# Maintain Github Repository

> Audit or align a GitHub repository's server-side settings, rulesets, security automation, Dependabot, and sign-off policy. Use for server-side GitHub policy work, not ordinary local Git commits, PR collaboration, or releases.

- Skill: `gaelic-ghost/maintain-github-repository` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 4 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add gaelic-ghost/maintain-github-repository`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/gaelic-ghost/maintain-github-repository/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Security
- Author: gaelic-ghost (https://skillmd.com/u/gaelic-ghost)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/gaelic-ghost/maintain-github-repository

---


# Maintain GitHub Repository

## Purpose

Audit or align server-side GitHub repository settings without mixing those
changes into local Git operations or release automation. The default path is a
read-only audit. Apply changes only when the user requests mutation.

## When To Use

- Use this skill when creating or configuring a GitHub repository.
- Use this skill when the user asks to apply their normal GitHub repository
  defaults.
- Use this skill when auditing repository features, merge methods, security
  automation, sign-off requirements, branch protection, or rulesets.
- Use this skill when GitHub settings may have drifted from repo policy.
- Use this skill when a bootstrap or sync workflow reaches the GitHub remote
  configuration step.
- Do not use this skill for local commits, branches, rebases, merges, pushes,
  pull-request bodies, review replies, tags, or GitHub release creation.
- Use `maintain-project-repo` for protected-main releases, publishing, tags,
  GitHub release objects, release cleanup, and branch accounting.
- Use `maintain-project-contributing` when the repository's DCO, contributor
  grant, or sign-off documentation needs to change.

## Workflow

1. Resolve the repository:
   - confirm `owner/repo`, default branch, visibility, and current user
     permissions
   - verify the target is the repository the user intended
   - read repo-local `AGENTS.md`, contribution policy, security policy, and
     release guidance before selecting a baseline
2. Load `references/github-repository-settings.md`.
3. Audit before mutation:
   - read supported repository settings with `gh repo view` and `gh api`
   - inspect branch protection or rulesets separately from general repo
     settings
   - inspect Dependabot, secret scanning, push protection, private
     vulnerability reporting, web commit sign-off, and auto-close behavior
     independently
   - verify required status-check names against actual recent check runs when
     branch protection depends on CI
4. Classify every relevant setting as:
   - `aligned`
   - `drifted`
   - `unavailable`
   - `unknown`
   - `not applicable`
5. Report current values, recommended values, unavailable settings, and exact
   planned mutations separately.
6. Apply only requested changes:
   - use `gh repo edit` for supported general toggles
   - use current documented `gh api` endpoints for security, sign-off,
     auto-close, branch-protection, and ruleset settings
   - prefer file-backed `.github/dependabot.yml`, `CODEOWNERS`, `SECURITY.md`,
     workflow, and contribution-policy changes when the behavior is owned by
     repository files
   - keep visibility changes separately approval-gated
   - preserve documented maintainer direct-push workflows
7. Re-read every changed setting and report the verified result.

## Inputs

- `repository`: optional `owner/repo`; default to the current checkout's GitHub
  remote only when unambiguous
- `mode`: `audit` or `apply`
- `requested_changes`: optional explicit settings changes
- `baseline`: repo-local policy or the recommended baseline reference
- Defaults:
  - `mode=audit`
  - visibility remains unchanged
  - no settings are mutated without an apply request

## Output

- `Repository`: exact `owner/repo`, visibility, and default branch
- `Current Settings`: observed values
- `Recommended Settings`: repo-policy or fallback baseline
- `Unavailable Settings`: plan, visibility, permission, or API limitations
- `Planned Changes`: exact mutations, empty in audit-only mode
- `Applied Changes`: mutation results, apply mode only
- `Verification`: post-mutation values or audit evidence
- `Follow-Up`: file-backed policy, DCO check, CI check-name, release, or
  contributor-doc work that belongs to another skill

## Guards

- Never infer or bundle a repository visibility change.
- Never weaken security settings just to make an audit pass.
- Never require approving reviews when the repo has no independent reviewer
  unless the user explicitly wants that policy.
- Never block a documented maintainer direct-push workflow accidentally.
- Never guess a required status-check context from a workflow display name.
- Do not treat GitHub web sign-off as command-line DCO enforcement.
- Apply all available requested settings before reporting settings that GitHub
  cannot expose for the current plan or visibility.
- Keep credentials, tokens, and private vulnerability details out of reports.

## Trigger Evaluation

Use `references/trigger-eval.md` to verify that settings and policy requests
trigger this skill while ordinary Git and release requests route elsewhere.

## References

- `references/github-repository-settings.md`
- `references/trigger-eval.md`