github

GitHub operations via `gh` CLI: issues, PRs, CI runs, code review, API queries. Use when: (1) checking PR status or CI, (2) creating/commenting on issues, (3) listing/filtering PRs or issues, (4) viewing run logs. NOT for: complex web UI interactions requiring manual browser flows (use browser tooling when available), bulk operations across many repos (script with gh api), or when gh auth is not configured.

411 stars

Best use case

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

GitHub operations via `gh` CLI: issues, PRs, CI runs, code review, API queries. Use when: (1) checking PR status or CI, (2) creating/commenting on issues, (3) listing/filtering PRs or issues, (4) viewing run logs. NOT for: complex web UI interactions requiring manual browser flows (use browser tooling when available), bulk operations across many repos (script with gh api), or when gh auth is not configured.

Teams using 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/github/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/understudy-ai/understudy/main/skills/github/SKILL.md"

Manual Installation

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

How github Compares

Feature / AgentgithubStandard Approach
Platform SupportNot specifiedLimited / Varies
Context Awareness High Baseline
Installation ComplexityUnknownN/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this skill do?

GitHub operations via `gh` CLI: issues, PRs, CI runs, code review, API queries. Use when: (1) checking PR status or CI, (2) creating/commenting on issues, (3) listing/filtering PRs or issues, (4) viewing run logs. NOT for: complex web UI interactions requiring manual browser flows (use browser tooling when available), bulk operations across many repos (script with gh api), or when gh auth is not configured.

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 Skill

Use the `gh` CLI to interact with GitHub repositories, issues, PRs, and CI.

## When to Use

✅ **USE this skill when:**

- Checking PR status, reviews, or merge readiness
- Viewing CI/workflow run status and logs
- Creating, closing, or commenting on issues
- Creating or merging pull requests
- Querying GitHub API for repository data
- Listing repos, releases, or collaborators

## When NOT to Use

❌ **DON'T use this skill when:**

- Local git operations (commit, push, pull, branch) → use `git` directly
- Non-GitHub repos (GitLab, Bitbucket, self-hosted) → different CLIs
- Cloning repositories → use `git clone`
- Reviewing actual code changes → use `coding-agent` skill
- Complex multi-file diffs → use `coding-agent` or read files directly

## Setup

```bash
# Authenticate (one-time)
gh auth login

# Verify
gh auth status
```

## Common Commands

### Pull Requests

```bash
# List PRs
gh pr list --repo owner/repo

# Check CI status
gh pr checks 55 --repo owner/repo

# View PR details
gh pr view 55 --repo owner/repo

# Create PR
gh pr create --title "feat: add feature" --body "Description"

# Merge PR
gh pr merge 55 --squash --repo owner/repo
```

### Issues

```bash
# List issues
gh issue list --repo owner/repo --state open

# Create issue
gh issue create --title "Bug: something broken" --body "Details..."

# Close issue
gh issue close 42 --repo owner/repo
```

### CI/Workflow Runs

```bash
# List recent runs
gh run list --repo owner/repo --limit 10

# View specific run
gh run view <run-id> --repo owner/repo

# View failed step logs only
gh run view <run-id> --repo owner/repo --log-failed

# Re-run failed jobs
gh run rerun <run-id> --failed --repo owner/repo
```

### API Queries

```bash
# Get PR with specific fields
gh api repos/owner/repo/pulls/55 --jq '.title, .state, .user.login'

# List all labels
gh api repos/owner/repo/labels --jq '.[].name'

# Get repo stats
gh api repos/owner/repo --jq '{stars: .stargazers_count, forks: .forks_count}'
```

## JSON Output

Most commands support `--json` for structured output with `--jq` filtering:

```bash
gh issue list --repo owner/repo --json number,title --jq '.[] | "\(.number): \(.title)"'
gh pr list --json number,title,state,mergeable --jq '.[] | select(.mergeable == "MERGEABLE")'
```

## Templates

### PR Review Summary

```bash
# Get PR overview for review
PR=55 REPO=owner/repo
echo "## PR #$PR Summary"
gh pr view $PR --repo $REPO --json title,body,author,additions,deletions,changedFiles \
  --jq '"**\(.title)** by @\(.author.login)\n\n\(.body)\n\n📊 +\(.additions) -\(.deletions) across \(.changedFiles) files"'
gh pr checks $PR --repo $REPO
```

### Issue Triage

```bash
# Quick issue triage view
gh issue list --repo owner/repo --state open --json number,title,labels,createdAt \
  --jq '.[] | "[\(.number)] \(.title) - \([.labels[].name] | join(", ")) (\(.createdAt[:10]))"'
```

## Notes

- Always specify `--repo owner/repo` when not in a git directory
- Use URLs directly: `gh pr view https://github.com/owner/repo/pull/55`
- Rate limits apply; use `gh api --cache 1h` for repeated queries

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