easy-to-use shell scripts for GitHub
_{^{version 1.2.2 for Linux | Windows | Apple}}

Easily create, list, or delete repos from the command line

      ^{$> gt add shinyNewRepo
      $> gt ls
      $> gt del oldRepo}

Setting Up the Scripts

• set up GitHub credentials if you don't have a home/USERID/.git-credentials file


• set up for Linux

  • sudo apt install curl
  • unzip gt into (for example): /home/USERID/bin/gt/
  • set your $PATH to include /home/USERID/bin/gt
  • chmod u+rwx /home/USERID/bin/gt/gt.sh
  • (.bashrc) alias gt='/home/USERID/bin/gt/gt.sh'
  • test it by typing: gt
• set up for Windows

  • download and install cygwin
  • add C:\cygwin64\bin to your %PATH%
  • unzip gt into (for example): C:\USERID\bin\gt\
  • set your %PATH% environment variable to include the gt directory
  • test it by typing: gt

Running the Scripts

The scripts use code that works for both bash and zsh (Apple uses zsh).
There is a main script called gt.sh that then calls sub-scripts for each command.

You can do things like:

• gt add repoName --public (create a public repo and local directory connected to it)
• gt ls -sc (show a list of repos, sorted by creation date)
• gt rm oldRepo (delete a repo on GitHub but leave the local directory intact)
• gt help
• bash /home/bin/gt/gt.sh ls (run it explicitly with bash or zsh)

Potential Future Work

Here is a short list of potential features and commands for gt. Let me know if you have thoughts or want to contribute.

list -details	a way to pick details or columns to show
-q	quiet mode so that the scripts can pipe or be part of another script
add --noLocal	add a new repository, but don't create a new local dir
stats	create a view that shows stats for one or all repos, the user, etc
acp	a command that takes a file, adds it, commits it, and pushes it
undo	undo for staged, committed, pushed files
history	tracking local repos, locally logging stats like git use-frequency
more authentication support	GitHub supports multiple authentication mechanisms
snapshot	grab/clone a repo, compress, and store it in a well-established location
non-bash version	investigate octokit.js and a more expansive coding environment
search	I have ideas on a more general search/copilot tool
Beyond GitHub: what are we really trying to do?	write up on a more general system that addresses first principles of what we are trying to do (continuum of collaboration, publishing, sharing, backup, learning, etc).

Why Use gitTools?

Creating a new project should be easy. GitTools are simple shell scripts. A lot of commercial services, while powerful, are complicated and sometimes pricey. You will be relying on how these services:

• access your code and company information (from userids to data use patterns)
• manage application updates and fix bugs
• address security leaks
• introduce new features and remove old ones
• mischeviously create product lock-in
• help you with a contingency plan should they change privacy policies

That said, git is complicated. Tools to simplify the process will reduce development friction and promote better programming practices. I do a lot of collaborative prototyping, so being able to spin up a repo in a single command shifts the cognitive load. And believe me, I can use that.

gitTool Benefits

easy-to-use

customizable

transparent (you can read the scripts)

ubiquitous (same code runs on lots of platforms)

maintainable (written in modules)

open source (liberal MIT licensing)

Installation, Development, and Maintenance Benefits

easy to install

no opaque exe files to maintain

works in Windows too

each command is a separate script

modular architecture so creating new commands is easier

Related Links

Installing Git GitHub Documentation Bash Reference Manual 13 resources for learning to write better Bash code GitHub REST API for Repos Classic Personal Access Token GitHub: Authenticating for the REST API Github: Authenticating in General GitHub CLI GitHub Desktop Scripting with the REST API and JavaScript

_{A shout out to Amit and Kim for our discussions on gt and on broader concepts around computer technology, people, and innovation.}