shepherd

Automate PR and MR shepherding across GitHub and GitLab with CLI tools.

908|42|Updated May 12, 2026

Search Tags:#automation #workflow #ci #pull-request #merge-request #shepherd

One-click install

npx skills add https://github.com/chrisbanes/skills --skill shepherd-chrisbanes

Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: shepherd
Source: https://github.com/chrisbanes/skills/tree/main/skills/shepherd
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/chrisbanes/skills --skill shepherd-chrisbanes

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Automates ongoing PR and MR shepherding to prevent stalled reviews and delayed merges.

Core Features & Use Cases

Polls open PRs and MRs across GitHub and GitLab, triages new comments, and applies automated, safe fixes where possible to keep work flowing.
Detects platform and uses the appropriate CLI tools (gh or glab) to perform actions such as listing, commenting, and merging when allowed.
Use Case: When multiple PRs are waiting for feedback, the skill autonomously clears blockers and moves PRs toward resolution with minimal human intervention.

Quick Start

Tell the system to start shepherding your active PRs and begin monitoring for new feedback and CI status.

Frequently Asked Questions about shepherd

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I automate pull request shepherding to prevent stalled reviews on GitHub and GitLab?▼

Automated pull request shepherding prevents stalled reviews by polling open PRs and MRs across GitHub and GitLab, triaging comments, fixing trivial CI issues, and pushing updates until CI passes. It uses git remote URL detection to identify the platform.

What is PR shepherding and how does it keep work moving?▼

PR shepherding is the automated process of monitoring open pull requests to clear blockers and move them toward resolution. It autonomously triages feedback, applies safe fixes to trivial CI failures, and coordinates listing, commenting, and merging actions with minimal human intervention.

Do I need CLI tools to automate merge request workflows across GitHub and GitLab?▼

Yes, automating merge request workflows requires the gh CLI for GitHub and the glab CLI for GitLab. The automation detects the platform via the git remote URL and uses the corresponding CLI tool to perform listing, commenting, and merging actions.

Can I monitor multiple open PRs simultaneously and clear blockers automatically?▼

Yes, you can monitor multiple open PRs simultaneously. The system uses a looping polling workflow to list open PRs, triage new comments, and apply automated safe fixes to clear blockers, keeping work flowing toward resolution across detected platforms.

What is the best way to fix trivial CI issues on stalled pull requests?▼

The best way to fix trivial CI issues on stalled pull requests is through an autonomous shepherding workflow that detects failures, pushes updates, and polls until CI passes. This minimizes human intervention while safely clearing blockers.

When should I not use automated PR shepherding for my codebase?▼

You should not use automated PR shepherding when reviews require complex human judgment or non-trivial CI fixes. The automation is designed to only triage comments and apply safe fixes to trivial issues, meaning complex blockers will still require manual intervention to merge.