GitHub Search

Quick Commands

Goal Command

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:

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:

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:

Output jq 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

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:

--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

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:

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

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

Qualifier Example Description

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

Qualifier Example Description

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

Flag Description

--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"

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

"How do people use library Y"

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"

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

"Find recent active projects"

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

Tips

• Quote the query when it contains special chars: gh search repos "stars:>500"

• Multiple languages = OR: language:rust language:go matches either

• Use --json for scripting: --json name,url,stargazersCount

• Date ranges: pushed:2024-01-01..2024-06-01

• Numeric ranges: stars:100..500

• Use gh api for complex queries: When gh search repos gives unexpected results, use gh api search/repositories?q=... for exact web parity