# ci-speedup (/ai-powered-features/ci-speedup)



[ci-speedup](https://github.com/starslingdev/skills) is a free, open-source, MIT-licensed agent skill that runs on your machine, analyzes GitHub Actions, and gives your coding agent evidence to draft a fix. It works independently of StarSling Runners and does not require the StarSling GitHub App.

[See the ci-speedup overview](https://starsling.dev/ci-speedup) for a quick introduction before following the operational guide below.

<Callout type="info">
  ci-speedup is a local, on-demand audit that you invoke with your own coding agent. [StarSling optimization PRs](/ai-powered-features/optimizations) are a separate paid, hosted service that continuously analyzes your CI and opens reviewable PRs once enabled.
</Callout>

## Before you start

You need:

* The [GitHub CLI](https://cli.github.com/) authenticated to GitHub. Run `gh auth status` to check.
* Read access to the target repository's GitHub Actions runs, jobs, and logs.
* Python 3.9 or newer and [PyYAML](https://pypi.org/project/PyYAML/).
* Node.js and npm to install or invoke the skill with `npx`.

## Install and run

Install the skill with Vercel's Skills CLI:

```bash
npx skills add starslingdev/skills
```

The CLI lets you select the coding agent and whether to install the skill for the current project or globally. It currently [supports 73 coding agents](https://github.com/vercel-labs/skills#supported-agents), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and OpenCode.

In a repository, invoke the installed skill from your coding agent:

```text
/ci-speedup
```

The skill confirms the repository before it starts reading run data. To use it without installing, ask your coding agent to run this command and follow the generated instructions:

```bash
npx skills use "https://github.com/starslingdev/skills" --skill "ci-speedup"
```

## On demand versus continuous

|                           | ci-speedup                                                 | StarSling optimization PRs                                                    |
| ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Delivery**              | Agent skill you invoke                                     | Hosted optimization service                                                   |
| **Execution environment** | Your machine, coding agent, and authenticated `gh` CLI     | StarSling's hosted agents and GitHub App                                      |
| **Cost and availability** | Free, open source, and independent of StarSling Runners    | Available on paid plans once enabled; not enabled by default for new accounts |
| **Trigger**               | On demand, when you run it                                 | Continuous analysis as workflows change                                       |
| **Output**                | Diagnosis and evidence-backed prompt for your coding agent | Reviewable optimization PRs opened by StarSling                               |

## Resources

<Cards>
  <Card title="See ci-speedup" href="https://starsling.dev/ci-speedup" description="Watch the skill analyze a GitHub Actions bottleneck." />

  <Card title="Skill source" href="https://github.com/starslingdev/skills/tree/main/skills/ci-speedup" description="Read the open-source skill and its implementation." />

  <Card title="Launch article" href="https://starsling.dev/blog/introducing-ci-speedup-an-ai-coding-agent-skill-that-analyzes-and-fixes-your-slow-github-actions" description="Learn why StarSling built ci-speedup." />

  <Card title="Wall-clock methodology" href="https://github.com/starslingdev/skills/blob/main/skills/ci-speedup/references/wall-clock-methodology.md" description="See how the skill identifies and sizes the merge-gating long pole." />

  <Card title="Pattern catalog" href="https://github.com/starslingdev/skills/blob/main/skills/ci-speedup/references/optimization-patterns.md" description="Browse the maintained optimization catalog." />
</Cards>