GitHub is a popular platform for version control and collaboration among software developers. It provides a web-based interface for managing repositories, pull requests, issues, and more. However, there are times when it would be more convenient to interact with GitHub directly from the command line, especially for developers who prefer working in a terminal environment. That’s where GitHub CLI, or gh, comes in – it’s GitHub’s official command line tool that brings the power of GitHub to your shell.

In this article, we will guide you through the installation process of the gh command line tool on different operating systems. We will cover macOS, Windows, and Linux, providing step-by-step instructions for each platform. Whether you are a professional developer or a beginner, gh can help streamline your workflow and make interacting with GitHub more efficient.

Key takeaways

• GitHub CLI, or gh, is a command line tool that brings the functionality of GitHub to the terminal.
• gh allows you to perform various GitHub actions such as creating repositories, managing pull requests, and interacting with issues.
• The tool is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux, and can be installed using different package managers or as a downloadable binary.
• gh is designed to enhance your GitHub workflow and provide a convenient way to work with GitHub repositories and other features without leaving the command line.

A declarative answer to the question “How to install the gh command line tool?”

To install the gh command line tool, you can use various methods depending on your operating system:

• On macOS, you can install gh using Homebrew, MacPorts, Conda, Spack, or by downloading the binary from the releases page.
• On Linux and BSD systems, you can install gh using package managers like Homebrew, MacPorts, Conda, Spack, or by downloading the binary.
• On Windows, you can install gh using WinGet, scoop, Chocolatey, Conda, or by downloading the MSI installer.

We will now provide step-by-step instructions for each operating system.

Installing gh on macOS

If you are using macOS, you have multiple options for installing the gh command line tool. You can choose the method that suits your existing package management setup.

Using Homebrew

If you have Homebrew installed, you can install gh by running the following command in your terminal:

brew install gh

Using MacPorts

If you prefer using MacPorts, you can install gh by running the following command:

sudo port install gh

Using Conda

To install gh using Conda, use the following command:

conda install gh

Using Spack

If you are using Spack, you can install gh by running the following command:

spack install gh

Downloading the binary

If you prefer not to use a package manager, you can download the latest binary of gh from the releases page on GitHub. Once downloaded, you can add the binary to your PATH to make gh accessible from anywhere in the terminal.

Installing gh on Linux and BSD

On Linux and BSD systems, you can also choose from several installation methods for the gh command line tool. Here are the options available to you:

Using package managers

If you are using a package manager like apt or yum, you can install gh using the appropriate package manager command. For example, on Ubuntu or Debian-based systems, you can use the following command:

sudo apt install gh

On Fedora or CentOS systems, you can use the following command:

sudo yum install gh

Downloading the binary

Alternatively, you can download the binary of gh from the releases page on GitHub. Choose the appropriate binary for your architecture and distribution, and then add the binary to your PATH to make gh accessible from anywhere in the terminal.

Installing gh on Windows

If you are a Windows user, you have several options for installing the gh command line tool. Here are the available methods:

Using Winget

Winget is the built-in package manager for Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems. To install gh using Winget, open a PowerShell or Command Prompt window and run the following command:

winget install gh

Using Chocolatey

Chocolatey is a popular package manager for Windows systems. If you have Chocolatey installed, you can install gh by running the following command:

choco install gh

Using Conda

If you use Conda as your package manager, you can install gh by running the following command:

conda install gh

Downloading the MSI installer

Finally, you can download the MSI installer for gh from the releases page on GitHub. Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Configuration and authentication

Once you have installed the gh command line tool, you will need to authenticate with your GitHub account before you can start using it. The authentication process is necessary to access your repositories, pull requests, and other GitHub features from the command line.

To authenticate, simply run the following command in your terminal:

gh auth login

This command will open a browser window where you can authenticate with your GitHub account. Once authenticated, gh will store the authentication token internally, allowing you to interact with GitHub without further authentication.

If you prefer not to authenticate via the browser, you can also authenticate by reading the token from a file. This method is useful for continuous integration environments or headless systems where browser authentication is not possible.

Additional features and usage

Once you have installed and authenticated gh, you can start using it to interact with GitHub from the command line. The gh command line tool provides a wide range of functionality, allowing you to perform actions such as:

• Creating and managing repositories
• Viewing and modifying pull requests and issues
• Running and managing GitHub Actions
• Launching codespaces
• Managing gists
• And much more

To explore the full range of gh commands and examples, you can refer to the official manual.

Who is GitHub CLI for?

GitHub CLI, or gh, is suitable for both professional developers and beginners who work with GitHub repositories and want to enhance their productivity from the command line. Whether you prefer the terminal environment, need to automate GitHub actions, or simply want a more streamlined workflow, gh can help simplify your interactions with GitHub.

For professionals, gh allows you to script and customize actions by calling the GitHub API and setting custom aliases for commands. This flexibility enables you to integrate GitHub into your automated workflows and customize gh to your specific needs.

For beginners, gh provides a user-friendly command line interface that simplifies common GitHub tasks and reduces the need for context switching between the terminal and the web interface. With gh, you can create and manage repositories, submit pull requests, and interact with issues without leaving your terminal.

Conclusion

GitHub CLI, or gh, is a powerful command line tool that brings GitHub functionality to your terminal. By installing gh on your operating system of choice – whether it is macOS, Windows, or Linux – you can enhance your GitHub workflow, automate actions, and streamline your development process.

In this article, we provided step-by-step instructions for installing the gh command line tool on different operating systems using various methods. We also touched on authentication and highlighted some of the features and benefits of using gh.

Now that you have gh installed, take some time to explore its capabilities and integrate it into your development workflow. With gh, you can get the best of GitHub directly from the command line, making your development process more efficient and enjoyable.

Key takeaways:

• GitHub CLI, or gh, is GitHub’s official command line tool that brings GitHub functionality to the terminal.
• gh can be installed on macOS, Windows, and Linux using package managers, such as Homebrew, WinGet, apt, and Chocolatey, or by downloading the binary.
• Authentication is required to use gh, and it can be done through a browser or by reading an authentication token from a file.
• gh provides a wide range of functionality, allowing users to create and manage repositories, work with pull requests and issues, run and manage GitHub Actions, and more.
• gh is suitable for both professional developers and beginners, providing enhanced productivity and a streamlined workflow for working with GitHub repositories from the command line.

Now that you have learned how to install the gh command line tool, it’s time to take your GitHub workflow to the next level. Install gh and explore its features to discover how it can make your development process more efficient and enjoyable.