git fafo

Updated Jul 13, 2026

Scaffold and publish a new GitHub repository.

# Create a new Python repository named demo-repo

git fafo demo-repo python

# Create an empty repository named demo-repo

git fafo demo-repo

Requirements:

  • git
  • copier, when scaffolding from a language template
  • A GitHub token (GITHUB_TOKEN or GH_TOKEN) or an interactive terminal for device flow

Repository creation is handled via the github3.py API, so the token must have repo scope for private repositories or standard access for public ones. If no token is available, git fafo starts an OAuth device flow using loctocat and the default OAuth client ID Ov23liD2cKOAh7xmpXKR. Override the client ID by setting GIT_DONKEY_GITHUB_CLIENT_ID, then follow the prompt to enter the code at https://github.com/login/device. The access token is stored at ~/.config/git-donkey/github-token. Override the path with GIT_DONKEY_CREDENTIALS_FILE. If the target directory already exists, git fafo exits early.

When a language is provided, git fafo expects template repositories named agent-template-<language> under the current GitHub account and scaffolds the project with Copier. When the language is omitted, git fafo creates an empty local directory, initializes Git, creates the remote repository, and pushes the empty initial commit.

If the GitHub repository already exists, git fafo can adopt it only when the remote has no commits or only an empty initial commit. The command prompts before adopting an existing repository. Use --yes or -y to confirm adoption non-interactively:

# Adopt an existing empty repository without prompting

git fafo demo-repo --yes

Existing repositories with real content still exit with a ⚔️ conflict message; choose a new name or clear the remote first.

Some Copier templates use trusted features such as tasks, which can run commands during the scaffold. Copier blocks those templates unless trust is explicitly enabled. After reviewing the template source and confirming that its tasks are safe to run, pass --trust. The option only affects template-backed scaffolds:

# Allow a trusted Python template to run Copier tasks

git fafo demo-repo python --trust