Introduction
In Release 0.3, I built and published repo-context-packager, a CLI tool that helps developers package their repository context for Large Language Models (LLMs). While the initial release (v1.0.3) works well and is available on npm, there is a significant difference between a "working" project and a "professional" open source project.
For Release 0.4, my goal is to bridge that gap. I plan to take this tool from a manual, local-first utility to a fully automated, widely distributable package that follows modern DevOps best practices.
The Plan: What I Will Do
Over the next few weeks, I will focus on four key areas:
1. Remote Repository Support
Currently, users must manually clone a repository before they can package it.
- Goal: Allow users to pass a GitHub URL directly (e.g.,
repo-context-packager https://github.com/user/repo). The tool will clone it to a temporary directory, package it, and clean up automatically. This significantly reduces friction for quick analysis.
2. Security Redaction
Pasting code into LLMs carries a risk: accidentally leaking API keys or credentials.
- Goal: Implement a
--safeflag that scans files for potential secrets (AWS keys, private keys,.envvariables) and replaces them with[REDACTED]. This makes the tool safer for enterprise use.
3. Automating the Release Process (CI/CD)
Currently, releasing a new version involves a manual checklist: running tests, building the project, bumping versions, and running npm publish. This is prone to human error.
- Goal: Implement a GitHub Actions workflow that automatically tests every PR and publishes new versions to npm whenever a new release tag is pushed.
4. Expanding Distribution
While npm install -g is standard for Node.js developers, many macOS users prefer Homebrew for managing CLI tools.
- Goal: Create a Homebrew Tap for
repo-context-packager, allowing users to install it viabrew install repo-context-packager. This lowers the barrier to entry and makes updates easier to manage.
Why This Work Matters
I chose to continue working on repo-context-packager because it solves a real problem I face daily: giving LLMs the right context. However, the engineering motivation for Release 0.4 is to master the "meta" skills of software development:
- Feature Development: Adding remote repository support and security redaction involves handling temporary files, git operations, and regex pattern matching—a great exercise in robust Node.js development.
- DevOps & Automation: Writing code is only half the job. Ensuring that code can be reliably tested and deployed is what separates hobby projects from professional engineering. Learning GitHub Actions in depth is a career-relevant skill.
- User Experience: Making installation seamless (via Homebrew) shows respect for the user's time. It shifts the focus from "how do I run this?" to "how do I use this?"
- Maintainability: By automating the tedious parts of maintenance, I make it easier for myself (and future contributors) to keep the project alive.
The Approach
Here is my roadmap for the coming weeks:
- Week 1 (Planning): Defining the scope (this post) and researching GitHub Actions for npm publishing.
- Week 2 (Features & Automation):
- Implement Remote Repository Support (clone -> package -> cleanup).
- Implement Security Redaction (regex-based secret scanning).
- Set up a CI pipeline to run tests on every Pull Request.
- Set up a CD pipeline to publish to npm on git tag creation.
- Deliverable: A new feature release (v1.1.0) and automated pipeline.
- Week 3 (Distribution & Polish):
- Create a Homebrew formula and Tap.
- Incorporate user feedback (bug fixes/UI tweaks).
- Finalize documentation (CHANGELOG, badges).
- Deliverable: A polished, professional open source repository.
Conclusion
Release 0.4 is about maturity. It's about taking a raw tool and wrapping it in the professional infrastructure it needs to thrive. By the end of this term, repo-context-packager won't just be a piece of code—it will be a robust, automated, and easily installable product.
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