github-kb

What This Skill Does

The github-kb skill is a powerful automation tool for OpenClaw that bridges your local file system with the vast ecosystem of GitHub. It serves two primary functions: maintaining a local knowledge base (KB) using a cataloged file structure (GITHUB_KB.md) and executing remote queries against GitHub's infrastructure using the GitHub CLI (gh). By providing a structured way to track repositories, issues, and pull requests, it enables AI agents to assist with code exploration, project tracking, and complex software development workflows directly within your development environment.

Installation

To install this skill, use the OpenClaw CLI command: clawhub install openclaw/skills/skills/jameschan21/github-kb. Ensure the GitHub CLI (gh) is installed on your machine (brew install gh for macOS, apt install gh for Linux, or winget install GitHub.cli for Windows). Once installed, authenticate with GitHub via gh auth login. It is recommended to set the GITHUB_KB_PATH environment variable to your preferred directory to manage your local catalog effectively.

Use Cases

• Project Discovery: Quickly search for open-source libraries or internal company projects that match specific tags or languages.
• Workflow Management: Track active development progress by searching for open pull requests and assigned issues across multiple repositories.
• Contextual Awareness: Keep a local markdown index of repositories you frequently interact with, allowing the agent to provide accurate, context-aware answers about your codebase architecture.
• Security & Maintenance: Identify bugs or stale issues in your dependencies by using targeted search queries with filters for labels and state.

Example Prompts

1. "Check the current status of all open pull requests in the openclaw/skills repository and summarize the changes."
2. "Search for the top 5 most starred TypeScript projects related to 'mcp' and add them to my local GITHUB_KB.md file."
3. "List all open issues with the 'bug' label in the react repository and provide a summary of the most recently commented ones."

Tips & Limitations

• Token Security: Always prioritize security by using environment variables (GITHUB_TOKEN) for authentication rather than hardcoding credentials into scripts or config files.
• Dependency Requirement: The skill heavily relies on the local availability of the gh binary. If the agent reports failures, confirm that the gh command is available in your shell path.
• Scope: While the skill is excellent for searching and documentation, it cannot perform write actions (like committing code) unless additional skill integrations are configured. Always verify if the environment is authenticated to handle private repository data before executing searches.