docs: add FAQ entry about assigning in a private repo (#218)

* fixed file ingestion

* working binary files

* added replaced baseUrl

* fix: add type assertion for GitHub blob API response

Fixes TypeScript error where blobData was of type 'unknown' by adding
proper type assertion for the blob creation response.

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.ai/code)

Co-Authored-By: Andrew Grosser <dioptre@gmail.com>
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>

---------

Co-authored-by: Andrew Grosser <dioptre@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>

FAQ.md

@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ The `github-actions` user cannot trigger subsequent GitHub Actions workflows. Th
 
 Only users with **write permissions** to the repository can trigger Claude. This is a security feature to prevent unauthorized use. Make sure the user commenting has at least write access to the repository.
 
+### Why can't I assign @claude to an issue on my repository?
+
+If you're in a public repository, you should be able to assign to Claude without issue. If it's a private organization repository, you can only assign to users in your own organization, which Claude isn't. In this case, you'll need to make a custom user in that case.
+
 ### Why am I getting OIDC authentication errors?
 
 If you're using the default GitHub App authentication, you must add the `id-token: write` permission to your workflow:

README.md

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ on:
   pull_request_review_comment:
     types: [created]
   issues:
-    types: [opened, assigned]
+    types: [opened, assigned, labeled]
   pull_request_review:
     types: [submitted]
 
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ jobs:
           # trigger_phrase: "/claude"
           # Optional: add assignee trigger for issues
           # assignee_trigger: "claude"
+          # Optional: add label trigger for issues
+          # label_trigger: "claude"
           # Optional: add custom environment variables (YAML format)
           # claude_env: |
           #   NODE_ENV: test
@@ -80,6 +82,7 @@ jobs:
 | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- | --------- |
 | `anthropic_api_key`   | Anthropic API key (required for direct API, not needed for Bedrock/Vertex)                                           | No\*     | -         |
 | `direct_prompt`       | Direct prompt for Claude to execute automatically without needing a trigger (for automated workflows)                | No       | -         |
+| `base_branch`         | The base branch to use for creating new branches (e.g., 'main', 'develop')                                           | No       | -         |
 | `max_turns`           | Maximum number of conversation turns Claude can take (limits back-and-forth exchanges)                               | No       | -         |
 | `timeout_minutes`     | Timeout in minutes for execution                                                                                     | No       | `30`      |
 | `github_token`        | GitHub token for Claude to operate with. **Only include this if you're connecting a custom GitHub app of your own!** | No       | -         |
@@ -92,7 +95,9 @@ jobs:
 | `custom_instructions` | Additional custom instructions to include in the prompt for Claude                                                   | No       | ""        |
 | `mcp_config`          | Additional MCP configuration (JSON string) that merges with the built-in GitHub MCP servers                          | No       | ""        |
 | `assignee_trigger`    | The assignee username that triggers the action (e.g. @claude). Only used for issue assignment                        | No       | -         |
+| `label_trigger`       | The label name that triggers the action when applied to an issue (e.g. "claude")                                     | No       | -         |
 | `trigger_phrase`      | The trigger phrase to look for in comments, issue/PR bodies, and issue titles                                        | No       | `@claude` |
+| `branch_prefix`       | The prefix to use for Claude branches (defaults to 'claude/', use 'claude-' for dash format)                         | No       | `claude/` |
 | `claude_env`          | Custom environment variables to pass to Claude Code execution (YAML format)                                          | No       | ""        |
 
 \*Required when using direct Anthropic API (default and when not using Bedrock or Vertex)

action.yml

@@ -12,9 +12,17 @@ inputs:
   assignee_trigger:
     description: "The assignee username that triggers the action (e.g. @claude)"
     required: false
+  label_trigger:
+    description: "The label that triggers the action (e.g. claude)"
+    required: false
+    default: "claude"
   base_branch:
     description: "The branch to use as the base/source when creating new branches (defaults to repository default branch)"
     required: false
+  branch_prefix:
+    description: "The prefix to use for Claude branches (defaults to 'claude/', use 'claude-' for dash format)"
+    required: false
+    default: "claude/"
 
   # Claude Code configuration
   model:
@@ -98,7 +106,9 @@ runs:
       env:
         TRIGGER_PHRASE: ${{ inputs.trigger_phrase }}
         ASSIGNEE_TRIGGER: ${{ inputs.assignee_trigger }}
+        LABEL_TRIGGER: ${{ inputs.label_trigger }}
         BASE_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.base_branch }}
+        BRANCH_PREFIX: ${{ inputs.branch_prefix }}
         ALLOWED_TOOLS: ${{ inputs.allowed_tools }}
         DISALLOWED_TOOLS: ${{ inputs.disallowed_tools }}
         CUSTOM_INSTRUCTIONS: ${{ inputs.custom_instructions }}
@@ -110,7 +120,7 @@ runs:
     - name: Run Claude Code
       id: claude-code
       if: steps.prepare.outputs.contains_trigger == 'true'
-      uses: anthropics/claude-code-base-action@ce5cfd683932f58cb459e749f20b06d2fb30c265 # v0.0.25
+      uses: anthropics/claude-code-base-action@f6ef8c1000c0197b625af70349f68cb212e34fc1 # v0.0.28
       with:
         prompt_file: ${{ runner.temp }}/claude-prompts/claude-prompt.txt
         allowed_tools: ${{ env.ALLOWED_TOOLS }}

src/create-prompt/index.ts

@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ export function prepareContext(
   const eventAction = context.eventAction;
   const triggerPhrase = context.inputs.triggerPhrase || "@claude";
   const assigneeTrigger = context.inputs.assigneeTrigger;
+  const labelTrigger = context.inputs.labelTrigger;
   const customInstructions = context.inputs.customInstructions;
   const allowedTools = context.inputs.allowedTools;
   const disallowedTools = context.inputs.disallowedTools;
@@ -256,6 +257,19 @@ export function prepareContext(
           claudeBranch,
           ...(assigneeTrigger && { assigneeTrigger }),
         };
+      } else if (eventAction === "labeled") {
+        if (!labelTrigger) {
+          throw new Error("LABEL_TRIGGER is required for issue labeled event");
+        }
+        eventData = {
+          eventName: "issues",
+          eventAction: "labeled",
+          isPR: false,
+          issueNumber,
+          baseBranch,
+          claudeBranch,
+          labelTrigger,
+        };
       } else if (eventAction === "opened") {
         eventData = {
           eventName: "issues",
@@ -328,6 +342,11 @@ export function getEventTypeAndContext(envVars: PreparedContext): {
           eventType: "ISSUE_CREATED",
           triggerContext: `new issue with '${envVars.triggerPhrase}' in body`,
         };
+      } else if (eventData.eventAction === "labeled") {
+        return {
+          eventType: "ISSUE_LABELED",
+          triggerContext: `issue labeled with '${eventData.labelTrigger}'`,
+        };
       }
       return {
         eventType: "ISSUE_ASSIGNED",
@@ -467,6 +486,7 @@ Follow these steps:
    - Analyze the pre-fetched data provided above.
    - For ISSUE_CREATED: Read the issue body to find the request after the trigger phrase.
    - For ISSUE_ASSIGNED: Read the entire issue body to understand the task.
+   - For ISSUE_LABELED: Read the entire issue body to understand the task.
 ${eventData.eventName === "issue_comment" || eventData.eventName === "pull_request_review_comment" || eventData.eventName === "pull_request_review" ? `   - For comment/review events: Your instructions are in the <trigger_comment> tag above.` : ""}
 ${context.directPrompt ? `   - DIRECT INSTRUCTION: A direct instruction was provided and is shown in the <direct_prompt> tag above. This is not from any GitHub comment but a direct instruction to execute.` : ""}
    - IMPORTANT: Only the comment/issue containing '${context.triggerPhrase}' has your instructions.

src/create-prompt/types.ts

@@ -68,6 +68,16 @@ type IssueAssignedEvent = {
   assigneeTrigger?: string;
 };
 
+type IssueLabeledEvent = {
+  eventName: "issues";
+  eventAction: "labeled";
+  isPR: false;
+  issueNumber: string;
+  baseBranch: string;
+  claudeBranch: string;
+  labelTrigger: string;
+};
+
 type PullRequestEvent = {
   eventName: "pull_request";
   eventAction?: string; // opened, synchronize, etc.
@@ -85,6 +95,7 @@ export type EventData =
   | IssueCommentEvent
   | IssueOpenedEvent
   | IssueAssignedEvent
+  | IssueLabeledEvent
   | PullRequestEvent;
 
 // Combined type with separate eventData field

src/github/context.ts

@@ -29,11 +29,13 @@ export type ParsedGitHubContext = {
   inputs: {
     triggerPhrase: string;
     assigneeTrigger: string;
+    labelTrigger: string;
     allowedTools: string[];
     disallowedTools: string[];
     customInstructions: string;
     directPrompt: string;
     baseBranch?: string;
+    branchPrefix: string;
   };
 };
 
@@ -53,11 +55,13 @@ export function parseGitHubContext(): ParsedGitHubContext {
     inputs: {
       triggerPhrase: process.env.TRIGGER_PHRASE ?? "@claude",
       assigneeTrigger: process.env.ASSIGNEE_TRIGGER ?? "",
+      labelTrigger: process.env.LABEL_TRIGGER ?? "",
       allowedTools: parseMultilineInput(process.env.ALLOWED_TOOLS ?? ""),
       disallowedTools: parseMultilineInput(process.env.DISALLOWED_TOOLS ?? ""),
       customInstructions: process.env.CUSTOM_INSTRUCTIONS ?? "",
       directPrompt: process.env.DIRECT_PROMPT ?? "",
       baseBranch: process.env.BASE_BRANCH,
+      branchPrefix: process.env.BRANCH_PREFIX ?? "claude/",
     },
   };
 

src/github/operations/branch.ts

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export async function setupBranch(
 ): Promise<BranchInfo> {
   const { owner, repo } = context.repository;
   const entityNumber = context.entityNumber;
-  const { baseBranch } = context.inputs;
+  const { baseBranch, branchPrefix } = context.inputs;
   const isPR = context.isPR;
 
   if (isPR) {
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ export async function setupBranch(
     .split("T")
     .join("_");
 
-  const newBranch = `claude/${entityType}-${entityNumber}-${timestamp}`;
+  const newBranch = `${branchPrefix}${entityType}-${entityNumber}-${timestamp}`;
 
   try {
     // Get the SHA of the source branch

src/github/validation/trigger.ts

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import type { ParsedGitHubContext } from "../context";
 
 export function checkContainsTrigger(context: ParsedGitHubContext): boolean {
   const {
-    inputs: { assigneeTrigger, triggerPhrase, directPrompt },
+    inputs: { assigneeTrigger, labelTrigger, triggerPhrase, directPrompt },
   } = context;
 
   // If direct prompt is provided, always trigger
@@ -34,6 +34,16 @@ export function checkContainsTrigger(context: ParsedGitHubContext): boolean {
     }
   }
 
+  // Check for label trigger
+  if (isIssuesEvent(context) && context.eventAction === "labeled") {
+    const labelName = (context.payload as any).label?.name || "";
+
+    if (labelTrigger && labelName === labelTrigger) {
+      console.log(`Issue labeled with trigger label '${labelTrigger}'`);
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+
   // Check for issue body and title trigger on issue creation
   if (isIssuesEvent(context) && context.eventAction === "opened") {
     const issueBody = context.payload.issue.body || "";

src/mcp/github-file-ops-server.ts

@@ -125,13 +125,58 @@ server.tool(
             ? filePath
             : join(REPO_DIR, filePath);
 
-          const content = await readFile(fullPath, "utf-8");
-          return {
-            path: filePath,
-            mode: "100644",
-            type: "blob",
-            content: content,
-          };
+          // Check if file is binary (images, etc.)
+          const isBinaryFile =
+            /\.(png|jpg|jpeg|gif|webp|ico|pdf|zip|tar|gz|exe|bin|woff|woff2|ttf|eot)$/i.test(
+              filePath,
+            );
+
+          if (isBinaryFile) {
+            // For binary files, create a blob first using the Blobs API
+            const binaryContent = await readFile(fullPath);
+
+            // Create blob using Blobs API (supports encoding parameter)
+            const blobUrl = `${GITHUB_API_URL}/repos/${owner}/${repo}/git/blobs`;
+            const blobResponse = await fetch(blobUrl, {
+              method: "POST",
+              headers: {
+                Accept: "application/vnd.github+json",
+                Authorization: `Bearer ${githubToken}`,
+                "X-GitHub-Api-Version": "2022-11-28",
+                "Content-Type": "application/json",
+              },
+              body: JSON.stringify({
+                content: binaryContent.toString("base64"),
+                encoding: "base64",
+              }),
+            });
+
+            if (!blobResponse.ok) {
+              const errorText = await blobResponse.text();
+              throw new Error(
+                `Failed to create blob for ${filePath}: ${blobResponse.status} - ${errorText}`,
+              );
+            }
+
+            const blobData = (await blobResponse.json()) as { sha: string };
+
+            // Return tree entry with blob SHA
+            return {
+              path: filePath,
+              mode: "100644",
+              type: "blob",
+              sha: blobData.sha,
+            };
+          } else {
+            // For text files, include content directly in tree
+            const content = await readFile(fullPath, "utf-8");
+            return {
+              path: filePath,
+              mode: "100644",
+              type: "blob",
+              content: content,
+            };
+          }
         }),
       );
 

test/create-prompt.test.ts

@@ -226,6 +226,33 @@ describe("generatePrompt", () => {
     );
   });
 
+  test("should generate prompt for issue labeled event", () => {
+    const envVars: PreparedContext = {
+      repository: "owner/repo",
+      claudeCommentId: "12345",
+      triggerPhrase: "@claude",
+      eventData: {
+        eventName: "issues",
+        eventAction: "labeled",
+        isPR: false,
+        issueNumber: "888",
+        baseBranch: "main",
+        claudeBranch: "claude/issue-888-20240101_120000",
+        labelTrigger: "claude-task",
+      },
+    };
+
+    const prompt = generatePrompt(envVars, mockGitHubData);
+
+    expect(prompt).toContain("<event_type>ISSUE_LABELED</event_type>");
+    expect(prompt).toContain(
+      "<trigger_context>issue labeled with 'claude-task'</trigger_context>",
+    );
+    expect(prompt).toContain(
+      "[Create a PR](https://github.com/owner/repo/compare/main",
+    );
+  });
+
   test("should include direct prompt when provided", () => {
     const envVars: PreparedContext = {
       repository: "owner/repo",
@@ -615,6 +642,28 @@ describe("getEventTypeAndContext", () => {
     expect(result.triggerContext).toBe("issue assigned to 'claude-bot'");
   });
 
+  test("should return correct type and context for issue labeled", () => {
+    const envVars: PreparedContext = {
+      repository: "owner/repo",
+      claudeCommentId: "12345",
+      triggerPhrase: "@claude",
+      eventData: {
+        eventName: "issues",
+        eventAction: "labeled",
+        isPR: false,
+        issueNumber: "888",
+        baseBranch: "main",
+        claudeBranch: "claude/issue-888-20240101_120000",
+        labelTrigger: "claude-task",
+      },
+    };
+
+    const result = getEventTypeAndContext(envVars);
+
+    expect(result.eventType).toBe("ISSUE_LABELED");
+    expect(result.triggerContext).toBe("issue labeled with 'claude-task'");
+  });
+
   test("should return correct type and context for issue assigned without assigneeTrigger", () => {
     const envVars: PreparedContext = {
       repository: "owner/repo",

test/mockContext.ts

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import type {
 const defaultInputs = {
   triggerPhrase: "/claude",
   assigneeTrigger: "",
+  labelTrigger: "",
   anthropicModel: "claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219",
   allowedTools: [] as string[],
   disallowedTools: [] as string[],
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ const defaultInputs = {
   useBedrock: false,
   useVertex: false,
   timeoutMinutes: 30,
+  branchPrefix: "claude/",
 };
 
 const defaultRepository = {
@@ -128,6 +130,46 @@ export const mockIssueAssignedContext: ParsedGitHubContext = {
   inputs: { ...defaultInputs, assigneeTrigger: "@claude-bot" },
 };
 
+export const mockIssueLabeledContext: ParsedGitHubContext = {
+  runId: "1234567890",
+  eventName: "issues",
+  eventAction: "labeled",
+  repository: defaultRepository,
+  actor: "admin-user",
+  payload: {
+    action: "labeled",
+    issue: {
+      number: 1234,
+      title: "Enhancement: Improve search functionality",
+      body: "The current search is too slow and needs optimization",
+      user: {
+        login: "alice-wonder",
+        id: 54321,
+        avatar_url: "https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/54321",
+        html_url: "https://github.com/alice-wonder",
+      },
+      assignee: null,
+    },
+    label: {
+      id: 987654321,
+      name: "claude-task",
+      color: "f29513",
+      description: "Label for Claude AI interactions",
+    },
+    repository: {
+      name: "test-repo",
+      full_name: "test-owner/test-repo",
+      private: false,
+      owner: {
+        login: "test-owner",
+      },
+    },
+  } as IssuesEvent,
+  entityNumber: 1234,
+  isPR: false,
+  inputs: { ...defaultInputs, labelTrigger: "claude-task" },
+};
+
 // Issue comment on issue event
 export const mockIssueCommentContext: ParsedGitHubContext = {
   runId: "1234567890",

test/permissions.test.ts

@@ -62,10 +62,12 @@ describe("checkWritePermissions", () => {
     inputs: {
       triggerPhrase: "@claude",
       assigneeTrigger: "",
+      labelTrigger: "",
       allowedTools: [],
       disallowedTools: [],
       customInstructions: "",
       directPrompt: "",
+      branchPrefix: "claude/",
     },
   });
 

test/trigger-validation.test.ts

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { describe, it, expect } from "bun:test";
 import {
   createMockContext,
   mockIssueAssignedContext,
+  mockIssueLabeledContext,
   mockIssueCommentContext,
   mockIssueOpenedContext,
   mockPullRequestReviewContext,
@@ -29,10 +30,12 @@ describe("checkContainsTrigger", () => {
         inputs: {
           triggerPhrase: "/claude",
           assigneeTrigger: "",
+          labelTrigger: "",
           directPrompt: "Fix the bug in the login form",
           allowedTools: [],
           disallowedTools: [],
           customInstructions: "",
+          branchPrefix: "claude/",
         },
       });
       expect(checkContainsTrigger(context)).toBe(true);
@@ -55,10 +58,12 @@ describe("checkContainsTrigger", () => {
         inputs: {
           triggerPhrase: "/claude",
           assigneeTrigger: "",
+          labelTrigger: "",
           directPrompt: "",
           allowedTools: [],
           disallowedTools: [],
           customInstructions: "",
+          branchPrefix: "claude/",
         },
       });
       expect(checkContainsTrigger(context)).toBe(false);
@@ -107,6 +112,39 @@ describe("checkContainsTrigger", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe("label trigger", () => {
+    it("should return true when issue is labeled with the trigger label", () => {
+      const context = mockIssueLabeledContext;
+      expect(checkContainsTrigger(context)).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it("should return false when issue is labeled with a different label", () => {
+      const context = {
+        ...mockIssueLabeledContext,
+        payload: {
+          ...mockIssueLabeledContext.payload,
+          label: {
+            ...(mockIssueLabeledContext.payload as any).label,
+            name: "bug",
+          },
+        },
+      } as ParsedGitHubContext;
+      expect(checkContainsTrigger(context)).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it("should return false for non-labeled events", () => {
+      const context = {
+        ...mockIssueLabeledContext,
+        eventAction: "opened",
+        payload: {
+          ...mockIssueLabeledContext.payload,
+          action: "opened",
+        },
+      } as ParsedGitHubContext;
+      expect(checkContainsTrigger(context)).toBe(false);
+    });
+  });
+
   describe("issue body and title trigger", () => {
     it("should return true when issue body contains trigger phrase", () => {
       const context = mockIssueOpenedContext;
@@ -232,10 +270,12 @@ describe("checkContainsTrigger", () => {
         inputs: {
           triggerPhrase: "@claude",
           assigneeTrigger: "",
+          labelTrigger: "",
           directPrompt: "",
           allowedTools: [],
           disallowedTools: [],
           customInstructions: "",
+          branchPrefix: "claude/",
         },
       });
       expect(checkContainsTrigger(context)).toBe(true);
@@ -259,10 +299,12 @@ describe("checkContainsTrigger", () => {
         inputs: {
           triggerPhrase: "@claude",
           assigneeTrigger: "",
+          labelTrigger: "",
           directPrompt: "",
           allowedTools: [],
           disallowedTools: [],
           customInstructions: "",
+          branchPrefix: "claude/",
         },
       });
       expect(checkContainsTrigger(context)).toBe(true);
@@ -286,10 +328,12 @@ describe("checkContainsTrigger", () => {
         inputs: {
           triggerPhrase: "@claude",
           assigneeTrigger: "",
+          labelTrigger: "",
           directPrompt: "",
           allowedTools: [],
           disallowedTools: [],
           customInstructions: "",
+          branchPrefix: "claude/",
         },
       });
       expect(checkContainsTrigger(context)).toBe(false);