Probot Settings

Probot Settings

Use this skill when a repository needs a new or updated .github/settings.yml managed by the Repository Settings GitHub App (repository-settings/app) or the older Probot Settings docs.

Step 0 — Determine Scope

Default to the current repository unless the user explicitly names another one.

gh repo view --json nameWithOwner -q .nameWithOwner
# Fallback:
git remote get-url origin

Step 1 — Gather the Current State

If .github/settings.yml already exists, read it first and update it surgically.

If the file does not exist yet, inspect the live repository and current labels:

REPO=<owner/repo>

gh repo view "$REPO" --json \
  name,nameWithOwner,description,homepageUrl,isPrivate,hasIssuesEnabled,hasWikiEnabled,defaultBranchRef,mergeCommitAllowed,rebaseMergeAllowed,squashMergeAllowed,deleteBranchOnMerge,repositoryTopics

gh label list --repo "$REPO" --json name,color,description --limit 200

Only inspect advanced sections when you actually plan to manage them:

• Branch protection: gh api repos/$REPO/branches/<branch>/protection
• Environments: gh api repos/$REPO/environments
• Teams / collaborators: inspect only for organisation-owned repositories

See references/sections-and-gotchas.md for section-level guidance.

Step 2 — Build the File from Minimal to Specific

Prefer a small, accurate file over a giant aspirational one.

1. Start with repository: and preserve the real repo name, description, homepage, visibility, default branch, and merge strategy.
2. Add labels: next; preserve existing labels unless the user wants a deliberate cleanup.
3. Add teams, collaborators, branches, environments, or milestones only when the repo already uses them or the user explicitly asks for them.
4. Keep comments short and useful; follow the existing file style if one already exists.

Use references/addono-examples.md for Addono-flavoured patterns and example repos.

Step 3 — Encode Important Upstream Rules

• All sections are optional.
• Branch protection is strict: top-level protection keys must be fully specified or set to null, otherwise updates may not apply.
• Label colours can be bare hex (CC0000) or quoted with # ('#CC0000').
• Team permissions are only valid for organisation-owned repositories.
• deployment_branch_policy uses a simplified schema in this app.
• Inheritance is supported, but only introduce it if the repo or org already follows that model.

Step 4 — Safety and Review

This app can change powerful repository settings from a pull request. Do not quietly weaken permissions or protections.

When the file manages access or branch rules:

• preserve or tighten existing protections unless the user requests otherwise
• mention the security implication that merging to the default branch can effectively change admin-level settings
• recommend protecting .github/settings.yml with CODEOWNERS and required code owner review

See references/security.md for the exact caveat and review checklist.

Step 5 — Finish

After editing:

1. Keep the YAML ordered and readable.
2. Say whether you created a new file or updated an existing one.
3. Note that the file only takes effect if the Repository Settings app is installed for the repo or organisation.