github-automation skill

---
name: github-automation
description: Automate GitHub repositories, issues, pull requests, branches, CI/CD, and permissions via Rube MCP (Composio). Manage code workflows, review PRs, search code, and handle deployments programmatically.
requires:
  mcp: [rube]
---

# GitHub Automation via Rube MCP

Automate GitHub repository management, issue tracking, pull request workflows, branch operations, and CI/CD through Composio's GitHub toolkit.

**Toolkit docs**: [composio.dev/toolkits/github](https://composio.dev/toolkits/github)

## Prerequisites

- Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)
- Active GitHub connection via `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `github`
- Always call `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` first to get current tool schemas

## Setup

**Get Rube MCP**: Add `https://rube.app/mcp` as an MCP server in your client configuration. No API keys needed — just add the endpoint and it works.


1. Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming `RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS` responds
2. Call `RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS` with toolkit `github`
3. If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete GitHub OAuth
4. Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows

## Core Workflows

### 1. Create and Manage Issues

**When to use**: User wants to create, list, or manage GitHub issues

**Tool sequence**:
1. `GITHUB_LIST_REPOSITORIES_FOR_THE_AUTHENTICATED_USER` - Find target repo if unknown [Prerequisite]
2. `GITHUB_LIST_REPOSITORY_ISSUES` - List existing issues (includes PRs) [Required]
3. `GITHUB_CREATE_AN_ISSUE` - Create a new issue [Required]
4. `GITHUB_CREATE_AN_ISSUE_COMMENT` - Add comments to an issue [Optional]
5. `GITHUB_SEARCH_ISSUES_AND_PULL_REQUESTS` - Search across repos by keyword [Optional]

**Key parameters**:
- `owner`: Repository owner (username or org), case-insensitive
- `repo`: Repository name without .git extension
- `title`: Issue title (required for creation)
- `body`: Issue description (supports Markdown)
- `labels`: Array of label names
- `assignees`: Array of GitHub usernames
- `state`: 'open', 'closed', or 'all' for filtering

**Pitfalls**:
- `GITHUB_LIST_REPOSITORY_ISSUES` returns both issues AND pull requests; check `pull_request` field to distinguish
- Only users with push access can set assignees, labels, and milestones; they are silently dropped otherwise
- Pagination: `per_page` max 100; iterate pages until empty

### 2. Manage Pull Requests

**When to use**: User wants to create, review, or merge pull requests

**Tool sequence**:
1. `GITHUB_FIND_PULL_REQUESTS` - Search and filter PRs [Required]
2. `GITHUB_GET_A_PULL_REQUEST` - Get detailed PR info including mergeable status [Required]
3. `GITHUB_LIST_PULL_REQUESTS_FILES` - Review changed files [Optional]
4. `GITHUB_CREATE_A_PULL_REQUEST` - Create a new PR [Required]
5. `GITHUB_CREATE_AN_ISSUE_COMMENT` - Post review comments [Optional]
6. `GITHUB_LIST_CHECK_RUNS_FOR_A_REF` - Verify CI status before merge [Optional]
7. `GITHUB_MERGE_A_PULL_REQUEST` - Merge after explicit user approval [Required]

**Key parameters**:
- `head`: Source branch with changes (must exist; for cross-repo: 'username:branch')
- `base`: Target branch to merge into (e.g., 'main')
- `title`: PR title (required unless `issue` number provided)
- `merge_method`: 'merge', 'squash', or 'rebase'
- `state`: 'open', 'closed', or 'all'

**Pitfalls**:
- `GITHUB_CREATE_A_PULL_REQUEST` fails with 422 if base/head are invalid, identical, or already merged
- `GITHUB_MERGE_A_PULL_REQUEST` can be rejected if PR is draft, closed, or branch protection applies
- Always verify mergeable status with `GITHUB_GET_A_PULL_REQUEST` immediately before merging
- Require explicit user confirmation before calling MERGE

### 3. Manage Repositories and Branches

**When to use**: User wants to create repos, manage branches, or update repo settings

**Tool sequence**:
1. `GITHUB_LIST_REPOSITORIES_FOR_THE_AUTHENTICATED_USER` - List user's repos [Required]
2. `GITHUB_GET_A_REPOSITORY` - Get detailed repo info [Optional]
3. `GITHUB_CREATE_A_REPOSITORY_FOR_THE_AUTHENTICATED_USER` - Create personal repo [Required]
4. `GITHUB_CREATE_AN_ORGANIZATION_REPOSITORY` - Create org repo [Alternative]
5. `GITHUB_LIST_BRANCHES` - List branches [Required]
6. `GITHUB_CREATE_A_REFERENCE` - Create new branch from SHA [Required]
7. `GITHUB_UPDATE_A_REPOSITORY` - Update repo settings [Optional]

**Key parameters**:
- `name`: Repository name
- `private`: Boolean for visibility
- `ref`: Full reference path (e.g., 'refs/heads/new-branch')
- `sha`: Commit SHA to point the new reference to
- `default_branch`: Default branch name

**Pitfalls**:
- `GITHUB_CREATE_A_REFERENCE` only creates NEW references; use `GITHUB_UPDATE_A_REFERENCE` for existing ones
- `ref` must start with 'refs/' and contain at least two slashes
- `GITHUB_LIST_BRANCHES` paginates via `page`/`per_page`; iterate until empty page
- `GITHUB_DELETE_A_REPOSITORY` is permanent and irreversible; requires admin privileges

### 4. Search Code and Commits

**When to use**: User wants to find code, files, or commits across repositories

**Tool sequence**:
1. `GITHUB_SEARCH_CODE` - Search file contents and paths [Required]
2. `GITHUB_SEARCH_CODE_ALL_PAGES` - Multi-page code search [Alternative]
3. `GITHUB_SEARCH_COMMITS_BY_AUTHOR` - Search commits by author/date/org [Required]
4. `GITHUB_LIST_COMMITS` - List commits for a specific repo [Alternative]
5. `GITHUB_GET_A_COMMIT` - Get detailed commit info [Optional]
6. `GITHUB_GET_REPOSITORY_CONTENT` - Get file content [Optional]

**Key parameters**:
- `q`: Search query with qualifiers (`language:python`, `repo:owner/repo`, `extension:js`)
- `owner`/`repo`: For repo-specific commit listing
- `author`: Filter by commit author
- `since`/`until`: ISO 8601 date range for commits

**Pitfalls**:
- Code search only indexes files under 384KB on default branch
- Maximum 1000 results returned from code search
- `GITHUB_SEARCH_COMMITS_BY_AUTHOR` requires keywords in addition to qualifiers; qualifier-only queries are not allowed
- `GITHUB_LIST_COMMITS` returns 409 on empty repos

### 5. Manage CI/CD and Deployments

**When to use**: User wants to view workflows, check CI status, or manage deployments

**Tool sequence**:
1. `GITHUB_LIST_REPOSITORY_WORKFLOWS` - List GitHub Actions workflows [Required]
2. `GITHUB_GET_A_WORKFLOW` - Get workflow details by ID or filename [Optional]
3. `GITHUB_CREATE_A_WORKFLOW_DISPATCH_EVENT` - Manually trigger a workflow [Required]
4. `GITHUB_LIST_CHECK_RUNS_FOR_A_REF` - Check CI status for a commit/branch [Required]
5. `GITHUB_LIST_DEPLOYMENTS` - List deployments [Optional]
6. `GITHUB_GET_A_DEPLOYMENT_STATUS` - Get deployment status [Optional]

**Key parameters**:
- `workflow_id`: Numeric ID or filename (e.g., 'ci.yml')
- `ref`: Git reference (branch/tag) for workflow dispatch
- `inputs`: JSON string of workflow inputs matching `on.workflow_dispatch.inputs`
- `environment`: Filter deployments by environment name

**Pitfalls**:
- `GITHUB_CREATE_A_WORKFLOW_DISPATCH_EVENT` requires the workflow to have `workflow_dispatch` trigger configured
- Full path `.github/workflows/main.yml` is auto-stripped to just `main.yml`
- Inputs max 10 key-value pairs; must match workflow's `on.workflow_dispatch.inputs` definitions

### 6. Manage Users and Permissions

**When to use**: User wants to check collaborators, permissions, or branch protection

**Tool sequence**:
1. `GITHUB_LIST_REPOSITORY_COLLABORATORS` - List repo collaborators [Required]
2. `GITHUB_GET_REPOSITORY_PERMISSIONS_FOR_A_USER` - Check specific user's access [Optional]
3. `GITHUB_GET_BRANCH_PROTECTION` - Inspect branch protection rules [Required]
4. `GITHUB_UPDATE_BRANCH_PROTECTION` - Update protection settings [Optional]
5. `GITHUB_ADD_A_REPOSITORY_COLLABORATOR` - Add/update collaborator [Optional]

**Key parameters**:
- `affiliation`: 'outside', 'direct', or 'all' for collaborator filtering
- `permission`: Filter by 'pull', 'triage', 'push', 'maintain', 'admin'
- `branch`: Branch name for protection rules
- `enforce_admins`: Whether protection applies to admins

**Pitfalls**:
- `GITHUB_GET_BRANCH_PROTECTION` returns 404 for unprotected branches; treat as no protection rules
- Determine push ability from `permissions.push` or `role_name`, not display labels
- `GITHUB_LIST_REPOSITORY_COLLABORATORS` paginates; iterate all pages
- `GITHUB_GET_REPOSITORY_PERMISSIONS_FOR_A_USER` may be inconclusive for non-collaborators

## Common Patterns

### ID Resolution
- **Repo name -> owner/repo**: `GITHUB_LIST_REPOSITORIES_FOR_THE_AUTHENTICATED_USER`
- **PR number -> PR details**: `GITHUB_FIND_PULL_REQUESTS` then `GITHUB_GET_A_PULL_REQUEST`
- **Branch name -> SHA**: `GITHUB_GET_A_BRANCH`
- **Workflow name -> ID**: `GITHUB_LIST_REPOSITORY_WORKFLOWS`

### Pagination
All list endpoints use page-based pagination:
- `page`: Page number (starts at 1)
- `per_page`: Results per page (max 100)
- Iterate until response returns fewer results than `per_page`

### Safety
- Always verify PR mergeable status before merge
- Require explicit user confirmation for destructive operations (merge, delete)
- Check CI status with `GITHUB_LIST_CHECK_RUNS_FOR_A_REF` before merging

## Known Pitfalls

- **Issues vs PRs**: `GITHUB_LIST_REPOSITORY_ISSUES` returns both; check `pull_request` field
- **Pagination limits**: `per_page` max 100; always iterate pages until empty
- **Branch creation**: `GITHUB_CREATE_A_REFERENCE` fails with 422 if reference already exists
- **Merge guards**: Merge can fail due to branch protection, failing checks, or draft status
- **Code search limits**: Only files <384KB on default branch; max 1000 results
- **Commit search**: Requires search text keywords alongside qualifiers
- **Destructive actions**: Repo deletion is irreversible; merge cannot be undone
- **Silent permission drops**: Labels, assignees, milestones silently dropped without push access

## Quick Reference

| Task | Tool Slug | Key Params |
|------|-----------|------------|
| List repos | `GITHUB_LIST_REPOSITORIES_FOR_THE_AUTHENTICATED_USER` | `type`, `sort`, `per_page` |
| Get repo | `GITHUB_GET_A_REPOSITORY` | `owner`, `repo` |
| Create issue | `GITHUB_CREATE_AN_ISSUE` | `owner`, `repo`, `title`, `body` |
| List issues | `GITHUB_LIST_REPOSITORY_ISSUES` | `owner`, `repo`, `state` |
| Find PRs | `GITHUB_FIND_PULL_REQUESTS` | `repo`, `state`, `author` |
| Create PR | `GITHUB_CREATE_A_PULL_REQUEST` | `owner`, `repo`, `head`, `base`, `title` |
| Merge PR | `GITHUB_MERGE_A_PULL_REQUEST` | `owner`, `repo`, `pull_number`, `merge_method` |
| List branches | `GITHUB_LIST_BRANCHES` | `owner`, `repo` |
| Create branch | `GITHUB_CREATE_A_REFERENCE` | `owner`, `repo`, `ref`, `sha` |
| Search code | `GITHUB_SEARCH_CODE` | `q` |
| List commits | `GITHUB_LIST_COMMITS` | `owner`, `repo`, `author`, `since` |
| Search commits | `GITHUB_SEARCH_COMMITS_BY_AUTHOR` | `q` |
| List workflows | `GITHUB_LIST_REPOSITORY_WORKFLOWS` | `owner`, `repo` |
| Trigger workflow | `GITHUB_CREATE_A_WORKFLOW_DISPATCH_EVENT` | `owner`, `repo`, `workflow_id`, `ref` |
| Check CI | `GITHUB_LIST_CHECK_RUNS_FOR_A_REF` | `owner`, `repo`, ref |
| List collaborators | `GITHUB_LIST_REPOSITORY_COLLABORATORS` | `owner`, `repo` |
| Branch protection | `GITHUB_GET_BRANCH_PROTECTION` | `owner`, `repo`, `branch` |

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