From github-skills
Clone, create, fork, configure, and manage GitHub repositories. Manage remotes, secrets, releases, and workflows. Works with gh CLI or falls back to git + GitHub REST API via curl.
npx claudepluginhub rnben/hermes-skills --plugin github-skillsThis skill uses the workspace's default tool permissions.
Create, clone, fork, configure, and manage GitHub repositories. Each section shows `gh` first, then the `git` + `curl` fallback.
Writes articles, guides, blog posts, tutorials, and newsletters in a voice from examples or brand guidance. For polished long-form content with structure, pacing, and credibility.
Records polished WebM UI demo videos of web apps using Playwright with cursor overlay, natural pacing, and three-phase scripting. Activates for demo, walkthrough, screen recording, or tutorial requests.
Executes repo commands, inspects git state, debugs CI failures, and pushes narrow fixes with exact proof of execution and verification. Use for command runs, repo checks, or evidence-based changes.
Create, clone, fork, configure, and manage GitHub repositories. Each section shows gh first, then the git + curl fallback.
github-auth skill)if command -v gh &>/dev/null && gh auth status &>/dev/null; then
AUTH="gh"
else
AUTH="git"
if [ -z "$GITHUB_TOKEN" ]; then
if [ -f ~/.hermes/.env ] && grep -q "^GITHUB_TOKEN=" ~/.hermes/.env; then
GITHUB_TOKEN=$(grep "^GITHUB_TOKEN=" ~/.hermes/.env | head -1 | cut -d= -f2 | tr -d '\n\r')
elif grep -q "github.com" ~/.git-credentials 2>/dev/null; then
GITHUB_TOKEN=$(grep "github.com" ~/.git-credentials 2>/dev/null | head -1 | sed 's|https://[^:]*:\([^@]*\)@.*|\1|')
fi
fi
fi
# Get your GitHub username (needed for several operations)
if [ "$AUTH" = "gh" ]; then
GH_USER=$(gh api user --jq '.login')
else
GH_USER=$(curl -s -H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" https://api.github.com/user | python3 -c "import sys,json; print(json.load(sys.stdin)['login'])")
fi
If you're inside a repo already:
REMOTE_URL=$(git remote get-url origin)
OWNER_REPO=$(echo "$REMOTE_URL" | sed -E 's|.*github\.com[:/]||; s|\.git$||')
OWNER=$(echo "$OWNER_REPO" | cut -d/ -f1)
REPO=$(echo "$OWNER_REPO" | cut -d/ -f2)
Cloning is pure git — works identically either way:
# Clone via HTTPS (works with credential helper or token-embedded URL)
git clone https://github.com/owner/repo-name.git
# Clone into a specific directory
git clone https://github.com/owner/repo-name.git ./my-local-dir
# Shallow clone (faster for large repos)
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/owner/repo-name.git
# Clone a specific branch
git clone --branch develop https://github.com/owner/repo-name.git
# Clone via SSH (if SSH is configured)
git clone git@github.com:owner/repo-name.git
With gh (shorthand):
gh repo clone owner/repo-name
gh repo clone owner/repo-name -- --depth 1
With gh:
# Create a public repo and clone it
gh repo create my-new-project --public --clone
# Private, with description and license
gh repo create my-new-project --private --description "A useful tool" --license MIT --clone
# Under an organization
gh repo create my-org/my-new-project --public --clone
# From existing local directory
cd /path/to/existing/project
gh repo create my-project --source . --public --push
With git + curl:
# Create the remote repo via API
curl -s -X POST \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/user/repos \
-d '{
"name": "my-new-project",
"description": "A useful tool",
"private": false,
"auto_init": true,
"license_template": "mit"
}'
# Clone it
git clone https://github.com/$GH_USER/my-new-project.git
cd my-new-project
# -- OR -- push an existing local directory to the new repo
cd /path/to/existing/project
git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"
git remote add origin https://github.com/$GH_USER/my-new-project.git
git push -u origin main
To create under an organization:
curl -s -X POST \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/orgs/my-org/repos \
-d '{"name": "my-new-project", "private": false}'
With gh:
gh repo create my-new-app --template owner/template-repo --public --clone
With curl:
curl -s -X POST \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/owner/template-repo/generate \
-d '{"owner": "'"$GH_USER"'", "name": "my-new-app", "private": false}'
With gh:
gh repo fork owner/repo-name --clone
With git + curl:
# Create the fork via API
curl -s -X POST \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/owner/repo-name/forks
# Wait a moment for GitHub to create it, then clone
sleep 3
git clone https://github.com/$GH_USER/repo-name.git
cd repo-name
# Add the original repo as "upstream" remote
git remote add upstream https://github.com/owner/repo-name.git
# Pure git — works everywhere
git fetch upstream
git checkout main
git merge upstream/main
git push origin main
With gh (shortcut):
gh repo sync $GH_USER/repo-name
With gh:
gh repo view owner/repo-name
gh repo list --limit 20
gh search repos "machine learning" --language python --sort stars
With curl:
# View repo details
curl -s \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO \
| python3 -c "
import sys, json
r = json.load(sys.stdin)
print(f\"Name: {r['full_name']}\")
print(f\"Description: {r['description']}\")
print(f\"Stars: {r['stargazers_count']} Forks: {r['forks_count']}\")
print(f\"Default branch: {r['default_branch']}\")
print(f\"Language: {r['language']}\")"
# List your repos
curl -s \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
"https://api.github.com/user/repos?per_page=20&sort=updated" \
| python3 -c "
import sys, json
for r in json.load(sys.stdin):
vis = 'private' if r['private'] else 'public'
print(f\" {r['full_name']:40} {vis:8} {r.get('language', ''):10} ★{r['stargazers_count']}\")"
# Search repos
curl -s \
"https://api.github.com/search/repositories?q=machine+learning+language:python&sort=stars&per_page=10" \
| python3 -c "
import sys, json
for r in json.load(sys.stdin)['items']:
print(f\" {r['full_name']:40} ★{r['stargazers_count']:6} {r['description'][:60] if r['description'] else ''}\")"
With gh:
gh repo edit --description "Updated description" --visibility public
gh repo edit --enable-wiki=false --enable-issues=true
gh repo edit --default-branch main
gh repo edit --add-topic "machine-learning,python"
gh repo edit --enable-auto-merge
With curl:
curl -s -X PATCH \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO \
-d '{
"description": "Updated description",
"has_wiki": false,
"has_issues": true,
"allow_auto_merge": true
}'
# Update topics
curl -s -X PUT \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
-H "Accept: application/vnd.github.mercy-preview+json" \
https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/topics \
-d '{"names": ["machine-learning", "python", "automation"]}'
# View current protection
curl -s \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/branches/main/protection
# Set up branch protection
curl -s -X PUT \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/branches/main/protection \
-d '{
"required_status_checks": {
"strict": true,
"contexts": ["ci/test", "ci/lint"]
},
"enforce_admins": false,
"required_pull_request_reviews": {
"required_approving_review_count": 1
},
"restrictions": null
}'
With gh:
gh secret set API_KEY --body "your-secret-value"
gh secret set SSH_KEY < ~/.ssh/id_rsa
gh secret list
gh secret delete API_KEY
With curl:
Secrets require encryption with the repo's public key — more involved via API:
# Get the repo's public key for encrypting secrets
curl -s \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/actions/secrets/public-key
# Encrypt and set (requires Python with PyNaCl)
python3 -c "
from base64 import b64encode
from nacl import encoding, public
import json, sys
# Get the public key
key_id = '<key_id_from_above>'
public_key = '<base64_key_from_above>'
# Encrypt
sealed = public.SealedBox(
public.PublicKey(public_key.encode('utf-8'), encoding.Base64Encoder)
).encrypt('your-secret-value'.encode('utf-8'))
print(json.dumps({
'encrypted_value': b64encode(sealed).decode('utf-8'),
'key_id': key_id
}))"
# Then PUT the encrypted secret
curl -s -X PUT \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/actions/secrets/API_KEY \
-d '<output from python script above>'
# List secrets (names only, values hidden)
curl -s \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/actions/secrets \
| python3 -c "
import sys, json
for s in json.load(sys.stdin)['secrets']:
print(f\" {s['name']:30} updated: {s['updated_at']}\")"
Note: For secrets, gh secret set is dramatically simpler. If setting secrets is needed and gh isn't available, recommend installing it for just that operation.
With gh:
gh release create v1.0.0 --title "v1.0.0" --generate-notes
gh release create v2.0.0-rc1 --draft --prerelease --generate-notes
gh release create v1.0.0 ./dist/binary --title "v1.0.0" --notes "Release notes"
gh release list
gh release download v1.0.0 --dir ./downloads
With curl:
# Create a release
curl -s -X POST \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/releases \
-d '{
"tag_name": "v1.0.0",
"name": "v1.0.0",
"body": "## Changelog\n- Feature A\n- Bug fix B",
"draft": false,
"prerelease": false,
"generate_release_notes": true
}'
# List releases
curl -s \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/releases \
| python3 -c "
import sys, json
for r in json.load(sys.stdin):
tag = r.get('tag_name', 'no tag')
print(f\" {tag:15} {r['name']:30} {'draft' if r['draft'] else 'published'}\")"
# Upload a release asset (binary file)
RELEASE_ID=<id_from_create_response>
curl -s -X POST \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
-H "Content-Type: application/octet-stream" \
"https://uploads.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/releases/$RELEASE_ID/assets?name=binary-amd64" \
--data-binary @./dist/binary-amd64
With gh:
gh workflow list
gh run list --limit 10
gh run view <RUN_ID>
gh run view <RUN_ID> --log-failed
gh run rerun <RUN_ID>
gh run rerun <RUN_ID> --failed
gh workflow run ci.yml --ref main
gh workflow run deploy.yml -f environment=staging
With curl:
# List workflows
curl -s \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/actions/workflows \
| python3 -c "
import sys, json
for w in json.load(sys.stdin)['workflows']:
print(f\" {w['id']:10} {w['name']:30} {w['state']}\")"
# List recent runs
curl -s \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
"https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/actions/runs?per_page=10" \
| python3 -c "
import sys, json
for r in json.load(sys.stdin)['workflow_runs']:
print(f\" Run {r['id']} {r['name']:30} {r['conclusion'] or r['status']}\")"
# Download failed run logs
RUN_ID=<run_id>
curl -s -L \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/actions/runs/$RUN_ID/logs \
-o /tmp/ci-logs.zip
cd /tmp && unzip -o ci-logs.zip -d ci-logs
# Re-run a failed workflow
curl -s -X POST \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/actions/runs/$RUN_ID/rerun
# Re-run only failed jobs
curl -s -X POST \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/actions/runs/$RUN_ID/rerun-failed-jobs
# Trigger a workflow manually (workflow_dispatch)
WORKFLOW_ID=<workflow_id_or_filename>
curl -s -X POST \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/actions/workflows/$WORKFLOW_ID/dispatches \
-d '{"ref": "main", "inputs": {"environment": "staging"}}'
With gh:
gh gist create script.py --public --desc "Useful script"
gh gist list
With curl:
# Create a gist
curl -s -X POST \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/gists \
-d '{
"description": "Useful script",
"public": true,
"files": {
"script.py": {"content": "print(\"hello\")"}
}
}'
# List your gists
curl -s \
-H "Authorization: token $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
https://api.github.com/gists \
| python3 -c "
import sys, json
for g in json.load(sys.stdin):
files = ', '.join(g['files'].keys())
print(f\" {g['id']} {g['description'] or '(no desc)':40} {files}\")"
| Action | gh | git + curl |
|---|---|---|
| Clone | gh repo clone o/r | git clone https://github.com/o/r.git |
| Create repo | gh repo create name --public | curl POST /user/repos |
| Fork | gh repo fork o/r --clone | curl POST /repos/o/r/forks + git clone |
| Repo info | gh repo view o/r | curl GET /repos/o/r |
| Edit settings | gh repo edit --... | curl PATCH /repos/o/r |
| Create release | gh release create v1.0 | curl POST /repos/o/r/releases |
| List workflows | gh workflow list | curl GET /repos/o/r/actions/workflows |
| Rerun CI | gh run rerun ID | curl POST /repos/o/r/actions/runs/ID/rerun |
| Set secret | gh secret set KEY | curl PUT /repos/o/r/actions/secrets/KEY (+ encryption) |