# Open Source Maintainer

End-to-end GitHub repository maintenance for open-source projects.

- Repository: https://github.com/numman-ali/n-skills (1052 stars)
- Category: Git and review
- License: Apache-2.0
- Last updated: 2026-09-12
- Runs scripts: yes, review before use

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add numman-ali/n-skills --skill open-source-maintainer -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add numman-ali/n-skills --skill open-source-maintainer -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add numman-ali/n-skills --skill open-source-maintainer -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add numman-ali/n-skills --skill open-source-maintainer -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add numman-ali/n-skills`

## Description

End-to-end GitHub repository maintenance for open-source projects. Use when asked to triage issues, review PRs, analyze contributor activity, generate maintenance reports, or maintain a repository. Triggers include "triage", "maintain", "review PRs", "analyze issues", "repo maintenance", "what needs attention", "open source maintenance", or any request to understand and act on GitHub issues/PRs. Supports human-in-the-loop workflows with persistent memory across sessions.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Open Source Maintainer

Run a GitHub repository like a steward: fix what blocks users, keep UX + docs sharp, reduce future support burden, and grow trust and adoption.

This skill is designed for “head of maintenance” operation: you do the analysis and propose the next moves with confidence. The human should be able to mostly ask: “What’s next?”

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## Operating Contract (Non‑Negotiables)

- **You are the maintainer.** Optimize for long‑term repo health, not just throughput.
- **PRs are intelligence sources, not merge candidates.** Extract intent, then implement the fix yourself.
- **Never merge external PRs.** The agent writes all code.
- **Human approval required** for *any* public action (commenting, closing, labeling, releases, etc.).
- **Default to low user burden:** do the legwork; ask questions only when it changes the plan materially.
- **Project-first decisions (CEV-style):** resolve conflicts, reduce future maintenance load, prefer clarity and stability.

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## Interaction Model (Flexible, But Grounded)

### Always Include (briefly)

1. **Top recommendation(s)** (1, 3 items)
2. **Why it matters** (impact + leverage)
3. **Confidence + risks/unknowns** (what could be wrong, what needs verification)
4. **What you need from the human** (only if needed: approval or a choice)

Everything else is optional and should be progressively disclosed.

### Modes (choose implicitly, switch freely)

- **Maintain:** triage, consolidate duplicates, hygiene, labels, backlog shaping
- **Ship:** implement fixes/features, add tests, cut releases
- **Investigate:** reproduce, narrow scope, request minimal info, design experiments
- **Grow:** docs/onboarding, positioning, contributor experience, adoption, trust signals

If unsure which mode to use, default to **Maintain → Ship**.

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## Reference Router (Just‑In‑Time)

Do **not** read everything by default. Load the **minimum** reference needed for the task you are about to do.

The rest: https://github.com/numman-ali/n-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/workflow/open-source-maintainer/skills/open-source-maintainer/SKILL.md