Agent skill
gh-read-issue-context
Read context from GitHub issue including body and comments. Use before starting implementation work or when prior context is needed.
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Install this agent skill to your Project
npx add-skill https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry/tree/main/skills/development/gh-read-issue-context
SKILL.md
Read Issue Context
Retrieve all context from a GitHub issue before starting work.
When to Use
- Before starting implementation work
- When context is needed from prior work
- When checking if issue has been partially addressed
- When understanding design decisions made earlier
- When resuming work after a break
Quick Reference
bash
# Get issue details
gh issue view <number>
# Get issue with all comments (implementation history)
gh issue view <number> --comments
# Get structured JSON for parsing
gh issue view <number> --json title,body,comments,labels,assignees,milestone,state
# Get specific field
gh issue view <number> --json body --jq '.body'
# Get linked PRs
gh pr list --search "issue:<number>"
# Get issue timeline
gh api repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/<number>/timeline
Workflow
Starting Work on an Issue
- Get issue details:
gh issue view <number> - Read all comments:
gh issue view <number> --comments - Check linked PRs:
gh pr list --search "issue:<number>" - Note key context:
- Design decisions from comments
- Blockers or dependencies
- Acceptance criteria
- Related issues
Example Session
bash
# 1. Read issue #123
gh issue view 123
# 2. Check for prior work
gh issue view 123 --comments
# 3. See if any PRs exist
gh pr list --search "issue:123"
# 4. Get machine-readable data if needed
gh issue view 123 --json title,body,labels,state
Data Extraction
Get Specific Fields
bash
# Title only
gh issue view <number> --json title --jq '.title'
# Body content
gh issue view <number> --json body --jq '.body'
# Labels as list
gh issue view <number> --json labels --jq '.labels[].name'
# Comment bodies
gh issue view <number> --json comments --jq '.comments[].body'
# Comment count
gh issue view <number> --json comments --jq '.comments | length'
Parse Comments for Keywords
bash
# Find design decisions
gh issue view <number> --json comments --jq '.comments[].body' | grep -i "design decision"
# Find blockers
gh issue view <number> --json comments --jq '.comments[].body' | grep -i "blocked\|blocker"
# Find completed items
gh issue view <number> --json comments --jq '.comments[].body' | grep -i "completed\|done"
Status Checking
Issue State
bash
# Check if open or closed
gh issue view <number> --json state --jq '.state'
# Check closure reason
gh issue view <number> --json stateReason --jq '.stateReason'
# Check assignees
gh issue view <number> --json assignees --jq '.assignees[].login'
Related Items
bash
# Find PRs that close this issue
gh pr list --search "closes:#<number>"
# Find mentions in other issues
gh issue list --search "in:body #<number>"
# Find commits referencing issue
gh api search/commits?q=repo:{owner}/{repo}+<number>
Error Handling
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Issue not found | Check issue number, may be in different repo |
| No comments | Issue may be new or have minimal discussion |
| Auth error | Run gh auth status to verify |
| Rate limited | Wait or use authenticated requests |
Best Practices
- Always read comments first - They contain implementation history
- Check for linked PRs - Prior attempts may exist
- Note acceptance criteria - Success criteria should be clear
- Look for blockers - Dependencies may not be resolved
- Extract key decisions - Design choices should inform implementation
References
- See
.claude/shared/github-issue-workflow.mdfor complete workflow - See CLAUDE.md for project conventions
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