How to use the Git Operations Expert agent skill

What the git-expert skill makes the agent do

An agent skill is a folder containing instructions (a SKILL.md file) that an AI agent reads to learn how to handle a specific kind of task. The git-expert skill is instructions only: it does not run any code itself, and the agent must run Git commands on its own.

With the skill installed, the agent follows Git-specific guidance on branching strategies (trunk-based, Git Flow and GitHub Flow), rebasing and merging, conflict resolution and recovery techniques such as git reflog and git reset.

• Checks the current state of the repository before destructive operations, using git status and git log --oneline -10.
• Avoids rewriting history on shared branches such as main or develop unless the whole team agrees.
• Recommends small, focused commits with clear messages.
• Uses git reflog as a safety net when recovering work.

Install the git-expert skill

Download the ZIP file for the git-expert skill from this page. Unzip it into one of these locations, depending on how you want to use it:

Personal install: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/ so the skill is available across your projects.

Project install: unzip into the .claude/skills/ folder inside a specific project so it applies only there.

In the Claude apps, you can instead upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

Trigger the skill with natural requests

You do not need a special command. Ask about Git in plain language and describe your situation. Mention the branch names, the commands you already ran, and the error message if there is one. The more specific the request, the more useful the guidance.

The skill covers choosing a branching workflow, untangling merge conflicts, rebasing or squashing commits, and recovering from mistakes such as a commit on the wrong branch or a deleted branch.

• Which branching strategy suits a team that deploys several times a day?
• I have merge conflicts in src/app.js during a rebase. How do I resolve them?
• Squash the last four commits on my feature branch into one clean commit.
• I committed to main by accident. How do I move the commit to a feature branch?
• I deleted a branch yesterday. Can you help me get it back?

Examples of recovery steps the skill covers

Many recovery tasks follow a few standard Git commands. The skill lists these patterns so the agent can apply them to your situation. Check the current state first, because the agent should do the same.

• Committed to the wrong branch: stash the changes, switch to the correct branch, then pop the stash.
• Need to undo the last commit but keep the changes staged: git reset --soft HEAD~1.
• Deleted a branch: find the commit with git reflog, then recreate the branch at that commit.
• Need one file from an earlier commit: git restore --source=<commit> -- path/to/file.

What the skill needs and what it does not do

The skill requires Git to be installed on the machine where the agent runs commands, and a local or remote Git repository to work on. According to its documentation, it does not run scripts and does not use the network.

It does not automate repository hosting tasks. Because the agent runs Git commands itself, a wrong command can still change real repositories, so review what the agent proposes before it runs anything that rewrites history or deletes data.

• Requires: Git installed where the agent runs, plus a local or remote repository.
• Runs scripts: no.
• Uses network: no.
• Covers Git only, not other version control systems.

Safety notes before you let the agent run commands

The skill itself sets several safety rules. Keep them in mind when you review the agent's actions. The guidance says to never use a plain force push on shared branches, and to use --force-with-lease at minimum after a rebase. It also warns against committing large binary files and against storing secrets in Git history.

If a secret is committed, the skill says to rotate the secret immediately and then use git filter-repo to purge it. Treat any history rewrite as something to confirm with your team first.

• Rebasing a branch others use requires a force push, so agree with your team first.
• Use --force-with-lease rather than --force.
• Large binaries belong in Git LFS or .gitignore.
• If a rebase goes wrong, git rebase --abort returns to the state before the rebase.

Tips for getting better results

Give the agent the context it needs: the branch you are on, whether the branch is shared, and whether the changes have been pushed. Those details decide which commands are safe. Ask the agent to explain each command before running it if you are learning Git.

• Name the branching model your team uses so advice matches your process.
• Ask for a dry explanation first, then approve the commands.
• For conflicts, ask the agent to explain what each side changed before choosing a resolution.
• Enable git rerere if you repeatedly resolve the same conflicts.