Error if not found**:
```
❌ Issue not found: ISSUE-001
Available tickets:
- ISSUE-002: Add dark mode
- ISSUE-003: Fix navigation bug
List all tickets: /issue-list
```
### Step 4: Map Status to Provider-Specific Values
**Status mapping table**:
| Generic | Gitea | GitHub | Jira | Linear | Local |
|---------|-------|--------|------|--------|-------|
| `open` | open | open | To Do | Backlog | open |
| `in_progress` | open | open | In Progress | In Progress | in_progress |
| `closed` | closed | closed | Done | Done | closed |
| `blocked` | open | open | Blocked | Blocked | blocked |
| `review` | open | open | In Review | In Review | review |
**Implementation**:
```bash
case "${PROVIDER}" in
gitea|github)
case "${STATUS}" in
closed) PROVIDER_STATUS="closed" ;;
*) PROVIDER_STATUS="open" ;;
esac
;;
jira)
case "${STATUS}" in
open) PROVIDER_STATUS="To Do" ;;
in_progress) PROVIDER_STATUS="In Progress" ;;
closed) PROVIDER_STATUS="Done" ;;
blocked) PROVIDER_STATUS="Blocked" ;;
review) PROVIDER_STATUS="In Review" ;;
esac
;;
linear)
case "${STATUS}" in
open) PROVIDER_STATUS="Backlog" ;;
in_progress) PROVIDER_STATUS="In Progress" ;;
closed) PROVIDER_STATUS="Done" ;;
blocked) PROVIDER_STATUS="Blocked" ;;
review) PROVIDER_STATUS="In Review" ;;
esac
;;
local)
PROVIDER_STATUS="${STATUS}"
;;
esac
```
**Note**: Gitea and GitHub don't have separate "in_progress" state - use labels instead (e.g., add "in-progress" label when status changes to `in_progress`)
### Step 5: Update Issue (Provider-Specific)
#### Gitea
Use MCP tools `mcp__gitea__edit_issue` and `mcp__gitea__create_issue_comment`:
**Edit issue metadata**:
```bash
# Update status (state)
# Use mcp__gitea__edit_issue
# Parameters:
# owner: ${OWNER}
# repo: ${REPO}
# issue_number: ${TICKET_NUM}
# state: "open" | "closed"
# assignee: ${ASSIGNEE} (optional)
# labels: [${LABELS}] (optional)
```
**Add comment**:
```bash
# Use mcp__gitea__create_issue_comment
# Parameters:
# owner: ${OWNER}
# repo: ${REPO}
# issue_number: ${TICKET_NUM}
# body: ${COMMENT}
```
**Combined workflow**:
1. If status/assignee/labels specified → use `mcp__gitea__edit_issue`
2. If comment specified → use `mcp__gitea__create_issue_comment`
3. Both can be called in sequence if needed
#### GitHub
Use `gh` CLI:
**Update status**:
```bash
# Open issue
gh issue reopen "${TICKET_NUM}" --repo "${OWNER}/${REPO}"
# Close issue
gh issue close "${TICKET_NUM}" --repo "${OWNER}/${REPO}"
```
**Add comment**:
```bash
gh issue comment "${TICKET_NUM}" \
--repo "${OWNER}/${REPO}" \
--body "${COMMENT}"
```
**Update assignee**:
```bash
# Assign
gh issue edit "${TICKET_NUM}" \
--repo "${OWNER}/${REPO}" \
--add-assignee "${ASSIGNEE}"
# Unassign
gh issue edit "${TICKET_NUM}" \
--repo "${OWNER}/${REPO}" \
--remove-assignee "${ASSIGNEE}"
```
**Update labels**:
```bash
# Add labels
gh issue edit "${TICKET_NUM}" \
--repo "${OWNER}/${REPO}" \
--add-label "label1,label2"
# Remove labels
gh issue edit "${TICKET_NUM}" \
--repo "${OWNER}/${REPO}" \
--remove-label "label1,label2"
```
#### Jira
Use Jira REST API v3:
**Update issue fields**:
```bash
cat > /tmp/jira-update.json <<EOF
{
"fields": {
"status": {
"name": "${PROVIDER_STATUS}"
},
"assignee": {
"name": "${ASSIGNEE}"
},
"priority": {
"name": "${PRIORITY}"
},
"labels": [${LABELS_JSON}]
}
}
EOF
curl -X PUT "${JIRA_URL}/rest/api/3/issue/${ISSUE_KEY}" \
-u "${JIRA_EMAIL}:${JIRA_API_TOKEN}" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d @/tmp/jira-update.json
```
**Add comment**:
```bash
cat > /tmp/jira-comment.json <<EOF
{
"body": {
"type": "doc",
"version": 1,
"content": [
{
"type": "paragraph",
"content": [
{
"type": "text",
"text": "${COMMENT}"
}
]
}
]
}
}
EOF
curl -X POST "${JIRA_URL}/rest/api/3/issue/${ISSUE_KEY}/comment" \
-u "${JIRA_EMAIL}:${JIRA_API_TOKEN}" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d @/tmp/jira-comment.json
```
#### Linear
Use Linear GraphQL API:
**Update issue**:
```bash
cat > /tmp/linear-update.json <<EOF
{
"query": "mutation IssueUpdate(\$issueId: String!, \$stateId: String, \$assigneeId: String, \$priority: Int) { issueUpdate(id: \$issueId, input: { stateId: \$stateId, assigneeId: \$assigneeId, priority: \$priority }) { success issue { id identifier url state { name } } } }",
"variables": {
"issueId": "${ISSUE_ID}",
"stateId": "${STATE_ID}",
"assigneeId": "${ASSIGNEE_ID}",
"priority": ${PRIORITY_NUM}
}
}
EOF
curl -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
-H "Authorization: ${LINEAR_API_TOKEN}" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d @/tmp/linear-update.json
```
**Add comment**:
```bash
cat > /tmp/linear-comment.json <<EOF
{
"query": "mutation CommentCreate(\$issueId: String!, \$body: String!) { commentCreate(input: { issueId: \$issueId, body: \$body }) { success comment { id body } } }",
"variables": {
"issueId": "${ISSUE_ID}",
"body": "${COMMENT}"
}
}
EOF
curl -X POST https://api.linear.app/graphql \
-H "Authorization: ${LINEAR_API_TOKEN}" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d @/tmp/linear-comment.json
```
#### Local
Update markdown file in `.aiwg/issues/`:
**Read existing ticket**:
```bash
TICKET_FILE=".aiwg/issues/${TICKET_ID}.md"
# Extract current metadata from frontmatter
CURRENT_STATUS=$(grep "^status:" "${TICKET_FILE}" | awk '{print $2}')
CURRENT_ASSIGNEE=$(grep "^assignee:" "${TICKET_FILE}" | awk '{print $2}')
CURRENT_LABELS=$(grep "^labels:" "${TICKET_FILE}" | cut -d':' -f2- | xargs)
CURRENT_PRIORITY=$(grep "^priority:" "${TICKET_FILE}" | awk '{print $2}')
```
**Update metadata**:
```bash
# Update status
if [ -n "${STATUS}" ]; then
sed -i "s/^status:.*/status: ${STATUS}/" "${TICKET_FILE}"
sed -i "/^\*\*Status\*\*:/s/:.*/: ${STATUS}/" "${TICKET_FILE}"
fi
# Update assignee
if [ -n "${ASSIGNEE}" ]; then
sed -i "s/^assignee:.*/assignee: ${ASSIGNEE}/" "${TICKET_FILE}"
sed -i "/^\*\*Assignee\*\*:/s/:.*/: ${ASSIGNEE}/" "${TICKET_FILE}"
fi
# Update priority
if [ -n "${PRIORITY}" ]; then
sed -i "s/^priority:.*/priority: ${PRIORITY}/" "${TICKET_FILE}"
sed -i "/^\*\*Priority\*\*:/s/:.*/: ${PRIORITY}/" "${TICKET_FILE}"
fi
# Update labels
if [ -n "${LABELS}" ]; then
sed -i "s/^labels:.*/labels: ${LABELS}/" "${TICKET_FILE}"
fi
# Update timestamp
sed -i "s/^updated:.*/updated: $(date +%Y-%m-%d)/" "${TICKET_FILE}"
```
**Add comment**:
```bash
# Append comment to end of file
cat >> "${TICKET_FILE}" <<EOF
### $(date +%Y-%m-%d\ %H:%M)
${COMMENT}
EOF
```
### Step 6: Return Confirmation
**Output format** (consistent across providers):
```markdown
✅ Issue updated: {ticket-id}
{view-url-or-file-path}
**Updates**:
- Status: {old-status} → {new-status}
- Assignee: {old-assignee} → {new-assignee}
- Priority: {old-priority} → {new-priority}
- Labels: {old-labels} → {new-labels}
- Comment added: "{comment-preview...}"
## Next Steps
- View ticket: {url-or-command}
- Add another comment: `/issue-update {ticket-id} --comment "text"`
- Close ticket: `/issue-update {ticket-id} --status closed`
- List tickets: `/issue-list`
```
## Examples
### Example 1: Update Status (Gitea)
**Command**:
```bash
/issue-update ISSUE-042 --status in_progress --comment "Started implementation, created auth module"
```
**Config** (`.aiwg/config.yaml`):
```yaml
ticketing:
provider: gitea
url: https://git.integrolabs.net
owner: roctinam
repo: ai-writing-guide
```
**Output**:
```
✅ Issue updated: ISSUE-042
View at: https://git.integrolabs.net/roctinam/ai-writing-guide/issues/42
**Updates**:
- Status: open → in_progress (Gitea: added 'in-progress' label)
- Comment added: "Started implementation, created auth module"
## Next Steps
- View ticket: https://git.integrolabs.net/roctinam/ai-writing-guide/issues/42
- Update status: `/issue-update ISSUE-042 --status closed`
- Add comment: `/issue-update ISSUE-042 --comment "Progress update"`
```
### Example 2: Close Issue with Comment (Local)
**Command**:
```bash
/issue-update ISSUE-003 --status closed --comment "Fixed in commit abc123. Tested on iOS Safari 17."
```
**Output**:
```
✅ Issue updated: ISSUE-003
File: .aiwg/issues/ISSUE-003.md
**Updates**:
- Status: in_progress → closed
- Comment added: "Fixed in commit abc123. Tested on iOS Safari 17."
## Next Steps
- View ticket: cat .aiwg/issues/ISSUE-003.md
- Reopen if needed: `/issue-update ISSUE-003 --status open`
- List closed tickets: `/issue-list --status closed`
```
### Example 3: Reassign Issue (GitHub)
**Command**:
```bash
/issue-update #128 --assignee security-team --priority critical --comment "Escalating to security team due to severity"
```
**Config** (`CLAUDE.md`):
```markdown
## Issueing Configuration
- **Provider**: github
- **Owner**: jmagly
- **Repo**: ai-writing-guide
```
**Output**:
```
✅ Issue updated: #128
View at: https://github.com/jmagly/aiwg/issues/128
**Updates**:
- Assignee: unassigned → @security-team
- Priority: medium → critical (updated in issue body)
- Comment added: "Escalating to security team due to severity"
## Next Steps
- View ticket: gh issue view 128
- Track progress: `/issue-update 128 --comment "Status update"`
- Close when resolved: `/issue-update 128 --status closed`
```
### Example 4: Add Labels Without Replacing (Gitea)
**Command**:
```bash
/issue-update ISSUE-042 --add-labels "urgent,needs-review" --comment "Ready for code review"
```
**Output**:
```
✅ Issue updated: ISSUE-042
View at: https://git.integrolabs.net/roctinam/ai-writing-guide/issues/42
**Updates**:
- Labels: feature, ui → feature, ui, urgent, needs-review
- Comment added: "Ready for code review"
## Next Steps
- View ticket: https://git.integrolabs.net/roctinam/ai-writing-guide/issues/42
- Remove label after review: `/issue-update ISSUE-042 --remove-labels "needs-review"`
```
### Example 5: Multiple Field Updates (Local)
**Command**:
```bash
/issue-update ISSUE-005 --status blocked --assignee unassigned --priority high --labels "blocked,needs-discussion" --comment "Blocked on architecture decision ADR-003. Need team discussion."
```
**Output**:
```
✅ Issue updated: ISSUE-005
File: .aiwg/issues/ISSUE-005.md
**Updates**:
- Status: in_progress → blocked
- Assignee: johndoe → unassigned
- Priority: medium → high
- Labels: feature → blocked, needs-discussion
- Comment added: "Blocked on architecture decision ADR-003. Need team discussion."
## Next Steps
- View ticket: cat .aiwg/issues/ISSUE-005.md
- Unblock: `/issue-update ISSUE-005 --status in_progress --comment "Decision made, resuming work"`
- List blocked tickets: `/issue-list --status blocked`
```
## Error Handling
### Issue Not Found
```
❌ Issue not found: ISSUE-999
Searched in:
- Provider: gitea
- Repository: roctinam/ai-writing-guide
Available tickets:
- ISSUE-001: Implement user auth (open)
- ISSUE-002: Add dark mode (in_progress)
- ISSUE-003: Fix navigation bug (closed)
List all tickets: /issue-list
Create new ticket: /issue-create "title"
```
### Invalid Status
```
❌ Invalid status: 'inprogress'
Valid statuses:
- open
- in_progress
- closed
- blocked
- review
Example: /issue-update ISSUE-001 --status in_progress
```
### No Updates Specified
```
❌ No updates specified.
At least one update parameter required:
- --status STATE
- --comment "text"
- --assignee USER
- --labels "label1,label2"
- --add-labels "label1,label2"
- --remove-labels "label1,label2"
- --priority LEVEL
Example: /issue-update ISSUE-001 --status in_progress --comment "Started work"
```
### Provider-Specific Errors
**Gitea MCP Error**:
```
❌ Failed to update Gitea issue:
Error: 403 Forbidden
- Insufficient permissions to edit issue
- Verify token permissions at https://git.integrolabs.net/user/settings/applications
- Token needs 'write:issue' scope
Cannot update ticket.
```
**GitHub CLI Error**:
```
❌ Failed to update GitHub issue:
Error: issue not found: #999
- Verify issue number: gh issue list --repo jmagly/ai-writing-guide
- Check repository access: gh auth status
Cannot update ticket.
```
**Local File Error**:
```
❌ Failed to update local ticket file:
Error: Permission denied - .aiwg/issues/ISSUE-001.md
- Check file permissions: ls -la .aiwg/issues/ISSUE-001.md
- Ensure writable: chmod 644 .aiwg/issues/ISSUE-001.md
Cannot update ticket.
```
## Best Practices
1. **Add meaningful comments** - Document progress, blockers, and decisions
2. **Update status frequently** - Keep stakeholders informed
3. **Use status transitions wisely** - Follow team workflow (e.g., open → in_progress → review → closed)
4. **Reassign when blocked** - Don't let tickets languish without clear ownership
5. **Remove labels when resolved** - Clean up metadata (e.g., remove "needs-review" after review)
6. **Close tickets with resolution comments** - Document how issue was resolved
7. **Link to artifacts** - Reference commits, PRs, or SDLC artifacts in comments
8. **Batch updates** - Update multiple fields in single command when possible
## Integration with SDLC Workflows
**Construction Phase (Development)**:
```bash
# Start work
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --status in_progress --comment "Started implementation"
# Progress update
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --comment "Completed authentication module, 3 tests passing"
# Ready for review
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --add-labels "needs-review" --comment "Ready for code review, see PR #45"
# Close after merge
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --status closed --comment "Merged in PR #45, deployed to staging"
```
**Testing Phase**:
```bash
# Found bug during testing
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --status blocked --assignee qa-team --comment "Failed QA: auth broken on Safari"
# Bug fixed
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --status in_progress --assignee dev-team --comment "Fix deployed, ready for retest"
# Passed testing
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --status closed --comment "Passed QA, deployed to production"
```
**Security Review**:
```bash
# Start security review
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --status review --assignee security-team --add-labels "security-review"
# Findings identified
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --status blocked --comment "Security review found SQL injection risk, see ISSUE-042"
# Resolved
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --status closed --remove-labels "security-review" --comment "Security issues resolved, review passed"
```
**Retrospectives**:
```bash
# Action item from retro
/issue-update ISSUE-001 --add-labels "process-improvement" --comment "Retro action: Add automated tests for this pattern"
```
## References
- @$AIWG_ROOT/agentic/code/frameworks/sdlc-complete/config/issueing-config.md - Configuration schema
- @$AIWG_ROOT/agentic/code/frameworks/sdlc-complete/commands/issue-create.md - Create ticket command
- @$AIWG_ROOT/agentic/code/frameworks/sdlc-complete/commands/issue-list.md - List tickets command
- @CLAUDE.md - User ticketing configurationRelated Skills
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aiwg-update-claude
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