Master GitHub from the Terminal with GitHub CLI

Why click around in a browser when you can control GitHub like a true Linux wizard? The GitHub CLI lets you create repos, push code, and manage pull requests — all without leaving the terminal. Follow these steps to set it up and make your workflow faster.

1. Install Git and GitHub CLI

For Arch-based systems:

sudo pacman -S git github-cli

2. Configure Git with Your GitHub Identity

Replace name and email with your actual GitHub username and email:

git config --global user.name "name"
git config --global user.email "email"

Verify settings:

git config --global --list

3. Authenticate with GitHub

Run the login command:

gh auth login

Choose:

• GitHub.com
• HTTPS
• Login with a web browser

You’ll see an 8-digit code. Copy it, press Enter, and follow the GitHub page in your browser to approve access.

Check login status:

gh auth status

4. Initialize Git in Your Project

Navigate to your project folder and initialize git:

cd /path/to/project
git init

5. Create a GitHub Repository from Terminal

Replace repo_name with your preferred repository name:

gh repo create repo_name --public --source=.

6. Link Your Local Repo to Remote

Replace your-github-account and repo_name:

git remote set-url origin https://github.com/your-github-account/repo_name

7. Push Your Code to GitHub

Run the commands in order:

git add .
git commit -m "first commit"
git branch -M main
git push -u origin main

Done! You now have a fully working GitHub setup — powered entirely from the terminal. No mouse clicks, no distractions — just pure CLI productivity.