How to Use the Command "gh label" (with examples)

The “gh label” command is part of the GitHub CLI (Command Line Interface) tool and allows users to work with labels on GitHub repositories. Labels are a way to categorize and organize issues and pull requests in a repository. With the “gh label” command, users can perform various actions such as listing labels, creating new labels, deleting labels, and updating label properties.

Use case 1: List labels for the repository in the current directory

Code:

gh label list

Motivation: The motivation for listing labels is to get an overview of the labels that have been defined in the repository. This can be useful for understanding the different categories or types of issues and pull requests in the repository.

Explanation:

• gh label list: This command retrieves a list of labels associated with the repository specified in the current directory.

Example output:

bug
feature
enhancement
help needed

Use case 2: View labels for the repository in the current directory in the default web browser

Code:

gh label list --web

Motivation: Sometimes it is more convenient to view labels in a graphical user interface rather than the command line. This use case opens the label list in the default web browser, providing a visual representation of the labels for easier navigation.

Explanation:

• gh label list: This command retrieves a list of labels associated with the repository specified in the current directory.
• --web: This flag opens the label list in the default web browser.

Use case 3: Create a label with a specific name, description, and color in hexadecimal format for the repository in the current directory

Code:

gh label create bug --description "Bug report" --color "#d73a4a"

Motivation: Creating labels with specific properties allows for better organization of issues and pull requests. By creating labels with descriptive names, informative descriptions, and visually distinct colors, it becomes easier to identify and categorize different types of items in the repository.

Explanation:

• gh label create: This command creates a new label.
• bug: The name of the label.
• --description "Bug report": The description of the label.
• --color "#d73a4a": The color of the label in hexadecimal format.

Use case 4: Delete a label for the repository in the current directory, prompting for confirmation

Code:

gh label delete bug

Motivation: If a label is no longer needed or has become obsolete, it is important to remove it from the repository. Deleting labels helps keep the label list clean and avoids confusion when categorizing issues and pull requests.

Explanation:

• gh label delete: This command deletes a label.
• bug: The name of the label to delete.

Use case 5: Update the name and description for a specific label for the repository in the current directory

Code:

gh label edit bug --name "issue" --description "Issue report"

Motivation: Updating label properties can help improve the clarity and accuracy of labels. In some cases, labels may need to be renamed or have their descriptions modified to better reflect their purpose or usage.

Explanation:

• gh label edit: This command edits an existing label.
• bug: The current name of the label.
• --name "issue": The new name of the label.
• --description "Issue report": The new description of the label.

Use case 6: Clone labels from a specific repository into the repository in the current directory

Code:

gh label clone owner/repository

Motivation: When working on multiple repositories with similar labeling requirements, it can be time-consuming to manually recreate the same labels. This use case allows the cloning of labels from another repository, saving time and ensuring consistency across projects.

Explanation:

• gh label clone: This command clones labels from another repository.
• owner/repository: The specific repository to clone the labels from.

Use case 7: Display help for a subcommand

Code:

gh label subcommand --help

Motivation: When using a command line tool, it is important to have access to the documentation and help information. This use case retrieves the help documentation for a specific subcommand of the “gh label” command.

Explanation:

• gh label subcommand: The specific subcommand for which help is requested.
• --help: This flag displays the help information for the given subcommand.

Conclusion

The “gh label” command provides a convenient way to work with labels in GitHub repositories through the command line. With its various subcommands, users can manage labels, create new ones, update their properties, and clone them between repositories. By leveraging the “gh label” command, repository maintainers and contributors can effectively categorize and organize issues and pull requests, improving the overall workflow and collaboration experience.