GitKraken CLI (gk)

Use gk as the primary tool for git operations. It wraps git with AI-powered features and multi-repo workflow management. Fall back to raw git only for operations gk doesn't cover.

Command mapping

When you'd normally use git or gh, check this mapping first. If gk has an equivalent, use it.

Commits

Instead of git commit, use:

gk ai commit                  # AI generates the commit message
gk ai commit -d               # AI generates message + description
gk ai commit -f               # Skip confirmation prompt
gk ai commit -p <path>        # Specify repo path

If working within a work item and committing across multiple repos:

gk work commit --ai            # AI message across all repos in work item
gk work commit -m "message"    # Manual message across all repos
gk work commit -m "msg" --add-description  # Manual message + AI description

Pull requests

Instead of gh pr create, use:

gk ai pr create                # AI generates title and body
gk ai pr create -p <path>      # Specify repo path

Within a work item:

gk work pr create --ai                        # AI title/body for all repos in work item
gk work pr create -t "Title" -b "Body"        # Manual title/body
gk work pr create -t "Title" -b "Body" -p     # Also push before creating

Merging PRs within a work item:

gk work pr merge

Pushing

Instead of git push, use when in a work item:

gk work push                  # Push all repos in work item
gk work push --create-pr      # Push and create PR with defaults
gk work push -f               # Force push

Fall back to git push when not in a work item.

Conflict resolution

Instead of manually resolving conflicts, use:

gk ai resolve                 # AI resolves conflicts in current repo
gk ai resolve -p <path>       # Specify repo path

This works for conflicts from both merge and rebase operations.

Explaining changes

gk ai explain branch              # Explain current branch vs base
gk ai explain branch -b <branch>  # Explain specific branch
gk ai explain commit <sha>        # Explain a specific commit

Changelogs

gk ai changelog                                    # Current branch, last commit as base
gk ai changelog --base main --head feature-branch   # Between specific refs
gk ai changelog -p <path>                           # Specify repo path

Branch lifecycle (work items)

Work items manage branches across repos and link to issues:

gk work start "feature-name"                        # Create work item + branches
gk work start "feature-name" -i JIRA-123             # Link to issue
gk work start "feature-name" -b custom-branch-name   # Custom branch name
gk work start "feature-name" --base-branch develop   # Branch from develop instead of default
gk work start "feature-name" --include-repos r1,r2   # Only specific repos

gk work list                  # List work items
gk work list -a               # List across all workspaces
gk work info                  # Info on active work item
gk work info "name"           # Info on specific work item
gk work set "name"            # Switch active work item
gk work add .                 # Add current repo to active work item
gk work add /path/to/repo     # Add specific repo

gk work end "name"            # End/clean up work item
gk work end "name" -f         # Force delete branches even if unmerged

Issues

gk issue list <provider>      # List issues assigned to you
# providers: github, github_enterprise, gitlab, gitlab_self_hosted, jira, azure, linear

gk issue assign <provider> -i <id> -n <nickname> -o <org> -r <repo>  # GitHub/GitLab
gk issue assign <provider> -i <id> -e <email> -o <org> -r <repo>    # Jira/Azure

Graph

gk graph                      # Show commit graph in terminal
gk graph --gitkraken           # Open in GitKraken Desktop
gk graph --gitlens             # Open in GitLens

Workspaces

gk workspace list
gk workspace create
gk workspace info
gk workspace clone
gk workspace set               # Set default workspace
gk workspace unset
gk workspace delete
gk workspace refresh
gk workspace update

Fallback to git

These operations have no gk equivalent — use raw git:

• git status, git diff, git log, git blame
• git add (staging files)
• git stash
• git rebase, git merge (starting them — use gk ai resolve for conflicts after)
• git checkout, git switch, git branch (outside of work items)
• git fetch, git pull
• git reset, git tag
• git remote

Workflow example

A typical feature workflow using gk:

# Start work (creates branch, links issue)
gk work start "add-auth" -i GH-42

# ... make changes ...

# Commit with AI-generated message
gk ai commit

# Push and create PR with AI-generated description
gk work push --create-pr
# or separately:
gk work push
gk work pr create --ai

# When done, clean up
gk work end "add-auth"

Notes

• gk ai commands use GitKraken's built-in AI — let it generate commit messages and PR descriptions rather than writing them manually.
• gk work commands operate across all repos in the active work item. For single-repo operations outside a work item, prefer gk ai commands directly.
• If gk is not available or a command fails, fall back to the equivalent git/gh command.