GitKraken CLI (the command is gk) is a command-line tool launched by GitKraken. Its core functionality is designed around "Work Items," which can be understood as the feature or issue you are currently working on. With Work Items, you can operate on multiple code repositories at the same time and get the same experience as working in a single monorepo.
In terms of main capabilities, gk provides AI-powered commit message generation and Pull Request generation. In addition, it includes a built-in local MCP server that encapsulates MCP operations for git, GitHub, and Jira, and provides large language models (LLMs) with tools for interacting with the GitKraken API and features. Specific installation instructions for the MCP server can be found in the Help Center for the AI application you choose.
In terms of usage, it is recommended to start with one repository and then gradually add more repositories. The general flow includes getting familiar with single-repository operations, then creating work items by adding multiple repositories to a new work item, and generating commits and PRs for multiple repositories at once. gk also supports pass-through of arbitrary git commands, for example gk can execute git command pass-through. The best way to explore the CLI is to use the gk help command.
For installation, gk supports macOS, Windows, and Unix systems. It can be installed via Homebrew; you can also download the binary file from the releases page and add it to the binaries folder; or create a new directory, move the binary file, and add it to $PATH; you can also download the corresponding package (.deb, .rpm) for installation; on Windows it can be installed via Winget.
For configuration, GitKraken CLI supports Nerd Fonts to display icons in certain commands. To ensure the icons render correctly, you need to obtain and install a Nerd Font from https://www.nerdfonts.com/ , and after installation set your chosen Nerd Font as the terminal's default font.
Known issues include: after authenticating in the browser, gk login freezes, because Safari and Brave currently do not allow responses to localhost via port 1314. This can be resolved by changing the default browser or by copying the URL before the redirect and opening it in another browser. In addition, Oh-My-Zsh sets the gitk alias to gk, which may cause problems, and you need to enter the corresponding command in the terminal to fix it. When manually installing the CLI from the releases page on macOS, you may encounter a security error; you need to go to "Settings > Security & Privacy > General" and click "Allow Anyway," then run gk setup again and click "Open Anyway" to continue.
