github-search

// Search GitHub for repos, code, and usage examples using gh CLI. Capabilities: repo discovery, code search, finding library usage patterns, issue/PR search. Actions: search, find, discover repos/code/examples. Keywords: gh, github, search repos, search code, find examples, how to use library, stars,

$ git log --oneline --stat

stars:12

forks:2

updated:February 13, 2026

SKILL.mdreadonly

SKILL.md Frontmatter

namegithub-search

descriptionSearch GitHub for repos, code, and usage examples using gh CLI. Capabilities: repo discovery, code search, finding library usage patterns, issue/PR search. Actions: search, find, discover repos/code/examples. Keywords: gh, github, search repos, search code, find examples, how to use library, stars, language filter. Use when: finding repositories, searching code patterns, discovering how libraries are used, exploring open source.

allowed-toolsBash, Read

GitHub Search

Quick Commands

Goal	Command
Search repos	`gh search repos "<query>" --limit 30`
Search code	`gh search code "<query>" --limit 30`
Search issues	`gh search issues "<query>" --limit 30`
Search PRs	`gh search prs "<query>" --limit 30`

Direct API Search (Web-Exact Results)

For complex queries where gh search repos gives different results than web:

# Template - URL-encodes query automatically
gh api "search/repositories?q=$(printf '%s' 'YOUR_QUERY_HERE' | jq -sRr @uri)&sort=updated&per_page=30" --jq '.items[].full_name'

Example - Multi-language with exclusions:

gh api "search/repositories?q=$(printf '%s' 'stars:>500 language:rust language:go language:TypeScript language:javascript -topic:ethereum -topic:cryptocurrency -topic:blockchain -topic:bitcoin -topic:web3' | jq -sRr @uri)&sort=updated&per_page=10" --jq '.items[].full_name'

Why use this?

gh search repos is a convenience wrapper with its own query parsing
gh api search/repositories hits the raw API, matching web behavior exactly
Required when combining: multiple languages + topic exclusions + star filters

Common jq extractions:

Output	jq filter
Names only	`--jq '.items[].name'`
Full names	`--jq '.items[].full_name'`
With stars	`--jq '.items[] \| "\(.full_name) ⭐\(.stargazers_count)"'`
URLs	`--jq '.items[].html_url'`
Full JSON	(omit --jq)

Patterns

Finding Repositories

When you see: User wants to find projects/repos by criteria Use: gh search repos

# Basic search with stars
gh search repos "stars:>500 language:rust" --sort=stars --limit=50

# Multiple languages (OR logic)
gh search repos "language:rust language:go language:typescript"

# Exclude topics
gh search repos "stars:>1000 -topic:cryptocurrency -topic:blockchain"

# By topic
gh search repos "topic:cli topic:terminal stars:>100"

# Recently updated
gh search repos "language:python pushed:>2024-01-01"

Output formats:

--json name,url,description,stargazersCount  # JSON output
--web                                         # Open in browser

Finding Code Examples

When you see: User wants to know how to use a library Use: gh search code

# Find usage patterns
gh search code "from zod import" --limit=20
gh search code "import { z } from 'zod'" --limit=20

# In specific file types
gh search code "useQuery" extension:tsx --limit=30

# In specific paths
gh search code "tanstack/query" path:src/ extension:ts

# Exact phrase
gh search code '"createTRPCRouter"' extension:ts

Pro tip: Combine with repo filter for focused results:

gh search code "pattern" repo:owner/repo

Finding Issues/Discussions

When you see: User looking for bug reports, feature requests, or discussions Use: gh search issues or gh search prs

# Open issues with label
gh search issues "is:open label:bug repo:facebook/react"

# PRs by author
gh search prs "author:username is:merged"

# Issues mentioning error
gh search issues '"connection refused" language:go'

Query Qualifiers Reference

Repo Search

Qualifier	Example	Description
`stars:`	`stars:>1000`, `stars:100..500`	Star count
`forks:`	`forks:>100`	Fork count
`language:`	`language:rust`	Primary language
`topic:`	`topic:cli`	Repository topic
`-topic:`	`-topic:blockchain`	Exclude topic
`pushed:`	`pushed:>2024-01-01`	Last push date
`created:`	`created:>2023-01-01`	Creation date
`license:`	`license:mit`	License type
`archived:`	`archived:false`	Archive status
`is:`	`is:public`, `is:private`	Visibility

Code Search

Qualifier	Example	Description
`extension:`	`extension:ts`	File extension
`path:`	`path:src/`	File path
`repo:`	`repo:owner/name`	Specific repo
`language:`	`language:javascript`	Code language
`filename:`	`filename:package.json`	File name

Common Flags

Flag	Description
`--limit N`	Number of results (max 1000)
`--sort X`	Sort by: stars, forks, updated, best-match
`--order X`	asc or desc
`--json FIELDS`	JSON output with specific fields
`--web`	Open results in browser

Common Use Cases

"Find popular X repos"

gh search repos "language:X stars:>500" --sort=stars --limit=50

"How do people use library Y"

gh search code "import Y" extension:ts --limit=30
gh search code "from Y import" extension:py --limit=30

"Find repos like Z but exclude crypto"

gh search repos "topic:Z -topic:cryptocurrency -topic:blockchain -topic:web3"

"Find recent active projects"

gh search repos "language:go pushed:>2024-06-01 stars:>100" --sort=updated

Tips

Quote the query when it contains special chars: gh search repos "stars:>500"
Multiple languages = OR: language:rust language:go matches either
Use --json for scripting: --json name,url,stargazersCount
Date ranges: pushed:2024-01-01..2024-06-01
Numeric ranges: stars:100..500
Use gh api for complex queries: When gh search repos gives unexpected results, use gh api search/repositories?q=... for exact web parity