gh-search

gh-search

Inspect and search remote Git repos locally. Supports GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Codeberg. Repos are automatically shallow-cloned in the background whenever a supported URL is fetched or a gh api/gh repo view command targets a repo. This skill handles explicit searches, file inspection, and cache management.

IMPORTANT: Do not use remote access for cached repos

When a tool is denied because a repo is cached locally, DO NOT:

• Navigate to the repo in a browser (Chrome tools)
• Use alternative URLs or API endpoints
• Use WebFetch with a different URL format
• Use curl, wget, or any other remote access method

Instead, use Read/Grep/Glob on the local path provided in the deny message. The local clone has the full repo contents.

Always check local cache first

Before using WebFetch, gh api, or gh repo view to inspect a remote repo, check if it's cached:

bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/gh-cache.sh" --list

If cached, use Grep, Read, and Glob tools directly on local path — faster, zero HTTP overhead, full file contents (no API pagination).

Ensure a repo is cloned (sync)

# From URL (any supported host)
bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/gh-cache.sh" https://github.com/owner/repo
bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/gh-cache.sh" https://gitlab.com/owner/repo
bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/gh-cache.sh" https://bitbucket.org/owner/repo

# From owner/repo (defaults to GitHub)
bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/gh-cache.sh" owner/repo

# Specific branch
bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/gh-cache.sh" owner/repo --branch develop

# Returns local repo root path on stdout

Inspect remote files locally

Instead of gh api repos/owner/repo/contents/path or gh api repos/owner/repo/git/trees/..., clone the repo and use local tools:

# Clone first (if not cached)
LOCAL=$(bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/gh-cache.sh" owner/repo)

# Then use Read, Grep, Glob directly
Read "$LOCAL/src/main/java/com/example/Router.java"
Grep "pattern" "$LOCAL"
Glob "**/*.ts" "$LOCAL"

Benefits over gh api:

• No pagination limits
• Full file contents (gh api base64-encodes and truncates large files)
• Can search across entire repo with Grep
• Works with Glob for file discovery

Search a repo locally

rg "pattern" /var/tmp/yolabingo-ai-skills-gh-intercept-repo-dir/YYYY-MM-DD/github__owner__repo/

# File-only list
rg -l "pattern" /var/tmp/yolabingo-ai-skills-gh-intercept-repo-dir/YYYY-MM-DD/github__owner__repo/

# Type filter
rg --type java "ClassName" /var/tmp/yolabingo-ai-skills-gh-intercept-repo-dir/YYYY-MM-DD/gitlab__owner__repo/

Cache management

# List all cached repos with last-used date
bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/gh-cache.sh" --list

# Remove a specific repo
bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/gh-cache.sh" --evict owner/repo

Repos not accessed for more than one month are pruned automatically after each sync operation.

Cache layout

/var/tmp/yolabingo-ai-skills-gh-intercept-repo-dir/
  2026-04-15/          <- last-used date (moved here on access)
    github__dotcms__core/
    gitlab__owner__repo/
  2026-03-10/          <- older entries, will be pruned after 1 month
    bitbucket__owner__repo/

Slug format

Host, owner, and repo joined with __: github.com/dotcms/core -> github__dotcms__core, gitlab.com/org/project -> gitlab__org__project

How interception works

WebFetch — PostToolUse hook fires on any supported Git host URL (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Codeberg), starts git clone --depth 1 in background. PreToolUse hook checks cache and suggests local path.

Bash (gh api / gh repo view) — Same pattern. PostToolUse detects gh api repos/... or gh repo view owner/repo commands and triggers background clone. PreToolUse surfaces local cache path if available.

A .cloning sentinel file is written during clone and removed on completion. Next time you need to inspect that repo, it's already local.