Agent skill

degit Project Scaffolding

Downloads a repository snapshot or template with degit into an empty folder, from GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Sourcehut or a Gist, optionally at a branch, tag or commit.

MITAuto-check passedDevelopment

Install degit Project Scaffolding

skills CLI

$ npx skills add Rich-Harris/degit --skill degit -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install Rich-Harris/degit degit --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Rich-Harris/degit.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/degit .claude/skills/degit && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Paste into Claude Code

Install the "degit" agent skill from https://github.com/Rich-Harris/degit/tree/master/skills/degit into .claude/skills/degit/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "degit", then confirm the skill loads.

Claude Code copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

$skill-installer

$skill-installer install https://github.com/Rich-Harris/degit/tree/master/skills/degit

Type this inside Codex. $skill-installer <name> installs a curated skill from openai/skills. The installer writes to $CODEX_HOME/skills (default ~/.codex/skills). Restart Codex if the skill does not show up.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add Rich-Harris/degit --skill degit -a codex

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install Rich-Harris/degit degit --agent codex

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Rich-Harris/degit.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/degit .agents/skills/degit && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.

Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/

Paste into Codex

Install the "degit" agent skill from https://github.com/Rich-Harris/degit/tree/master/skills/degit into .agents/skills/degit/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "degit", then confirm the skill loads.

Codex copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add Rich-Harris/degit --skill degit -a cursor

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install Rich-Harris/degit degit --agent cursor

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Rich-Harris/degit.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/degit .cursor/skills/degit && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.cursor/skills/ instead of .cursor/skills for a personal install.

Cursor skills documentation · loads skills from .cursor/skills/, .agents/skills/, .claude/skills/, .codex/skills/

Paste into Cursor

Install the "degit" agent skill from https://github.com/Rich-Harris/degit/tree/master/skills/degit into .cursor/skills/degit/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "degit", then confirm the skill loads.

Cursor copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

gemini skills install

$ gemini skills install https://github.com/Rich-Harris/degit.git --path skills/degit

--scope user (default) or --scope workspace; --path is the subfolder of the repo that holds the skill; --consent skips the security confirmation prompt.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add Rich-Harris/degit --skill degit -a gemini-cli

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install Rich-Harris/degit degit --agent gemini-cli

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Rich-Harris/degit.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/degit .gemini/skills/degit && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.gemini/skills/ instead of .gemini/skills for a personal install, then run /skills reload.

Gemini CLI skills documentation · loads skills from .gemini/skills/, .agents/skills/

Paste into Gemini CLI

Install the "degit" agent skill from https://github.com/Rich-Harris/degit/tree/master/skills/degit into .gemini/skills/degit/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "degit", then confirm the skill loads.

Gemini CLI copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install Rich-Harris/degit degit

Installs for Copilot at project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Preview a skill first with gh skill preview. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

skills CLI

$ npx skills add Rich-Harris/degit --skill degit -a github-copilot

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Rich-Harris/degit.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/degit .github/skills/degit && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.copilot/skills/ instead of .github/skills for a personal install. Commit .github/skills so cloud agent and code review can use it.

GitHub Copilot skills documentation · loads skills from .github/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/

Paste into GitHub Copilot

Install the "degit" agent skill from https://github.com/Rich-Harris/degit/tree/master/skills/degit into .github/skills/degit/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "degit", then confirm the skill loads.

GitHub Copilot copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add Rich-Harris/degit --skill degit -a opencode

OpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install Rich-Harris/degit degit --agent opencode

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Rich-Harris/degit.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/degit .opencode/skills/degit && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.config/opencode/skills/ instead of .opencode/skills for a personal install.

OpenCode skills documentation · loads skills from .opencode/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/

Paste into OpenCode

Install the "degit" agent skill from https://github.com/Rich-Harris/degit/tree/master/skills/degit into .opencode/skills/degit/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "degit", then confirm the skill loads.

OpenCode copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

Facts

Skill name: degit
GitHub stars: 7.9k
Token cost: ~534 tokens
SKILL.md length: 254 words
Files: 1
Skills in repo: 1
Repo updated: Sep 13, 2026
First seen: Oct 7, 2026
Licence: MIT

At a glance

Downloads a repository snapshot or template with degit into an empty folder, from GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Sourcehut or a Gist, optionally at a branch, tag or commit.

Starting a new project from an existing template repository
Calls npx; reaches gist.github.com
Pulling a single folder out of a repository without cloning all of it
Saving a shortcut for a template you reuse often

What it does

The agent runs npx degit@latest, or a global install if you have one, using the smallest command that fits your request: a source such as user/repo, an optional #branch, tag or commit, and an optional destination folder. Sources can be GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Sourcehut or Gist, in short or URL form, and may point at a subdirectory.

The destination must be empty, and --force is suggested only if you explicitly want to overwrite its contents. The skill also covers --cache for offline copies, --verbose for diagnosing failures, --files to clone only chosen paths, alias commands for reusable shortcuts, and the degit.json actions clone, search_replace and remove for templates that need changes after download. Private repositories use an SSH fallback that needs git and working credentials. When the source, ref or destination is unclear, the agent asks before giving a command that could overwrite files.

When your agent uses it

Starting a new project from an existing template repository
Pulling a single folder out of a repository without cloning all of it
Saving a shortcut for a template you reuse often

Example prompts

“Create ./my-site from the user/starter repo at the v2 tag using degit.”
“Download only the examples folder from acme/widgets into ./widgets-examples.”
“Save acme/starter as a degit alias called starter, then use it to create ./demo.”

Requirements

npx, which ships with Node.js
git on PATH and repository credentials, for private repositories

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit abb913a. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

Tool permissions
Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.
From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.
Runs code
Shell commands in SKILL.md call:
- npx
From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.
Network
Hosts in commands or code, which the agent is likely to contact:
- gist.github.com
From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.
Credentials
Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.
From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

degit Project Scaffolding loads about 534 tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 15 tokens; SKILL.md has 254 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it: ~15
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches: ~534

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check passed

The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from Rich-Harris/degit at commit abb913a, republished under its MIT licence (© Rich-Harris). 254 words, ~534 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/degit/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).

name: degit
description: Download a repository snapshot or template with degit
argument-hint: <source> [destination]

Help the user scaffold a project with degit. Use npx degit@latest unless they have installed degit globally.

Start with the smallest command that matches their request:

npx degit@latest user/repo
npx degit@latest user/repo my-project
npx degit@latest user/repo#branch my-project

Sources can be GitHub (user/repo, github:user/repo, or a GitHub URL), GitLab (gitlab:user/repo, a GitLab URL, or gitlab://host/user/repo), Bitbucket (bitbucket:user/repo or URL), Sourcehut (git.sr.ht/user/repo, SSH form, or URL), or Gist (https://gist.github.com/<id>, https://gist.github.com/<user>/<id>, git@gist.github.com:<id>.git, or ssh://git@gist.github.com/<id>). A #ref can name a branch, tag, or commit. A source may include a subdirectory path.

The destination defaults to the current directory and must be empty. Do not suggest --force unless the user explicitly wants to overwrite its contents.
Use --cache to require a cached copy (no network). Without --cache, degit tries the network first and falls back to the cached copy if the network is unreachable. Use --verbose to diagnose failures. --mode=git still works but is unnecessary; tar snapshots are the default.
Use --files <paths> or -F <paths> to clone only specific files or directories; separate multiple paths with commas or repeat the flag.
Private repositories are handled automatically, with SSH fallback when needed. SSH/private use requires git on PATH and working repository credentials.
For reusable shortcuts, use degit alias <repo> <name>, then degit <name>; use degit ls and degit unalias <name> to manage aliases.
If a template needs post-download changes, explain that its top-level degit.json can use clone, search_replace, and remove actions. search_replace uses a named environment variable for its replacement value.

If source, ref, destination, or whether the destination is empty is unknown, ask before giving a potentially destructive command.

Files

Just SKILL.md in skills/degit of Rich-Harris/degit.

Open the folder on GitHubat commit abb913a

Compare with similar skills

degit Project Scaffolding next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.

degit Project Scaffolding compared with similar skills
Skill	Stars	Used in	Tokens	Auto-check	Licence	Repo updated
degit Project Scaffolding this skillRich-Harris/degit	7.9k	—	~534	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	27 days ago
Git Repo Beginner Guidelintendo/Axhub-Skills	130	—	~893	Automated safety check: Notes	MIT	1 mo ago
Git Platformathola/claude-night-market	341	—	~1.2k	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	today
Git MacheteVirtusLab/git-machete	1.1k	—	~6.1k	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	6 days ago
MR and PR Description Draftertabler/tabler	42k	—	~2k	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	today
Git Init Remoteexception-coder/npe_get_jobs	176	—	~662	Automated safety check: Pass	Custom licence	17 days ago

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Works with

Questions about degit Project Scaffolding

What does degit Project Scaffolding do?

Downloads a repository snapshot or template with degit into an empty folder, from GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Sourcehut or a Gist, optionally at a branch, tag or commit. The agent runs npx degit@latest, or a global install if you have one, using the smallest command that fits your request: a source such as user/repo, an optional #branch, tag or commit, and an optional destination folder. Sources can be GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Sourcehut or Gist, in short or URL form, and may point at a subdirectory.

When should I use degit Project Scaffolding?

degit Project Scaffolding fits situations like: starting a new project from an existing template repository; pulling a single folder out of a repository without cloning all of it; saving a shortcut for a template you reuse often.

How do I install degit Project Scaffolding in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add Rich-Harris/degit --skill degit -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/degit in Rich-Harris/degit) into .claude/skills/degit in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install degit Project Scaffolding in Codex?

Run `npx skills add Rich-Harris/degit --skill degit -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/degit in Rich-Harris/degit) into .agents/skills/degit in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use degit Project Scaffolding in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add Rich-Harris/degit --skill degit -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/degit, .gemini/skills/degit, .github/skills/degit and .opencode/skills/degit in your project.

What does degit Project Scaffolding need to run?

Going by SKILL.md and its folder, degit Project Scaffolding needs the command-line tools its instructions call (npx). Our summary lists: npx, which ships with Node.js; git on PATH and repository credentials, for private repositories.

Does degit Project Scaffolding access the network?

SKILL.md names 1 domain. In commands or code: gist.github.com; the agent is likely to contact it when it follows the instructions. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is degit Project Scaffolding safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does degit Project Scaffolding use?

degit Project Scaffolding is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does degit Project Scaffolding use?

About 534 tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 2.1k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.

What are the alternatives to degit Project Scaffolding?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with degit Project Scaffolding: Git Repo Beginner Guide (lintendo/Axhub-Skills, 130 stars), Git Platform (athola/claude-night-market, 341 stars), Git Machete (VirtusLab/git-machete, 1.1k stars) and MR and PR Description Drafter (tabler/tabler, 42k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains degit Project Scaffolding?

Rich-Harris (a GitHub user) maintains it in Rich-Harris/degit, which has 7,946 GitHub stars. The repository was last updated on September 13, 2026.

Source: Rich-Harris/degit on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.

Install degit Project Scaffolding

Facts

At a glance

What it does

When your agent uses it

Example prompts

Requirements

What it can do on your machine

Tool permissions

Runs code

Network

Credentials

Context cost

Safety

SKILL.md

Files

Compare with similar skills

Similar skills

Git Repo Beginner Guide

Git Platform

Git Machete

MR and PR Description Drafter

Git Init Remote

Git Smart Push

Related

Questions about degit Project Scaffolding