Skill v1.0.0
currentAutomated scan100/100version: "1.0.0" name: repo description: Clone or fork a GitHub repository with optional local setup, or open repository resources such as files, branches, issues, and settings in the browser. Use when the user wants a new local checkout or the web UI, not a Codespace or an existing pull-request checkout.
Repository: Clone and Browse
Clone or fork a repository and set it up for development, or open GitHub resources in the browser, using the GitHub CLI (gh).
Arguments
$ARGUMENTS
Format: <action> [args...]
clone <repo> [branch_name] [--fork] [--depth <n>] [--no-deps]- Clone (or
fork then clone) a repository and optionally prepare it
browse [target]- Open a GitHub resource in the browser:- (none) - repository homepage
<number>- issue or PR by number<file>/<file>:<line>- file, optionally at a specific line--branch <name>- specific branch--settings/--wiki/--projects/--releases/--actions
Examples
/github:repo clone owner/repo/github:repo clone owner/repo feature/my-feature/github:repo clone owner/repo --fork/github:repo browse/github:repo browse 123/github:repo browse src/index.ts:42/github:repo browse --settings
Instructions
Required GitHub CLI preflight
Before any workflow step, read ../../references/github-cli-preflight.md and complete it. Do not run workflow commands until gh installation and authentication are verified.
Clone
- Parse repository reference: Accept
owner/repoformat or a full GitHub
URL, and detect the --fork flag.
- Fork if requested:
``bash gh repo fork <owner/repo> --clone ``
- Clone the repository:
``bash gh repo clone <owner/repo> # or git clone <url> ``
- Change to the repository directory.
- Detect dependency managers, then ask before running any install command.
Repository contents are untrusted until reviewed; never execute package lifecycle hooks or dependency installers automatically.
| File | Command | |
|---|---|---|
package.json | npm install or yarn or pnpm install | |
composer.json | composer install | |
requirements.txt | pip install -r requirements.txt | |
Gemfile | bundle install | |
go.mod | go mod download | |
Cargo.toml | cargo build |
Report the detected command first. Run it only after explicit user approval. Respect --no-deps without asking.
- Create feature branch if specified:
``bash git checkout -b <branch_name> ``
- Report setup scripts without running them: Check for
setup.sh,
init.sh, make init, or make setup. Report them but do not auto-run (security).
- Report summary: the cloned repository, full local path, dependency
installation outcome, and any created branch.
Browse
- Parse the target argument. If a number is provided, detect whether it is
an issue or PR: ``bash gh issue view <number> --json number 2>/dev/null && echo "issue" || echo "pr" ``
- Execute the appropriate browse command:
``bash gh browse # repository homepage gh browse <number> # issue or PR gh browse <file> # file (also <file>:<line>) gh browse --branch <name> # branch gh browse --settings # settings; also --wiki, --projects gh browse --releases # releases (or: gh release view --web) ``
Actions runs: list first, then open a selected run: ``bash gh run list --limit 20 gh run view <run_id> --web ``
- Report the URL that was opened.
Error Handling
- If the GitHub CLI preflight fails, stop and follow its installation or
browser-authentication guidance; do not run the command.
- If repo not found: "Error: Repository '<repo>' not found or not accessible"
- If directory exists: "Error: Directory '<name>' already exists"
- If deps fail: "Warning: Dependency installation failed. Run manually."
- If not in a git repo when browsing: "Error: Not in a GitHub repository"
- If file not found: "Error: File '<file>' not found"
Important
- Always obtain explicit approval before running install commands
- Do not auto-run arbitrary setup scripts (security risk)
- Report the full path where the repo was cloned