diff --git a/github b/github
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..13a07de19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/github
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#!/usr/bin/perl
+
+use strict;
+use Cwd;
+
+open(my $file, '<', 'github_plugins') or die;
+
+if(($ARGV[0]||'') eq 'checkout')
+{
+  for my $plugin (<$file>)
+  {
+    chomp($plugin);
+    system('git','clone',"https://github.com/JOSM/$plugin");
+  }
+}
+else
+{
+  my $dir = cwd();
+  for my $plugin (<$file>)
+  {
+    chomp($plugin);
+    chdir($plugin);
+    system('git','pull');
+    chdir($dir);
+  }
+}
+close($file);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/github_plugins b/github_plugins
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dd043a4be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/github_plugins
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+Building-Generalization
+Color
+Dxf-Import
+Mapillary
+MapRoulette
+PicLayer
+ShapeTools
+areaselector
+austriaaddresshelper
+auto-tools
+changeset-viewer
+configuration
+conflation
+continuos-download
+improve-way
+indoorhelper
+kartverketimport
+osm-obj-info
+pt_assistant
+rex
+todo
+turnlanes-tagging
+validations_testing
+wikipedia