Automate repository description/topics sync from .github/settings.yml

[Madhan230205]

Overview

Repository metadata is defined in .github/settings.yml, but there is no guaranteed automation that applies this config to live GitHub repository settings.

User Story

As an open-source maintainer
I want repository description/homepage/topics to sync automatically from versioned config
So that discoverability metadata is always consistent and auditable.

Context

• Why needed: Declarative metadata is currently not guaranteed to be enforced.
• Current workflow: Maintainers edit .github/settings.yml manually.
• Pain point: GitHub UI can drift from repository config.
• Success metric: 100% successful metadata sync on pushes that change .github/settings.yml.

Acceptance Criteria

• A workflow runs when .github/settings.yml changes.
• Repo description, homepage, and topics are updated via GitHub API.
• Workflow logs the final applied values.
• Failure mode is explicit when required permissions/secrets are missing.
• Contributing docs explain setup and fallback.

Technical Requirements

• Technology/framework: GitHub Actions + gh api or actions/github-script
• Security: least-privileged token with required repository admin scope
• Performance: workflow completes in under 60s

Definition of Done

• Workflow implemented and merged
• Docs updated
• Verified by changing description/topics in one PR and confirming GitHub UI sync

Estimated Effort

1-2 days