An opinionated Bash CLI for streamlined Git and GitHub workflows.

github-cli is a lightweight developer utility built for fast, repeatable repository operations. It wraps a focused set of Git and GitHub CLI tasks behind a small command surface: inspect a repository, create a GitHub repo from the current directory, clone a repo into a push-ready state, stage and push all changes, or intentionally reset a branch history when needed.

The project is intentionally simple in form and practical in use: one readable shell script, minimal setup, and behavior designed around everyday developer workflows.

• Single-file Bash implementation with no framework overhead
• Clean command interface for common Git and GitHub operations
• Native gh integration for repository creation and cloning
• Automatic .gitignore synchronization for previously tracked ignored files
• Interactive confirmation before destructive or remote-changing actions
• Push-ready clone flow that attempts to align local and remote branch state
• Small enough to audit quickly, useful enough to keep in a daily toolbelt

Many Git actions are individually simple but repetitive in practice. github-cli reduces that friction by providing a compact, opinionated wrapper around the commands developers run most often when starting, cloning, updating, and occasionally resetting repositories.

The goal is not to replace Git. The goal is to make a small set of high-frequency workflows faster, clearer, and safer.

• bash
• git
• gh for create and clone
• A valid gh auth login session for repository creation

Clone the repository and make the script executable:

chmod +x github.sh
./github.sh help

For a cleaner command name, symlink it into your PATH:

ln -sf "$(pwd)/github.sh" ~/.local/bin/github
github help

If you do not create a symlink, use ./github.sh in the examples below.

Inspect the current repository:

github list

Create a new private repository from the current directory:

github create "A lightweight shell utility for GitHub workflows"

Clone a repository and prepare it for follow-up pushes:

github clone owner/repo

Stage everything, create a commit, and push:

github push -m "feat: improve repository bootstrap flow"

Reset a branch to a fresh single-commit history:

github wipe -m "reset repository history"

Displays the current repository context and working tree state.

github list

What it shows:

• Repository name
• Repository path
• Current branch
• origin remote URL
• git status --short output

Creates a GitHub repository from the current directory.

github create "My shell utility"
github create --public "My public project"
github create --private --description "Internal tooling repository"

Behavior:

• Initializes Git if the current directory is not already a repository
• Ensures the active branch is main
• Creates an initial commit if the repository has no commits yet
• Uses the directory name as the repository name
• Configures origin automatically when creating the remote repository
• Skips remote creation if origin already exists
• Does not push automatically after repository creation

Clones a repository through GitHub CLI and attempts to leave it in a push-ready state.

github clone owner/repo
github clone owner/repo local-directory
github clone owner/repo -u upstream
github clone owner/repo -- --depth=1

Behavior:

• Uses gh repo clone
• Supports passing clone flags through to git clone
• Detects the default branch under origin
• Checks out a usable local branch when necessary
• Configures upstream tracking when possible

Stages all changes, creates a commit if needed, and pushes to the target branch after confirmation.

github push
github push "docs: refresh README"
github push -m "feat: add repository create flow"
github push --branch release
github push --force -m "chore: rewrite release branch"

Behavior:

• Requires a Git repository and an origin remote
• Refuses to run from a detached HEAD
• Applies .gitignore rules to already tracked ignored files
• Stages all changes with git add -A
• Uses Committed By bucksh0t as the default commit message
• Shows repository status and a staged diff summary before pushing
• Prompts for explicit confirmation before the remote update
• Supports pushing to the current branch or an alternate target branch

Replaces the history of a target branch with a new orphan-based root commit and force-pushes it.

github wipe
github wipe "fresh start"
github wipe --branch develop
github wipe -m "reset repository"

Behavior:

• Targets main by default
• Creates a new orphan branch as a clean history root
• Commits the current staged project state as a single commit
• Force-pushes the result to the selected remote branch
• Uses Wiped By bucksh0t as the default commit message
• Prompts before performing the destructive remote update

• Keep the tool small and readable
• Prefer explicit behavior over hidden automation
• Make destructive actions obvious
• Optimize for local developer productivity

• push and wipe are interactive by design and expect terminal confirmation
• create and clone require the GitHub CLI to be installed
• The tool is intentionally opinionated around a main-based workflow
• The current implementation is purposefully compact and focused on shell-based developer tooling