Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Dependabot Configuration Guide agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The dependabot agent skill is a set of GitHub's rules for Dependabot, GitHub's built-in dependency update tool, packaged so an AI agent can follow them. It is aimed at developers who maintain a repository and want a correct .github/dependabot.yml without reading all of GitHub's documentation. After this guide you will know how to install the skill, how to ask for help in plain language, and what kinds of output to expect.
Dependabot Configuration Guidegithub/awesome-copilot · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Download the dependabot skill ZIP file from this page.
- 2Unzip into a skills folder. Unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into .claude/skills/ in your project.
- 3Or upload it in the Claude apps. Go to Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills, and upload the ZIP.
- 4Describe your repository. Tell the agent which languages, package managers and folder layout your repository uses.
- 5Ask for a dependabot.yml. Make a natural request such as create a dependabot.yml for this repo, and mention any grouping or schedule you want.
- 6Review and commit. Read the generated .github/dependabot.yml on the default branch and check the directories and groups before committing.
What the dependabot skill makes the agent do
Dependabot watches a project's dependencies. It raises alerts when a dependency has a known vulnerability, can open pull requests to fix vulnerable dependencies (security updates), and can open pull requests to keep dependencies current (version updates).
The skill teaches the agent how all of this is configured through one file, .github/dependabot.yml on the default branch. The agent can detect which package managers a repository uses, map the directories where their manifests live, group related updates, set schedules and cooldown periods, and handle monorepos. It also covers pull request options such as labels, commit messages, assignees and target branches.
- Detect ecosystems from manifest files such as package.json, pyproject.toml, Dockerfile and .github/workflows/*.yml
- Use directories with glob patterns for monorepos
- Group updates by dependency type, name pattern or across ecosystems
- Set intervals, cron schedules and cooldown periods
- Explain Dependabot pull request behaviour and comment commands
Install the dependabot skill
Download the ZIP file for the skill from this page. Then choose one of the following options.
For a personal setup that applies to all your projects, unzip the file into ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, unzip it into the .claude/skills/ folder inside that project. In the Claude apps, you can instead upload the ZIP under Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills.
- Personal: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project only: .claude/skills/ inside your repository
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the ZIP
Trigger the skill with natural requests
You do not need a special command. Describe the task in ordinary language and mention Dependabot or dependabot.yml. The skill's description covers requests about creating or optimizing dependabot.yml files, managing Dependabot pull requests, setting up grouped updates, monorepo patterns and security update configuration.
Give the agent context. Say which repository you are working in and which languages or tools it uses, because the agent detects ecosystems from the files it can see.
- Create a dependabot.yml for this repo
- Group my dev and production npm dependencies into separate PRs
- Set up Dependabot for a monorepo with apps and packages folders
- Why is Dependabot opening so many PRs for the same library?
Example: a monorepo configuration
For a monorepo with many workspace packages, the skill recommends using directories (plural) with glob patterns rather than listing each folder. The directory key (singular) does not support globs. The skill also shows how to group development and production dependencies so each group produces one pull request instead of many.
The example below is taken from the skill's reference examples and shows a pnpm or Turborepo style layout.
version: 2
updates:
- package-ecosystem: "npm"
directories:
- "/"
- "/apps/*"
- "/packages/*"
- "/services/*"
schedule:
interval: "weekly"
day: "monday"
groups:
dev-dependencies:
dependency-type: "development"
update-types: ["minor", "patch"]
production-dependencies:
dependency-type: "production"
update-types: ["minor", "patch"]
labels:
- "dependencies"
- "npm"
commit-message:
prefix: "deps"
include: "scope"Work with Dependabot pull requests
You can steer existing Dependabot pull requests by commenting @dependabot followed by a command. Dependabot acknowledges a command with a thumbs-up reaction. The reference lists commands such as rebase, which rebases the PR against the target branch, and recreate, which recreates the PR from scratch and overwrites manual edits.
Some merge and close commands have been removed from Dependabot. The reference says to use GitHub's native interface, the GitHub CLI (gh pr merge), the API, or auto-merge instead.
- @dependabot rebase
- @dependabot recreate
- @dependabot ignore this dependency
Safety notes: scripts, network and scanning
The skill runs no scripts and does not use the network, according to its listing. It requires nothing beyond the files it contains. It is advice and configuration help, not a scanner.
It does not scan your code for vulnerabilities. For pre-commit dependency vulnerability scanning in AI coding agents through the GitHub MCP Server, the skill points to a separate plugin, advanced-security@copilot-plugins. Review any generated dependabot.yml before committing it, since the agent writes configuration that changes how your repository receives pull requests.
What people use it for
- Writing a first .github/dependabot.yml for a single npm or Python project
- Cutting down the number of Dependabot PRs in a monorepo by grouping updates
- Setting weekly or cron update schedules and cooldown periods
- Working out why Dependabot grouped or split certain updates
- Finding the right PR comment command, such as rebase or ignore, for an existing Dependabot PR
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the dependabot agent skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into .claude/skills/ inside a project. In the Claude apps, upload the ZIP under Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills.
Is the dependabot skill free?
The skill is published under the MIT licence, as listed on this page. Check the licence file in the source repository for the full terms.
What does the dependabot skill need to run?
The listing says it requires nothing beyond its own files. It runs no scripts and uses no network access.
Does the skill scan my code for vulnerabilities?
No. It does not scan code itself. For pre-commit dependency vulnerability scanning, the skill refers to the separate advanced-security@copilot-plugins plugin.
Can the skill help with a monorepo?
Yes. It covers glob patterns in the directories key, cross-directory grouping with group-by: dependency-name, and the limits of that grouping, such as all directories needing the same ecosystem.
Is there an alternative if I do not use GitHub?
This skill is specific to GitHub's Dependabot service and is not useful for projects that do not use GitHub or Dependabot. For other hosts, use that host's own dependency update tool and its documentation.
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Our verdict
Use this skill if you maintain a GitHub repository and want a correct dependabot.yml, especially for monorepos or many package ecosystems. Skip it if your project is not on GitHub or you need an actual vulnerability scan, since it only gives configuration advice and points to a separate plugin for scanning.
Download the skill