mint-github-token

name	mint-github-token
description	Exchange an OIDC token for a GitHub token using Minty.

Mint GitHub Token

This skill provides instructions for exchanging an OIDC token (from Google or GitHub) for a GitHub App installation token using the Minty CLI.

Prerequisites

• gcloud CLI (for Google ID tokens) or gh CLI (for GitHub ID tokens, if applicable).
• A running Minty server (or access to one).

Usage

To mint a token, run:

go run github.com/abcxyz/github-token-minter/cmd/minty@main tools mint \
  --mintyURL <minty_server_url> \
  --token <oidc_token> \
  --request <request_json>

Arguments

• --mintyURL: The URL of the Minty server (e.g., https://minty.example.com).
• --token: The OIDC token to exchange.
• --request: A JSON string containing the token request details (e.g., repositories and permissions).

[!NOTE] If these arguments are not provided or known from context (e.g., the Minty URL), ask the user for them.

Generating ID Tokens

Google Service Account (gcloud)

To use a Google Service Account (impersonation):

# Get the ID token
export OIDC_TOKEN=$(gcloud auth print-identity-token --impersonate-service-account <sa-email> --audiences <minty-audience>)

# Run minter
go run github.com/abcxyz/github-token-minter/cmd/minty@main tools mint \
  --mintyURL <url> \
  --token $OIDC_TOKEN \
  --request '{"repositories": ["my-repo"], "permissions": {"contents": "read"}}'

GitHub CLI (gh)

To use your GitHub identity, you must obtain an OIDC token (JWT), not a standard opaque personal access token.

• Actions/Codespaces: gh can generate OIDC tokens in these environments.
• Local Development: gh auth token typically returns an opaque token (e.g., ghp_...), which will not work if Minty requires OIDC.
  • Recommendation: Use Google Service Account impersonation for local user flows if configured.
  • If you must use GitHub locally, ensuring gh returns a JWT requires specific configuration (e.g., enterprise managed users or specific auth flows).

Example

# 1. Get Token
export TOKEN=$(gcloud auth print-identity-token \
  --impersonate-service-account [e-mail] \
  --audiences "https://minty.abcxyz.dev")

# 2. Request GitHub Token
go run github.com/abcxyz/github-token-minter/cmd/minty@main tools mint \
  --mintyURL "https://minty-service-url" \
  --token "$TOKEN" \
  --request '{"repositories": ["github-token-minter"], "permissions": {"issues": "write"}}'