---

name: github-project-release description: Use when preparing or publishing a local project as a clean GitHub repository. Covers new repositories, private staging releases, public README cleanup, updates to existing remotes, and research-code packaging without datasets, checkpoints, papers, or generated artifacts. license: MIT

GitHub Project Release

Turn a local project into a clean GitHub repository that is safe to make public later. Default to research-code release behavior: clean copy first, private GitHub repo first, audit before push.

Workflow

1. Inspect the source project before copying.

   • Identify the runnable entrypoints, key configs, curated figures/tables, license, citation files, and upstream dependencies.
   • Treat the codebase as source of truth. Do not preserve stale upstream README language as the release front page.

2. Check credentials.

   • Run scripts/github_project_release.py auth-check.
   • Use the active gh account as the default owner.
   • Never ask the user to paste a GitHub token into chat. If auth is missing, ask them to run gh auth login or provide credentials through a secure non-chat channel.

3. Prepare a clean release copy.

   • Run scripts/github_project_release.py prepare --source <project> --dest <release-dir>.
   • Keep only what a new user needs to understand and run the project.
   • Exclude datasets, checkpoints, logs, generated outputs, raw experiment dumps, paper PDFs, local submission material, and exploratory files unless the user explicitly overrides the default.

4. Write or rewrite the README.

   • Read references/readme_playbook.md before drafting README content.
   • Use English by default.
   • Write for external readers, not for the project owner.
   • For research code, cover Context + Run + Cite: what it is, what problem it solves, what is included, how to install/run the minimal path, and how to cite current and upstream work.

5. Audit before publishing.

   • Run scripts/github_project_release.py audit --path <release-dir>.
   • Treat reported high-risk items as blockers unless the user explicitly accepts them.
   • If a paper link is not public, use Paper link: coming soon. and do not upload PDFs.

6. Publish privately.

   • Run scripts/github_project_release.py publish --release-dir <release-dir>.
   • If the repo does not exist, create a private repo.
   • If it exists, push only safe non-rewriting updates.
   • Do not force-push, delete, overwrite, or make the repo public unless explicitly requested.

7. Report the result.

   • Include repo URL, branch, commit SHA, visibility, and audit status.
   • If any sensitive artifact was accidentally pushed earlier, explain that branch-history cleanup may not immediately remove exact-SHA access on GitHub; for strict removal, recreate a clean repo.

Script Quick Reference

Resolve <skill-dir> to the directory containing this SKILL.md; do not assume a particular global skills installation root.

python "<skill-dir>/scripts/github_project_release.py" auth-check

python "<skill-dir>/scripts/github_project_release.py" prepare \
  --source /path/to/project \
  --dest /path/to/project-github

python "<skill-dir>/scripts/github_project_release.py" audit \
  --path /path/to/project-github

python "<skill-dir>/scripts/github_project_release.py" publish \
  --release-dir /path/to/project-github

Use --dry-run on prepare or publish to inspect intended actions without copying or pushing.

Defaults

• Visibility: private.
• Owner: active gh account.
• Repo name: sanitized release directory name, unless --repo, --owner, or --name is provided.
• Existing repo policy: safe update only.
• README language: English.
• Results policy: paper-confirmed figures/tables/results only; never infer metrics from logs.
• Asset policy: curated explanatory figures/tables only; never bulk-upload raw visualization outputs.

When To Ask

Ask the user only when the answer cannot be derived from the project:

• Target GitHub owner differs from the active gh account.
• Repo name should differ from the project/release directory.
• A normally blocked file type must be included.
• The user wants public release, force-push, repo deletion, or history rewrite.
• The current project has no clear runnable path and the README would otherwise invent commands.