Mastering the GitHub CLI (gh): 10 Advanced Workflows for 10x Engineers

Context switching is the enemy of flow state. Every time you leave your terminal to open a browser, click through GitHub's UI to create a Pull Request, check a CI/CD pipeline, or triage an issue, you lose precious seconds and mental bandwidth.

The official GitHub CLI (gh) isn't just a wrapper for Git; it is a full-fledged API client that brings the entire GitHub platform directly into your terminal.

In this guide, we will break down advanced workflows that will significantly accelerate your daily operations, keeping your hands on the keyboard and your focus in the code.

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1. The Ultimate Pull Request Workflow

Creating a PR usually involves pushing a branch, clicking a generated link, filling out a form in the browser, and clicking "Create". With gh, this becomes a single step.

Reviewing PRs Locally

Instead of reviewing large refactors in the browser, check out the PR locally, review the code in your IDE, and approve it via the CLI:

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2. CI/CD Monitoring: Never Leave the Terminal

One of the most powerful features of gh is its deep integration with GitHub Actions. Waiting for pipelines to pass in the browser is obsolete.

Triggering and Watching Workflows

You can trigger manual workflow_dispatch events and monitor their execution in real-time.

Visualizing the CI/CD Loop

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3. Issue Triage at Speed

Managing issues via the CLI allows you to filter, assign, and close issues rapidly.

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4. Advanced Aliases and Scripting

The true power of gh lies in its ability to be scripted and aliased. The gh alias set command allows you to build custom workflows tailored to your team.

Alias: gh nuke

Delete a branch locally and remotely in one command.

Alias: gh pr-clean

Merge the current PR, delete the branch, and switch back to main.

Scripting with gh api

Need something not supported by the standard commands? The gh api command lets you make authenticated requests directly to the GitHub REST or GraphQL APIs.

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Summary

By integrating gh into your daily routine, you bridge the gap between local development and cloud orchestration. It allows you to:

1. Manage Pull Requests natively.
2. Monitor GitHub Actions without browser context switching.
3. Automate repetitive tasks with custom aliases and raw API calls.

Embrace the terminal. Install gh (brew install gh or apt install gh), run gh auth login, and start optimizing your workflow today.