Using GitHub CLI for Productivity

Using GitHub CLI for Productivity

GitHub CLI (gh) is a powerful command-line tool that brings GitHub’s features to your terminal. This guide will show you how to use it effectively to streamline your workflow.

What You’ll Learn

• Installing GitHub CLI
• Basic commands
• Advanced features
• Best practices
• Common workflows

Implementation Steps

1. Installation

   # On macOS
   brew install gh
   
   # On Windows
   winget install GitHub.cli
   
   # On Linux
   sudo apt install gh
   

   • Install CLI
   • Verify installation
   • Authenticate
   • Test commands

2. Authentication

   # Login to GitHub
   gh auth login
   
   # Check status
   gh auth status
   
   # Switch accounts
   gh auth switch
   

   • Set up auth
   • Verify access
   • Manage accounts
   • Test connection

3. Basic Commands

   # Create repository
   gh repo create
   
   # Clone repository
   gh repo clone owner/repo
   
   # Create issue
   gh issue create
   

   • Create repos
   • Clone projects
   • Manage issues
   • Handle PRs

4. Advanced Usage

   # Create PR
   gh pr create
   
   # Review PR
   gh pr review
   
   # Merge PR
   gh pr merge
   

   • Handle PRs
   • Review code
   • Merge changes
   • Manage releases

Best Practices

1. Command Usage

   • Learn shortcuts
   • Use aliases
   • Check help
   • Stay updated

2. Workflow Integration

   • Set up aliases
   • Create scripts
   • Automate tasks
   • Document processes

3. Security

   • Use tokens
   • Manage access
   • Regular updates
   • Monitor usage

4. Organization

   • Group commands
   • Create templates
   • Share scripts
   • Maintain docs

Common Use Cases

1. Repository Management

   # Create repo
   gh repo create my-project --private
   
   # Clone repo
   gh repo clone owner/repo
   
   # Fork repo
   gh repo fork owner/repo
   

2. Issue Tracking

   # Create issue
   gh issue create --title "Bug fix" --body "Description"
   
   # List issues
   gh issue list
   
   # Close issue
   gh issue close 123
   

3. Pull Requests

   # Create PR
   gh pr create --title "Feature" --body "Description"
   
   # Review PR
   gh pr review 123 --approve
   
   # Merge PR
   gh pr merge 123 --merge
   

4. Releases

   # Create release
   gh release create v1.0.0
   
   # List releases
   gh release list
   
   # Download release
   gh release download v1.0.0
   

Advanced Usage

1. Custom Commands

   # Create alias
   gh alias set prc 'pr create'
   
   # Use alias
   gh prc
   

2. Scripting

   # Create script
   #!/bin/bash
   gh pr create --title "$1" --body "$2"
   

3. Templates

   # Create issue template
   gh issue create --template bug
   
   # Create PR template
   gh pr create --template feature
   

4. Automation

   # Create workflow
   gh workflow create
   
   # Run workflow
   gh workflow run
   

Common Issues and Solutions

1. Authentication

   # Reset auth
   gh auth logout
   gh auth login
   
   # Check token
   gh auth token
   

2. Command Issues

   # Check version
   gh --version
   
   # Update CLI
   gh upgrade
   

3. API Limits

   # Check rate limit
   gh api rate_limit
   
   # Use token
   gh auth token
   

Conclusion

GitHub CLI is a powerful tool. Remember to:

• Learn commands
• Use shortcuts
• Automate tasks
• Stay updated
• Follow best practices

Next Steps

After mastering GitHub CLI, consider:

• Learning GitHub Actions
• Exploring Git workflows
• Understanding GitHub API
• Setting up automation