github-issues-integration.md

title	Implement GitHub Issues with @devintern/code
sidebarLabel	GitHub Issues Integration
description	Fetch GitHub issues, track status labels, implement with your coding agent, and open the PR in the same repository.
section	Code
order	5
dateModified	2026-08-26
tags	github github-issues devintern/code integration

Implement GitHub Issues with @devintern/code

@devintern/code can implement work directly from GitHub Issues: fetch issue details and comments, run a feasibility check, move status labels, execute your AI agent, commit changes, open a pull request in the same repository, and post results back on the issue.

Looking for unattended PR review automation? Use the worker (polling plus the relay). Direct GitHub webhooks are an advanced path: GitHub Integration.

Prerequisites

• Bun and @getdevintern/code installed globally
• GitHub personal access token
• Git repository for your project

Setup

1. Set the task tracker

In .devintern-code/.env:

TASK_TRACKER=github

2. Add GitHub credentials

GITHUB_TOKEN=ghp_xxxxxxxxxxxx
GITHUB_REPO=owner/repo

The same GITHUB_TOKEN used for pull request creation works here. It needs the repo scope (classic token) or Issues: Read and write plus Pull requests: Read and write (fine-grained token). GITHUB_REPO is the repository whose issues you want to implement, in owner/repo form.

GitHub App credentials (GITHUB_APP_ID + private key) cannot substitute for this tracker. The Issues client only accepts GITHUB_TOKEN. Use a token for personal / interactive CLI use; add the App for team / unattended automation (@mention matching, slug[bot] commits). See Configuration and Pricing.

3. Configure status labels

GitHub has no built-in workflow states, so @devintern/code maps statuses to labels. Create the labels in your repository, then configure them in .devintern-code/settings.json using owner/repo as the project key:

{
  "github": {
    "projects": {
      "acme/webapp": {
        "inProgressStatus": "In Progress",
        "todoStatus": "To Do",
        "prStatus": "In Review"
      }
    }
  }
}

To keep statuses mutually exclusive, also list them in .devintern-code/.env:

GITHUB_STATUS_LABELS=To Do,In Progress,In Review

When a status changes, @devintern/code adds the target label and removes the other labels in this list. Transitioning to closed or done closes the issue instead of applying a label.

Running an issue

Pass an issue number, #number, or a full issue URL:

# Issue number
devintern 123 --create-pr

# Full issue URL
devintern https://github.com/acme/webapp/issues/123 --create-pr

This workflow:

1. Fetches the issue body, labels, and comments
2. Runs a feasibility assessment (skippable with --skip-clarity-check)
3. Applies the inProgressStatus label (unless --skip-comments is set)
4. Creates a feature branch, runs your agent, commits, and optionally opens a PR
5. Applies the prStatus label after PR creation
6. Posts implementation or assessment comments on the issue

Batch processing with --query

Select multiple issues with GitHub search qualifiers. The query is automatically scoped to your repository with repo:owner/repo is:issue:

devintern --query "is:open label:bug" --create-pr
devintern --query 'is:open "login flow"' --create-pr

The first 100 matching issues are processed in sequence. Note that GitHub's search API is rate-limited to 30 requests per minute.

Story points estimation

GitHub Issues has no estimation field, so --estimate runs in comment-only mode: the analysis is posted (or updated) as an issue comment with the suggested points, reasoning, risks, and unclear areas.

Limitations

• Attachments: GitHub has no attachment API. Images and files embedded in the issue body (user-attachments links) are downloaded for the agent.
• Status labels: labels named in settings.json must already exist in the repository. The error message lists available labels when one is missing.
• Comments: use --skip-comments to skip issue comments and label transitions for a run.

Troubleshooting

"Missing required GitHub environment variables"

Ensure GITHUB_TOKEN and GITHUB_REPO are set in .devintern-code/.env. A GitHub App ID and private key are not enough for this tracker.

"Label "In Progress" not found in the repository"

Create the label in your repository (Issues → Labels) or change the status names in settings.json to match existing labels.

Old status labels pile up on issues

Set GITHUB_STATUS_LABELS to the full list of status label names so transitions remove the previous status.

Search returns pull requests

Queries are scoped with is:issue automatically. If you pass your own repo: qualifier, include is:issue yourself.