Claude Code GitHub Integration Guide (2026)

Authenticate the GitHub CLI

Required before Claude Code can open pull requests or read private repository metadata.

Check authentication and scopes

Confirms which account and token scopes are active.

Install the GitHub App + Actions workflow

Run this inside Claude Code to enable the @claude bot on issues and pull requests.

Let Claude open a pull request after committing

Requires the GitHub CLI to be installed and authenticated.

View a pull request diff for review

Pipe the diff to Claude Code to summarize changes and flag risks.

Generate release notes between two tags

Feed the output to Claude Code to draft categorized release notes.

Analyze this repository and explain its architecture. Identify the main application entry points, core directories, major dependencies, data flow, external services, and the parts of the codebase a new developer should understand first.

I am new to this repository. Give me a guided tour: where the app starts, how a request or command flows through the system, which files I should read first, and any conventions or gotchas I should know before making changes.

Map the major directories in this repository. For each top-level directory, explain its purpose in one or two sentences and name the most important files inside it.

Explain what this file does in plain language. Describe its responsibilities, the key functions and their inputs and outputs, what depends on it, and anything that looks fragile or out of date.

If I change the behavior of this function, what else in the codebase is affected? Trace every caller and downstream dependency so I understand the blast radius before I edit it.

Generate a README for this repository based on the actual code and configuration. Include a short description, prerequisites, installation and setup steps, usage examples, and the project structure. Do not invent features that are not in the code.

Generate reference documentation for the public API in this module. For each endpoint or exported function, document the purpose, parameters, return value, and any errors it can raise, using the code and type signatures as the source of truth.

Here is the diff for a pull request. Summarize what it changes and why, list the files touched and the risk level of each, call out anything a reviewer should look at closely, and draft a clear PR description.

Review this diff as a careful senior engineer. Identify correctness bugs, edge cases, security concerns, and maintainability issues. For each finding, explain the problem and suggest a concrete fix. Separate blocking issues from nice-to-haves.

Look at my staged changes and write a commit message in imperative mood. The subject line should be under 72 characters and the body should explain what changed and why. If the diff contains unrelated changes, tell me how to split it into separate commits.

Here is the failing CI log. Trace the error to its root cause in the code, explain what is actually breaking, propose the smallest correct fix, then apply it and push to the current branch.

Here is a stack trace and the steps to reproduce a bug. Identify the most likely cause in the code, explain how the failure happens, and propose a fix with a test that would have caught it.

Here is a GitHub issue with its acceptance criteria. Identify the files likely to change, outline a step-by-step implementation plan, list the tests needed, and flag any risks or open questions I should resolve before starting.

Identify untested behavior in this module and generate a suite of unit tests that cover the main cases and important edge cases. Use the existing test framework and conventions in this repository, and explain what each test verifies.

This file has grown hard to maintain. Identify duplication, long functions, and unclear responsibilities, then propose an incremental refactoring plan in small reviewable steps that preserves behavior. Do not change behavior yet, just plan it.

Here is the commit log and list of merged pull requests between the last release and this one. Group the changes into features, fixes, and internal changes, write user-facing release notes, and flag any breaking changes.

Review this diff for security problems such as unsafe input handling, injection risks, missing authorization checks, and hardcoded or leaked secrets. For each finding explain the risk and the fix. Do not include any secret values in your response.

I want to migrate this project from its current framework or dependency version to a newer one. Map the affected files, propose an order of work that keeps the app shippable at each step, and highlight the highest-risk changes and how to test them.

This test is failing. Explain what the test expects, why it is currently failing, whether the bug is in the test or the code, and propose the correct fix.

Review the code in this directory for quality issues: inconsistent patterns, missing error handling, poor naming, and dead code. Summarize the findings by severity and suggest the three highest-impact improvements to make first.

What is the Claude Code GitHub integration?

It is a workflow that lets Claude Code work directly with your GitHub repositories. Claude Code can analyze code, review pull requests, generate documentation, troubleshoot issues, and plan implementation work using the repository as its source of truth. It enhances your existing GitHub workflow rather than replacing it.

How do I connect Claude Code with GitHub?

Open a cloned repository in Claude Code and authenticate the GitHub CLI with gh auth login so Claude can read metadata and open pull requests. For cross-repository access, connect the GitHub MCP server instead. To let the @claude bot act on issues and pull requests, install the GitHub App from inside Claude Code.

Can Claude Code read my repositories?

Yes. With read access, Claude Code can inspect a repository's structure, files, and history to explain code, map architecture, and generate documentation. It only reaches repositories you have granted access to, and read-only workflows never modify your code.

Can Claude Code review pull requests?

Yes. You can share a pull request diff with Claude Code and ask it to summarize the change, flag risky areas, and draft review comments. With the GitHub App installed, you can also tag @claude directly on a pull request so it can respond in context.

Can Claude Code generate README files?

Yes. Claude Code can generate a README draft from the actual code and configuration, including setup steps, usage, and project structure. Treat the output as a first draft and review it for accuracy before committing, since documentation should always reflect what the code really does.

Can Claude Code automate GitHub workflows?

Yes, within limits you control. Using the GitHub App and GitHub Actions, Claude Code can respond to issues and pull request comments and push branches. You keep a human review step before merging, and you grant only the scopes and repositories each workflow needs.

Can Claude Code generate release notes?

Yes. Give Claude Code the commit log and merged pull requests between two releases and it will group the changes into features, fixes, and internal work, then draft user-facing release notes and flag any breaking changes.

Can Claude Code explain legacy or unfamiliar code?

Yes. Point Claude Code at a file or module and it will explain its responsibilities, key functions, and dependencies in plain language. This is one of the fastest ways to onboard to an unfamiliar codebase and reduce the time before you can contribute safely.