gh-exts

gh-exts is a GitHub CLI extension for managing gh extensions with a manifest.

Use gh exts instead of gh extension, gh extensions, or gh ext when you want your installed extensions to stay reproducible.

Getting Started

Install:

gh extension install terfno/gh-exts

usage:

gh exts -h

Manage GitHub CLI extensions with manifest sync.

USAGE
  gh exts <command> [flags]

AVAILABLE COMMANDS
  install:       Install an extension or reinstall from manifest
  remove:        Remove an extension or remove stray extensions
  list:          List installed extensions and sync manifest if needed

LEARN MORE
  Other subcommands are delegated to `gh extension`.
  Use `gh exts` instead of `gh extension`, `gh extensions`, or `gh ext`
  to keep the manifest in sync.

What It Does

• Wraps gh extension
• Keeps a manifest of installed extensions
• Supports pinned entries as owner/repo:pin
• Can rebuild local extension state from the manifest

vs afx

gh-exts is a simpler fit if you just want to manage gh extensions.

• Add with gh exts install <repo>
• Remove with gh exts remove <name>
• Stay close to the usual gh extension workflow, with manifest sync built in

If you want a broader tool manager, afx may fit better. If you want add/remove flows that feel native to gh, use gh-exts.

Manifest File

The manifest file is stored at:

~/.config/gh/extensions.txt

This also works if ~/.config/gh/extensions.txt is a symbolic link managed from your dotfiles, as long as the link target is writable.

The manifest is a plain text file with one extension per line.

# for terfno/gh-exts

# latest tracking
dlvhdr/gh-dash

# pinned
terfno/gh-wt:69ee2692229d9481b41e3d2a492c9df2af00c593

Rules:

• Empty lines are ignored
• Lines starting with # are ignored
• owner/repo means latest tracking
• owner/repo:pin means pinned

Usage

gh exts install <repo> [flags]
gh exts install

gh exts remove <name> [flags]
gh exts remove

gh exts list [flags]

Other subcommands are delegated to gh extension.

Common flags:

• -y, --yes, --non-interactive: Skip gh-exts confirmation prompts

Behavior

gh exts install <repo>

• Runs gh extension install
• Previews the manifest update
• Updates the manifest after confirmation
• With -y / --yes, auto-confirms the manifest update for non-interactive runs

gh exts install

• Treats the manifest as the source of truth
• Shows the extensions that will be reinstalled
• Reinstalls manifest entries after confirmation
• With -y / --yes, auto-confirms the reinstall prompt for non-interactive runs

gh exts remove <name>

• Runs gh extension remove
• Previews the manifest update
• Updates the manifest after confirmation

gh exts remove

• Removes installed extensions that are not in the manifest
• Reinstalls the manifest entries
• Asks for confirmation before running
• With -y / --yes, auto-confirms the rebuild prompt for non-interactive runs

gh exts list

• Runs gh extension list
• Detects manifest drift
• Shows a simple diff preview before manifest changes
• Updates the manifest only after confirmation
• With -y / --yes, auto-confirms manifest sync

Notes

• Pin detection currently relies on .pin-* marker files in the installed extension directory
• Manifest updates preserve existing comments and blank lines where possible

Development

Useful local checks:

sh -n gh-exts lib/common.sh lib/manifest.sh lib/state.sh lib/commands.sh

To inspect the current help output:

./gh-exts

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE for details.