Installing the GitHub Skill from ClawHub
Explore how to install the GitHub skill on OpenClaw using chat commands, CLI, or repository links. Understand the authentication process, the skill's capabilities via the gh CLI, and best practices for managing read and write access. Gain the ability to connect your agent to GitHub for automating pull requests, issues, and workflows while maintaining control and security.
Earlier, we discussed how the OpenClaw skill system operates, using a lazy-loading pattern in which names and one-line descriptions populate the system prompt, while full instructions are fetched only when the agent requires them. GitHub integration serves as an ideal case study for this design. There is no plugin to configure, no manifest to paste, and no need to generate tokens manually. You simply install the skill, authenticate once via OAuth if required, and your agent can interact with GitHub as a built-in tool.
This lesson walks through the installation and authentication process, explores the capabilities available after connecting, and explains how to navigate the read-write boundary responsibly.
What is the GitHub skill and how does it work?
The GitHub skill is available on ClawHub and must be installed before your agent can use it. Once enabled, it grants your agent access to GitHub via the gh CLI, which is GitHub’s official command line tool. When you ask your agent a question such as “show me open PRs in my repo,” it reads the GitHub skill’s instructions on demand, determines the correct gh command to execute, and returns the result to ...