When users authenticate the GitHub CLI with a personal access token
(PAT) instead of OAuth (`gh auth login`), the `cli_internal` stacks
API endpoints return 404. The CLI previously interpreted this as
"Stacked PRs are not enabled for this repository," which is misleading
— the feature may be enabled, but the token type simply cannot access
the internal endpoints.
This is a recurring source of user confusion. The docs already note
that PATs are not supported, but users don't always read them before
hitting the error.
This change adds token-type detection by inspecting the `gh` auth
token prefix:
- `gho_` → OAuth (supported)
- `ghs_` → GitHub App installation token (supported)
- `ghp_` → Classic PAT (NOT supported)
- `github_pat_` → Fine-grained PAT (NOT supported)
When a PAT is detected, the CLI now shows:
⚠ Personal access tokens are not supported by gh stack
Run `gh auth login` to authenticate with OAuth instead.
Instead of the misleading:
⚠ Stacked PRs are not enabled for this repository
Changes:
- Add `internal/config/auth.go` with auth detection methods on Config:
`IsPersonalAccessToken()`, `WarnIfPAT()`, and `RepoHost()`. Uses a
`TokenForHostFn` field on Config for test overrides, following the
same pattern as `GitHubClientOverride`.
- Add a pre-flight PAT check in `cmd/submit.go` before the
`ListStacks` call. If a PAT is detected, the command aborts early
with a clear error instead of making a doomed API call.
- Update all 404 handlers for `cli_internal` endpoints to check the
token type and show the appropriate message:
- `cmd/submit.go` (createNewStack)
- `cmd/link.go` (listStacksSafe, createLink)
- `cmd/checkout.go` (checkoutRemoteStack)
- Add `warnStacksUnavailableOrPAT()` helper in `cmd/utils.go` that
shows the PAT-specific warning when applicable, falling back to the
generic "not enabled" message for non-PAT tokens.
- Add unit tests in `internal/config/auth_test.go` for token prefix
detection and warning output.
- Add integration tests in `cmd/submit_test.go` verifying that both
classic PATs (`ghp_`) and fine-grained PATs (`github_pat_`) trigger
the pre-flight check and abort before any API calls.
- Add `warnStacksUnavailableOrPAT` tests in `cmd/utils_test.go`
verifying correct message selection based on token type.
- Update existing 404 tests to explicitly set an OAuth token so they
continue exercising the ListStacks 404 path.
* include prefix in branch name input
* custom prompter with colored input text
* minor fix: arrow direction for initialized stack
* fix comment
* handle SetTermMode err
* prune merged branches
* interactively prompt for prune
* delete remote tracking ref too
* disable selecting merged branches in TUIs
* include full list (including merged PRs) in PUT request to stacks API
* add prune to docs
* addressing review comments
* increment skill file version
* switch cmd to interactively switch to another branch in the stack
* add switch to docs
* addressing review comments
* bump skill file version
* default to current branch
Sameen Karim