GitHub CLI

cli/cliReviewed by AI

What it does

GitHub CLI (the gh command) is GitHub's official tool for working with GitHub from a terminal. You can create and review pull requests, handle issues, clone repositories, check automated runs and call GitHub's API without opening the website. It is for programmers who already use git and GitHub. Windows, Mac and Linux get ready installers and packages; after installing you sign in to your GitHub account and type commands. Release files come with signed build records you can check.

How easy it is to install

B · installer plus one simple step · Windows

Windows B
macOS B
Linux B

Every platform has a ready package: a Windows installer (gh_2.103.3_windows_amd64.msi), a Mac .pkg, and .deb/.rpm packages for Linux; after installing you sign in to GitHub once, then work by typing commands in a terminal.

Numbers on GitHub

Stars: 46,826on Oct 31, 2026
Downloads: 147,244,3533,071,905 this week
Growth: +73stars in 5 days

Stars over time

Facts

Runs on: Windows, macOS, Linux
You need to install: Nothing extra
To build from source: Go
Disk space: 15 MB–44 MB · from the installer
Accounts or keys: GitHub account sign-in
Cost: Free · Free (MIT). It works with your GitHub account; paid GitHub plans are separate and not needed to use the tool.
License: MIT (Permissive)
Can replace: GitKraken
Last update: Oct 30, 2026

Risk signals (1)

Infolinux repo key rotation
README: "GitHub CLI's PGP signing key rotation for Linux package repositories is effective September 5, 2026; users experiencing package installation or update problems can find solutions in the public announcement".
AI review

Evidence is shown in its original language.

What Radar could not check

Where and how your GitHub sign-in token is stored on your computer.
Whether optional extensions or agent skills you add with gh behave as described, since they come from other authors.
Whether the Linux package repositories install cleanly after the signing key change.