feat(skills): list available skills when install runs non-interactively#13548
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Pull request overview
Changes gh skill install <repo> behavior so that running it non-interactively without a skill name now lists the discovered skills (via tableprinter, falling back to tab-separated output when piped) instead of erroring out. This improves discoverability and composes with Unix tools.
Changes:
- Replace the non-interactive "must specify a skill name" error with a new
listAvailableSkillshelper that prints skills usingtableprinter; a sentinelerrSkillsListedletsinstallRun/runLocalInstallexit cleanly. - Update long help text and add a piping example to reflect the new behavior.
- Replace the old "errors" test with a remote listing assertion and add an equivalent local-install listing test.
Show a summary per file
| File | Description |
|---|---|
| pkg/cmd/skills/install/install.go | Adds listAvailableSkills + errSkillsListed sentinel, swaps the non-interactive error path for listing, updates help text/example. |
| pkg/cmd/skills/install/install_test.go | Updates non-interactive remote test to verify listed output and adds an analogous local-install listing test. |
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Previously, running 'gh skill install <repo>' without a skill name in a non-interactive context returned an error. This made discovery awkward when piping or scripting: callers had to first run the command interactively to see what skills were available. Now, when no skill name is given and stdin/stdout is not a TTY, the discovered skills are printed as tab-separated 'SKILL\tDESCRIPTION' rows to stdout (matching the interactive picker contents) so they can be piped into grep, awk, fzf, etc. Re-running with a specific skill name performs the install as before. The same behavior applies to --from-local installs. Co-authored-by: Copilot <[email protected]>
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| if opts.IO.IsStdoutTTY() { | ||
| fmt.Fprintf(opts.IO.ErrOut, "Showing %s from %s. Re-run with a skill name to install.\n\n", | ||
| text.Pluralize(len(skills), "skill"), sel.sourceHint) | ||
| } |
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🤔 I don't think this could ever fire in practice because we check if we can prompt before calling listAvailableSkills
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| if !canPrompt { | ||
| return nil, cmdutil.FlagErrorf("must specify a skill name when not running interactively") | ||
| if err := listAvailableSkills(opts, skills, sel); err != nil { | ||
| return nil, err | ||
| } | ||
| return nil, errSkillsListed | ||
| } |
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If I were being nit-picky, I'd say this decision should be one level higher up the stack - that's not really something we're causing here, but we are deepening it by making a longer branch in the noninteractive case. I think the noninteractive branch is different enough that it would be more natural to see it diverge before entering a function whose name suggests that we're selecting stuff. It also would eliminate the need for a sentinel error; we'd just do a print and early return without falling into this function instead.
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LGTM, nothing blocking.
If we could clean some of my comments up in a follow up eventually, I think that'd help tear down a bit of tech debt for editing these flows in the future 🙌
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This MR contains the following updates: | Package | Update | Change | |---|---|---| | [cli/cli](https://github.com/cli/cli) | minor | `v2.94.0` → `v2.96.0` | MR created with the help of [el-capitano/tools/renovate-bot](https://gitlab.com/el-capitano/tools/renovate-bot). **Proposed changes to behavior should be submitted there as MRs.** --- ### Release Notes <details> <summary>cli/cli (cli/cli)</summary> ### [`v2.96.0`](https://github.com/cli/cli/releases/tag/v2.96.0): GitHub CLI 2.96.0 [Compare Source](cli/cli@v2.95.0...v2.96.0) #### Security A security vulnerability has been identified, and fixed, that could allow command execution on a user's computer when connecting to a malicious Codespace via `gh codespace jupyter`. Users of `gh codespace jupyter` are advised to update gh to version v2.96.0 as soon as possible. For more information see: <GHSA-8cg3-r6g9-fpg2> #### Download release assets without authentication `gh release download` now works against public repositories without authentication, matching `gh extension install`. A token is still used when one is present: ```shell # Download assets from a public repository, no login required gh release download v2.96.0 --repo cli/cli ``` #### What's Changed ##### ✨ Features - Allow `gh release download` without authentication on public repositories by [@​BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#​13723](cli/cli#13723) - Detect additional third-party coding agents by [@​BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#​13722](cli/cli#13722) - Support `antigravity-cli` and `antigravity2.0` in `gh skill` by [@​BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#​13784](cli/cli#13784) ##### 🐛 Fixes - fix: show checks summary when all checks were cancelled by [@​s3onghyun](https://github.com/s3onghyun) in [#​13679](cli/cli#13679) - fix(skills): install universal agent to `~/.agents/skills` by [@​toller892](https://github.com/toller892) in [#​13681](cli/cli#13681) - fix(skills): honor `--dir` without agent prompt by [@​happysnaker](https://github.com/happysnaker) in [#​13766](cli/cli#13766) - Fix concurrent map writes in codespace port forwarding by [@​williammartin](https://github.com/williammartin) in [#​13313](cli/cli#13313) - Use `int64` for GitHub database IDs by [@​williammartin](https://github.com/williammartin) in [#​13403](cli/cli#13403) ##### 📚 Docs & Chores - Pin reusable triage workflows to a commit SHA by [@​BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#​13705](cli/cli#13705) - Add security disclosure guidance to `AGENTS.md` by [@​BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#​13720](cli/cli#13720) - Clarify `--clone` boolean flag behaviour in `gh repo fork` help by [@​BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#​13786](cli/cli#13786) - Fix flaky `TestHuhPrompterMultiSelectWithSearchPersistence` on slow architectures by [@​pdostal](https://github.com/pdostal) in [#​13675](cli/cli#13675) - docs(search): add examples for multiple qualifiers by [@​happysnaker](https://github.com/happysnaker) in [#​13756](cli/cli#13756) - docs: fix broken anchor link in release-process-deep-dive by [@​patrickwehbe](https://github.com/patrickwehbe) in [#​13688](cli/cli#13688) - docs: fix broken install command and link/grammar errors by [@​patrickwehbe](https://github.com/patrickwehbe) in [#​13690](cli/cli#13690) - docs: fix duplicated word in primer README by [@​s3onghyun](https://github.com/s3onghyun) in [#​13677](cli/cli#13677) #####Dependencies - chore(deps): bump github.com/microsoft/dev-tunnels from 0.1.19 to 0.1.27 by [@​dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot) in [#​13708](cli/cli#13708) - chore(deps): bump actions/checkout from 6.0.3 to 7.0.0 by [@​dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot) in [#​13703](cli/cli#13703) - chore(deps): bump github.com/google/go-containerregistry from 0.21.6 to 0.21.7 by [@​dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot) in [#​13702](cli/cli#13702) - chore(deps): bump actions/setup-go from 6.4.0 to 6.5.0 by [@​dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot) in [#​13740](cli/cli#13740) - chore(deps): bump actions/attest from 4.1.0 to 4.1.1 by [@​dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot) in [#​13754](cli/cli#13754) - chore(deps): bump goreleaser/goreleaser-action from 7.2.2 to 7.2.3 by [@​dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot) in [#​13759](cli/cli#13759) - chore(deps): bump golangci/golangci-lint-action from 9.2.1 to 9.3.0 by [@​dependabot](https://github.com/dependabot) in [#​13779](cli/cli#13779) #### New Contributors - [@​patrickwehbe](https://github.com/patrickwehbe) made their first contribution in [#​13688](cli/cli#13688) - [@​s3onghyun](https://github.com/s3onghyun) made their first contribution in [#​13679](cli/cli#13679) - [@​toller892](https://github.com/toller892) made their first contribution in [#​13681](cli/cli#13681) - [@​happysnaker](https://github.com/happysnaker) made their first contribution in [#​13756](cli/cli#13756) **Full Changelog**: <cli/cli@v2.95.0...v2.96.0> ### [`v2.95.0`](https://github.com/cli/cli/releases/tag/v2.95.0): GitHub CLI 2.95.0 [Compare Source](cli/cli@v2.94.0...v2.95.0) #### Read repository files and directories with `gh repo read-file` and `gh repo read-dir` Two new preview commands read repository contents without cloning: ```shell # Read a single file to stdout gh repo read-file README.md --repo cli/cli # Read from a specific branch, tag, or commit gh repo read-file go.mod --ref v2.94.0 --repo cli/cli # Write a file to disk (use --clobber to overwrite) gh repo read-file README.md --output ./README.md --repo cli/cli # List the entries in a directory gh repo read-dir script --repo cli/cli ``` Both commands default to the repository's default branch, accept `--ref` to target any branch, tag, or commit, and support `--json`, `--jq`, and `--template` for scripting. This makes it easy for agents and automation to inspect a repo without a full checkout. > \[!NOTE] > `gh repo read-file` and `gh repo read-dir` are in preview and subject to change without notice. #### What's Changed ##### ✨ Features - feat: add `repo read-file` and `repo read-dir` by [@​babakks](https://github.com/babakks) in [#​13580](cli/cli#13580) - feat(skills): list available skills when install runs non-interactively by [@​SamMorrowDrums](https://github.com/SamMorrowDrums) in [#​13548](cli/cli#13548) - Support custom CLAUDE\_CONFIG\_DIR in install by [@​tommaso-moro](https://github.com/tommaso-moro) in [#​13523](cli/cli#13523) ##### 🐛 Fixes - fix(skills): stage updates in a temp dir and swap in-place by [@​SamMorrowDrums](https://github.com/SamMorrowDrums) in [#​13449](cli/cli#13449) ##### 📚 Docs & Chores - Make filtering by bot authors more discoverable by [@​BagToad](https://github.com/BagToad) in [#​13642](cli/cli#13642) - docs(discussion): polish help docs by [@​babakks](https://github.com/babakks) in [#​13632](cli/cli#13632) - Bump Go in devcontainer by [@​spenserblack](https://github.com/spenserblack) in [#​13674](cli/cli#13674) #####
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Summary
Running
gh skill install <repo>(or--from-local <dir>) without a skill name in a non-interactive context previously errored withmust specify a skill name when not running interactively. That made discovery awkward when piping or scripting — users had to switch to an interactive shell just to see what skills a repo offered.This PR changes that behavior so the discovered skills are printed instead, mirroring (approximately) what the interactive picker shows. The list is rendered through
tableprinter, so it auto-switches between a friendly TTY table and tab-separatedSKILL\tDESCRIPTIONrows when piped — making it easy to grep / fzf / awk.Before
After
Re-running with a specific skill name installs as before. Same behavior for
--from-local.Context
Came out of a Slack thread where this was identified as a UX gap: interactive mode supports browsing-then-installing, and non-interactive mode should provide the same discoverability so it composes with standard Unix tooling.
Changes
selectSkillsWithSelectornow prints discovered skills via a newlistAvailableSkillshelper instead of erroring when!canPrompt.errSkillsListedletsinstallRun/runLocalInstallbail cleanly without going into the install path.fetchDescriptionscallback the picker uses) so the listed output is useful, not bare.grepupdated.Verification
go test ./pkg/cmd/skills/...✅make lint✅