feat(init): support GitHub URLs in workspace init --from flag

README.md

@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ bunx allagents
 allagents workspace init my-workspace
 cd my-workspace
 
+# Or initialize from a remote GitHub template
+allagents workspace init my-workspace --from owner/repo/path/to/template
+
 # Add a marketplace (or let auto-registration handle it)
 allagents plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-plugins-official
 
@@ -71,13 +74,31 @@ allagents workspace plugin add my-plugin@someuser/their-repo
 allagents workspace sync
 ```
 
+### Initialize from Remote Template
+
+Start a new workspace instantly from any GitHub repository containing a `workspace.yaml`:
+
+```bash
+# From GitHub URL
+allagents workspace init ~/my-project --from https://github.com/myorg/templates/tree/main/nodejs
+
+# From shorthand
+allagents workspace init ~/my-project --from myorg/templates/nodejs
+
+# From repo root (looks for .allagents/workspace.yaml or workspace.yaml)
+allagents workspace init ~/my-project --from myorg/templates
+```
+
+This fetches the workspace configuration directly from GitHub - no cloning required.
+
 ## Commands
 
 ### Workspace Commands
 
 ```bash
 # Initialize a new workspace from template
 allagents workspace init <path>
+allagents workspace init <path> --from <source>  # From local path or GitHub URL
 
 # Sync all plugins to workspace (non-destructive)
 allagents workspace sync [options]

docs/src/content/docs/getting-started/quick-start.mdx

@@ -12,6 +12,20 @@ allagents workspace init my-workspace
 cd my-workspace
 ```
 
+### Or Start from a Remote Template
+
+Initialize directly from any GitHub repository - no cloning required:
+
+```bash
+# From a GitHub URL
+allagents workspace init my-workspace --from https://github.com/myorg/templates/tree/main/nodejs
+
+# Or using shorthand
+allagents workspace init my-workspace --from myorg/templates/nodejs
+```
+
+This fetches the workspace configuration directly from GitHub and sets up your workspace instantly.
+
 ## Add Plugins
 
 ```bash

docs/src/content/docs/guides/workspaces.mdx

@@ -35,10 +35,27 @@ If your template only has `AGENTS.md` and `claude` is in your clients list, AllA
 # Create from default template
 allagents workspace init my-workspace
 
-# Create from existing template
+# Create from local template
 allagents workspace init my-workspace --from ./path/to/template
+
+# Create from remote GitHub template
+allagents workspace init my-workspace --from https://github.com/myorg/templates/tree/main/nodejs
+allagents workspace init my-workspace --from myorg/templates/nodejs  # shorthand
 ```
 
+### Remote Templates
+
+You can initialize a workspace directly from any GitHub repository containing a `workspace.yaml` file. AllAgents will:
+
+1. Fetch the `workspace.yaml` from `.allagents/workspace.yaml` or `workspace.yaml` in the target path
+2. Convert relative `workspace.source` paths to GitHub URLs so sync works
+3. Copy any `AGENTS.md` and `CLAUDE.md` files from the template source
+
+Supported formats:
+- Full URL: `https://github.com/owner/repo/tree/branch/path`
+- GitHub shorthand: `owner/repo/path`
+- Simple repo: `owner/repo` (looks for workspace.yaml in root)
+
 ## workspace.yaml
 
 ```yaml

docs/src/content/docs/reference/cli.mdx

@@ -6,13 +6,28 @@ description: Complete reference for AllAgents CLI commands.
 ## Workspace Commands
 
 ```bash
-allagents workspace init <path>
+allagents workspace init <path> [--from <source>]
 allagents workspace sync [--force] [--dry-run]
 allagents workspace status
 allagents workspace plugin add <plugin@marketplace>
 allagents workspace plugin remove <plugin>
 ```
 
+### workspace init
+
+Initialize a new workspace from a template:
+
+| Flag | Description |
+|------|-------------|
+| `--from <source>` | Copy workspace.yaml from local path or GitHub URL |
+
+**Source formats:**
+- Local path: `./path/to/template` or `/absolute/path`
+- GitHub URL: `https://github.com/owner/repo/tree/branch/path`
+- GitHub shorthand: `owner/repo/path` or `owner/repo`
+
+When using a GitHub source, AllAgents fetches `workspace.yaml` from `.allagents/workspace.yaml` or `workspace.yaml` in the target path.
+
 ### workspace sync
 
 Syncs plugins to the workspace using non-destructive sync:

package.json

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     "docs:install": "bun install --cwd docs",
     "docs:build": "bun run --cwd docs build",
     "dev": "bun run src/cli/index.ts",
-    "test": "bun test tests/unit/validators tests/unit/utils tests/unit/models && bun test tests/unit/core/marketplace.test.ts tests/unit/core/sync.test.ts tests/unit/core/transform-glob.test.ts && bun test tests/unit/core/plugin.test.ts",
+    "test": "bun test tests/unit/validators tests/unit/utils tests/unit/models && bun test tests/unit/core/marketplace.test.ts tests/unit/core/sync.test.ts tests/unit/core/transform-glob.test.ts tests/unit/core/github-fetch.test.ts && bun test tests/unit/core/plugin.test.ts",
     "test:watch": "bun test --watch",
     "test:coverage": "bun test --coverage",
     "test:integration": "bats tests/integration/*.bats",

src/core/github-fetch.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+import { execa } from 'execa';
+import { parseGitHubUrl } from '../utils/plugin-path.js';
+import { CONFIG_DIR, WORKSPACE_CONFIG_FILE } from '../constants.js';
+
+/**
+ * Result of fetching workspace from GitHub
+ */
+export interface FetchWorkspaceResult {
+  success: boolean;
+  content?: string;
+  error?: string;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Fetch a single file from GitHub using the gh CLI
+ * @param owner - Repository owner
+ * @param repo - Repository name
+ * @param path - File path within the repository
+ * @returns File content or null if not found
+ */
+async function fetchFileFromGitHub(
+  owner: string,
+  repo: string,
+  path: string,
+): Promise<string | null> {
+  try {
+    // Use gh api to fetch file contents
+    // The API returns base64 encoded content
+    const result = await execa('gh', [
+      'api',
+      `repos/${owner}/${repo}/contents/${path}`,
+      '--jq',
+      '.content',
+    ]);
+
+    if (result.stdout) {
+      // Decode base64 content
+      const content = Buffer.from(result.stdout, 'base64').toString('utf-8');
+      return content;
+    }
+    return null;
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Fetch workspace.yaml from a GitHub URL
+ *
+ * Supports:
+ * - https://github.com/owner/repo (looks for .allagents/workspace.yaml or workspace.yaml)
+ * - https://github.com/owner/repo/tree/branch/path (looks in path/.allagents/workspace.yaml or path/workspace.yaml)
+ * - owner/repo (shorthand)
+ * - owner/repo/path/to/workspace (shorthand with subpath)
+ *
+ * @param url - GitHub URL or shorthand
+ * @returns Result with workspace.yaml content or error
+ */
+export async function fetchWorkspaceFromGitHub(
+  url: string,
+): Promise<FetchWorkspaceResult> {
+  const parsed = parseGitHubUrl(url);
+  if (!parsed) {
+    return {
+      success: false,
+      error: 'Invalid GitHub URL format. Expected: https://github.com/owner/repo',
+    };
+  }
+
+  const { owner, repo, subpath } = parsed;
+
+  // Check if gh CLI is available
+  try {
+    await execa('gh', ['--version']);
+  } catch {
+    return {
+      success: false,
+      error: 'gh CLI not installed. Install from: https://cli.github.com',
+    };
+  }
+
+  // Check if repository exists
+  try {
+    await execa('gh', ['repo', 'view', `${owner}/${repo}`, '--json', 'name']);
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (error instanceof Error) {
+      const errorMessage = error.message.toLowerCase();
+      if (
+        errorMessage.includes('not found') ||
+        errorMessage.includes('404') ||
+        errorMessage.includes('could not resolve to a repository')
+      ) {
+        return {
+          success: false,
+          error: `Repository not found: ${owner}/${repo}`,
+        };
+      }
+      if (
+        errorMessage.includes('auth') ||
+        errorMessage.includes('authentication')
+      ) {
+        return {
+          success: false,
+          error: 'GitHub authentication required. Run: gh auth login',
+        };
+      }
+    }
+    return {
+      success: false,
+      error: `Failed to access repository: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}`,
+    };
+  }
+
+  // Determine the base path to look for workspace.yaml
+  const basePath = subpath || '';
+
+  // Try to find workspace.yaml in order of preference:
+  // 1. {basePath}/.allagents/workspace.yaml
+  // 2. {basePath}/workspace.yaml
+  const pathsToTry = basePath
+    ? [
+        `${basePath}/${CONFIG_DIR}/${WORKSPACE_CONFIG_FILE}`,
+        `${basePath}/${WORKSPACE_CONFIG_FILE}`,
+      ]
+    : [
+        `${CONFIG_DIR}/${WORKSPACE_CONFIG_FILE}`,
+        WORKSPACE_CONFIG_FILE,
+      ];
+
+  for (const path of pathsToTry) {
+    const content = await fetchFileFromGitHub(owner, repo, path);
+    if (content) {
+      return {
+        success: true,
+        content,
+      };
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {
+    success: false,
+    error: `No workspace.yaml found in: ${owner}/${repo}${subpath ? `/${subpath}` : ''}\n  Expected at: ${pathsToTry.join(' or ')}`,
+  };
+}