How to use the command 'gh repo' (with examples)

The gh repo command is a powerful tool provided by the GitHub CLI that allows developers and users to work with GitHub repositories directly from the terminal. It streamlines the process of creating, cloning, forking, and managing repositories, integrating seamlessly with GitHub’s services. This tool significantly enhances productivity by eliminating the need to switch between the command line and web browser for various tasks related to repositories.

Create a new repository (with examples)

Code:

gh repo create name

Motivation: Creating a new repository on GitHub often marks the inception of a new project. The gh repo create command allows you to set up a new repository swiftly from the terminal, laying the groundwork for collaboration, version control, and project management. This becomes particularly useful when you are still in the initial setup phase and wish to create a repository with minimal disruptions, directly aligning your development environment with your GitHub account.

Explanation:

• gh: This is the GitHub CLI command which you need to have installed.
• repo: This sub-command indicates that we are working with repositories.
• create: This is used to create a new repository.
• name: This is an optional argument where you specify the repository name. If omitted, the current directory’s name is used by default.

Example output:

✓ Created repository username/name on GitHub
✓ Added remote https://github.com/username/name.git

Clone a repository (with examples)

Code:

gh repo clone owner/repository

Motivation: Cloning a repository is an essential task for developers who need to contribute to or work on existing projects. It allows you to have a local copy of a repository, enabling you to modify code, test changes, and push updates. The gh repo clone command simplifies the traditional cloning process by integrating seamlessly with GitHub, thus saving you time.

Explanation:

• gh: The GitHub CLI command.
• repo: Indicates repository operations.
• clone: This sub-command is used to clone a repository to your local machine.
• owner/repository: Specifies the namespace and the repository name you want to clone.

Example output:

Cloning into 'repository'...
remote: Enumerating objects: 10, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (10/10), done.

Fork and clone a repository (with examples)

Code:

gh repo fork owner/repository --clone

Motivation: The fork and clone process is essential for contributing to open-source projects. Forking creates a personal copy of someone else’s repository, which you can freely experiment with without affecting the original project. Using the --clone flag, the gh repo fork command automatically clones the fork to your local machine, which is beneficial for quick setup and contribution initiation.

Explanation:

• gh: The GitHub CLI command.
• repo: Work with repositories on GitHub.
• fork: Creates a fork of the given repository.
• owner/repository: Specifies the repository to fork.
• --clone: This optional flag automatically clones the forked repository to your local machine.

Example output:

✓ Forked username/repository to your-username/repository
✓ Cloned fork to local directory: 'repository'

View a repository in the default web browser (with examples)

Code:

gh repo view repository --web

Motivation: Viewing a repository in a web browser gives you access to a plethora of information including issue tracking, pull requests, actions, and more, which you might not fully engage with from the terminal. Using gh repo view --web helps to transition seamlessly from command line to web view, making it quicker to check documentation, readmes, and other important resources available on the GitHub platform.

Explanation:

• gh: The GitHub CLI command.
• repo: Designates repository operations.
• view: Access detailed information about the repository.
• repository: The name of the repository you want to view.
• --web: An option to open the repository page in the default browser.

Example output:

Opening github.com/owner/repository in your browser...

List repositories owned by a specific user or organization (with examples)

Code:

gh repo list owner

Motivation: Listing repositories belonging to a specific user or organization can provide a quick overview of available projects, simplify management tasks, and support easier navigation through multiple repositories. This command is particularly beneficial for project managers or developers managing multiple projects who need a clear snapshot of all available workspaces under a certain user or group.

Explanation:

• gh: The GitHub CLI command.
• repo: This sets that we are working with repositories.
• list: Used to list all repositories.
• owner: Specifies the GitHub user or organization whose repositories you want to list.

Example output:

repo_1
repo_2
repo_3
...

List only non-fork repositories and limit the number of repositories to list (with examples)

Code:

gh repo list owner --source -L limit

Motivation: Sometimes, users are interested in only the original repositories rather than forks. Forks are typically copies meant for experimentation or collaboration, and when seeking specific data, filtering them out can be beneficial. The -L limit is used to avoid information overload by restricting the output to a certain number of entries, helping you focus on key repositories.

Explanation:

• gh: The GitHub CLI tool.
• repo: Command group for repository operations.
• list: This sub-command lists repositories.
• owner: Identifies whose repositories to list.
• --source: Filters out repositories that are forks.
• -L limit: Limits the output to the specified number of repositories.

Example output:

original_repo_1
original_repo_2
...

List repositories with a specific primary coding language (with examples)

Code:

gh repo list owner --language language_name

Motivation: Developers often have preferences for programming languages they work in or need to find repositories using a specific language for collaboration or study purposes. The ability to filter repositories by primary language helps in quickly pinpointing relevant projects, streamlining the search process to suit your programming needs or interests.

Explanation:

• gh: GitHub CLI utility.
• repo: A sub-command group for dealing with repositories.
• list: Lists all repositories based on criteria.
• owner: Denotes whose repositories to list.
• --language language_name: Outputs repositories primarily using the specified language.

Example output:

JavaScript_repo_1
JavaScript_repo_2
...

Conclusion:

The gh repo command offers a comprehensive suite of functionalities that facilitate efficient interaction with GitHub repositories from the command line. By leveraging this command, developers and users can enhance their workflow, reduce context switching, and utilize GitHub’s resources more effectively. Whether you’re starting a new project, contributing to an existing one, or managing multiple repositories, the gh repo command provides streamlined solutions to meet a wide range of requirements.