# Lw Clone Repo

> Clone a git remote into the workspace-local mirror at raw/upstream, bind repo_sync in the profile and manifest, then enable lw-sync-repo. Usage: /lw-clone-repo <git-url> [options]

- Skill: `geeksfino/lw-clone-repo` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add geeksfino/lw-clone-repo`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/geeksfino/lw-clone-repo/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: geeksfino (https://skillmd.com/u/geeksfino)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/geeksfino/lw-clone-repo

---


# LLM Wiki Clone From URL

Create or refresh the **workspace-local source mirror** from a git URL so repo-backed workflows can run without a pre-existing checkout elsewhere.

## Canonical mirror path

- **Checkout directory:** `raw/upstream/` (relative to the wiki workspace root)
- **`repo_sync.repo_path`:** `raw/upstream`
- **`raw/repo/`** remains reserved for **staged repo file artifacts** on the way to `lw-compile` (see `lw-ingest` / `lw-sync-repo`). Do not use `raw/repo/` as the live `.git` working tree.

## Required reads

1. `.llm-wiki/profile.json`
2. Active profile markdown
3. `.llm-wiki/manifest.json`

If the workspace is missing, run `lw-init` (or bootstrap) first so `raw/`, `wiki/`, `profiles/`, and `.llm-wiki/` exist.

## Inputs

- **git_url** (required): `https://...`, `git@...`, or another URL `git clone` accepts
- **branch** (optional): defaults to profile `repo_sync.default_branch` or `main`
- **shallow** (optional): default **true** — use `git clone --depth 1` for large repos; full history only when the user explicitly needs it
- **dest** (optional): override path; must stay under `raw/` and must not be `raw/repo` or `raw/changes`

## Procedure

### 1. Resolve workspace root

The wiki workspace root is the directory containing `wiki/`, `raw/`, and `.llm-wiki/`.

### 2. Choose destination

Default: `raw/upstream`. Resolve relative to the workspace root.

If `raw/upstream` exists and is already a git repository:

- Prefer `git -C "$DEST" remote get-url origin` and compare to the requested URL (normalized).
- If same remote: run `git fetch --prune` and optionally `git checkout` / reset to the requested branch instead of deleting the clone.
- If different remote: stop and ask the user whether to replace the mirror or use a different `dest`.

### 3. Clone

```bash
# Shallow (default)
git clone --depth 1 --branch "$BRANCH" "$GIT_URL" "$WORKSPACE/raw/upstream"

# Full history (only when explicitly requested)
git clone --branch "$BRANCH" "$GIT_URL" "$WORKSPACE/raw/upstream"
```

If `--branch` fails (wrong default branch name), retry without `--branch` so the remote default HEAD is used, then record the resolved branch from `git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD`.

### 4. Derive provider metadata

- If the host is **github.com**, derive **`repo_slug`** as `owner/repo` from the URL when the profile or manifest does not already set it:

  - `https://github.com/owner/repo.git` → `owner/repo`
  - `git@github.com:owner/repo.git` → `owner/repo`

- Set **`provider: github`** when using GitHub; otherwise leave provider as in the profile or null and rely on git-only mode in `lw-sync-repo`.

### 5. Bind repo_sync in the profile and manifest

Update the active profile’s `repo_sync` block (YAML) and mirror the same fields under `.llm-wiki/manifest.json` → `repo_sync`:

- `enabled: true`
- `repo_path: raw/upstream` (or the chosen `dest` relative to workspace root)
- `repo_remote: origin` (or the remote name used by clone)
- `default_branch`: branch checked out after clone
- `provider` / `repo_slug`: as derived or already configured

Do not copy the full file tree into `raw/repo/` here; binding the mirror is enough for `lw-sync-repo` to inspect and stage.

### 6. Git hygiene (workspace repo)

If the wiki workspace is itself a git repository, ensure **`raw/upstream/`** is listed in `.gitignore` so the mirror is not committed.

### 7. Next steps

Print a short summary (URL, dest, branch, shallow vs full, `repo_slug` if set) and recommend:

1. `lw-sync-repo` — first inspection and staging into `raw/repo/` / `raw/changes/`
2. `lw-compile` — update `wiki/`
3. `lw-lint` / `lw-reflect` as appropriate

## Auth and failures

- **Public repos:** HTTPS or git SSH as usual.
- **Private repos:** require working credentials (SSH agent, `gh auth setup-git`, or credential helper). If clone fails with auth errors, stop with concrete remediation; do not loop silent retries.
- **Non-GitHub hosts:** clone still works; `repo_slug` / GitHub API enrichment may be absent — `lw-sync-repo` git-only mode remains valid.

## Hard rules

- Do not place the live `.git` checkout under **`raw/repo/`** or **`raw/changes/`**.
- Do not **`git pull`** the mirror for routine refresh; use **`git fetch`** via `lw-sync-repo`.
- Do not mutate files inside `raw/upstream/` for wiki edits; treat it as read-only input except for fetch/checkout operations driven by sync/clone.