github-search

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Search GitHub for repos, code, and usage examples using gh CLI. Capabilities: repo discovery, code search, finding library usage patterns, issue/PR search. Actions: search, find, discover repos/code/examples. Keywords: gh, github, search repos, search code, find examples, how to use library, stars, language filter. Use when: finding repositories, searching code patterns, discovering how libraries are used, exploring open source.

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gh-cligithub-searchrepo-discoverycode-searchissue-pr-search

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GitHub Search

Quick Commands

GoalCommand
Search repos
gh search repos "<query>" --limit 30
Search code
gh search code "<query>" --limit 30
Search issues
gh search issues "<query>" --limit 30
Search PRs
gh search prs "<query>" --limit 30

Direct API Search (Web-Exact Results)

For complex queries where 
gh search repos
gives different results than web:
bash
# Template - URL-encodes query automatically
gh api "search/repositories?q=$(printf '%s' 'YOUR_QUERY_HERE' | jq -sRr @uri)&sort=updated&per_page=30" --jq '.items[].full_name'
Example - Multi-language with exclusions:
bash
gh api "search/repositories?q=$(printf '%s' 'stars:>500 language:rust language:go language:TypeScript language:javascript -topic:ethereum -topic:cryptocurrency -topic:blockchain -topic:bitcoin -topic:web3' | jq -sRr @uri)&sort=updated&per_page=10" --jq '.items[].full_name'
Why use this?
  • gh search repos
    is a convenience wrapper with its own query parsing
  • gh api search/repositories
    hits the raw API, matching web behavior exactly
  • Required when combining: multiple languages + topic exclusions + star filters
Common jq extractions:
Outputjq filter
Names only
--jq '.items[].name'
Full names
--jq '.items[].full_name'
With stars
--jq '.items[] | "\(.full_name) ⭐\(.stargazers_count)"'
URLs
--jq '.items[].html_url'
Full JSON(omit --jq)

Patterns

Finding Repositories

When you see: User wants to find projects/repos by criteria Use: 
gh search repos
bash
# Basic search with stars
gh search repos "stars:>500 language:rust" --sort=stars --limit=50

# Multiple languages (OR logic)
gh search repos "language:rust language:go language:typescript"

# Exclude topics
gh search repos "stars:>1000 -topic:cryptocurrency -topic:blockchain"

# By topic
gh search repos "topic:cli topic:terminal stars:>100"

# Recently updated
gh search repos "language:python pushed:>2024-01-01"
Output formats:
bash
--json name,url,description,stargazersCount  # JSON output
--web                                         # Open in browser

Finding Code Examples

When you see: User wants to know how to use a library Use: 
gh search code
bash
# Find usage patterns
gh search code "from zod import" --limit=20
gh search code "import { z } from 'zod'" --limit=20

# In specific file types
gh search code "useQuery" extension:tsx --limit=30

# In specific paths
gh search code "tanstack/query" path:src/ extension:ts

# Exact phrase
gh search code '"createTRPCRouter"' extension:ts
Pro tip: Combine with repo filter for focused results:
bash
gh search code "pattern" repo:owner/repo

Finding Issues/Discussions

When you see: User looking for bug reports, feature requests, or discussions Use: 
gh search issues
or 
gh search prs
bash
# Open issues with label
gh search issues "is:open label:bug repo:facebook/react"

# PRs by author
gh search prs "author:username is:merged"

# Issues mentioning error
gh search issues '"connection refused" language:go'

Query Qualifiers Reference

Repo Search

QualifierExampleDescription
stars:
stars:>1000
, 
stars:100..500
Star count
forks:
forks:>100
Fork count
language:
language:rust
Primary language
topic:
topic:cli
Repository topic
-topic:
-topic:blockchain
Exclude topic
pushed:
pushed:>2024-01-01
Last push date
created:
created:>2023-01-01
Creation date
license:
license:mit
License type
archived:
archived:false
Archive status
is:
is:public
, 
is:private
Visibility

Code Search

QualifierExampleDescription
extension:
extension:ts
File extension
path:
path:src/
File path
repo:
repo:owner/name
Specific repo
language:
language:javascript
Code language
filename:
filename:package.json
File name

Common Flags

FlagDescription
--limit N
Number of results (max 1000)
--sort X
Sort by: stars, forks, updated, best-match
--order X
asc or desc
--json FIELDS
JSON output with specific fields
--web
Open results in browser

Common Use Cases

"Find popular X repos"

bash
gh search repos "language:X stars:>500" --sort=stars --limit=50

"How do people use library Y"

bash
gh search code "import Y" extension:ts --limit=30
gh search code "from Y import" extension:py --limit=30

"Find repos like Z but exclude crypto"

bash
gh search repos "topic:Z -topic:cryptocurrency -topic:blockchain -topic:web3"

"Find recent active projects"

bash
gh search repos "language:go pushed:>2024-06-01 stars:>100" --sort=updated

Tips

  1. Quote the query when it contains special chars: 
    gh search repos "stars:>500"
  2. Multiple languages = OR: 
    language:rust language:go
    matches either
  3. Use 
    --json
     for scripting: 
    --json name,url,stargazersCount
  4. Date ranges: 
    pushed:2024-01-01..2024-06-01
  5. Numeric ranges: 
    stars:100..500
  6. Use 
    gh api
    for complex queries    : When 
    gh search repos
    gives unexpected results, use 
    gh api search/repositories?q=...
    for exact web parity