GitHub Copilot CLI Expert

Comprehensive knowledge of GitHub Copilot CLI - the terminal-native AI coding assistant.

Note: Command syntax and model availability may change. Run /help in Copilot CLI for current options.

Purpose

This skill provides expert guidance on:

Installing and updating GitHub Copilot CLI
All slash commands and keyboard shortcuts
Custom agents, skills, and MCP server configuration
Security, permissions, and trusted directories
Integration with GitHub workflows (PRs, issues, Actions)
Programmatic and interactive usage modes

Quick Reference

Installation (Pick One)

Homebrew (macOS/Linux) - Recommended

brew install copilot-cli

npm (all platforms, requires Node.js 22+)

npm install -g @github/copilot

WinGet (Windows)

winget install GitHub.Copilot

Install script (macOS/Linux)

curl -fsSL https://gh.io/copilot-install | bash

Update to Latest Version

Homebrew

brew upgrade copilot-cli

npm

npm update -g @github/copilot

WinGet

winget upgrade GitHub.Copilot

Check version

copilot --version

Before First Use

Requirements:

Active GitHub Copilot subscription (Plans)
Node.js 22+ (if installing via npm)
PowerShell v6+ (Windows users)

Authentication:

On first run, you'll be prompted to login

copilot

Then: /login

OR set environment variable

export GH_TOKEN="ghp_xxxxxxxxxxxx"

Essential Slash Commands

Command Description

/help

Show all commands and shortcuts

/model

Select AI model (claude-sonnet-4-5, gpt-5, etc.)

/mcp

Manage MCP server configuration

/agent

Browse and select custom agents

/delegate

Hand off task to Copilot coding agent on GitHub

/compact

Reduce context window usage

/context

Show token usage visualization

/usage

Display session metrics

/diff

Review changes made in session

/share

Export session to file or gist

/skills

Manage skills for enhanced capabilities

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut Action

@file

Include file contents in context

!cmd

Execute shell command directly

Esc

Cancel operation / exit prompt

Ctrl+C

Cancel / clear / exit

Ctrl+L

Clear screen

Ctrl+O

Expand/collapse timeline

↑/↓

Navigate command history

When to Use This Skill

Auto-triggers when user mentions:

"copilot cli", "github copilot", "install copilot"
"update copilot", "copilot version", "copilot commands"
"mcp server", "custom agents", "copilot skills"

Explicitly invoke via:

Skill(skill="github-copilot-cli-expert")

Navigation Guide

When to Read Supporting Files

reference.md - Read when you need:

Complete list of all slash commands with detailed options
All command-line flags and environment variables
Detailed security configuration (trusted directories, tool permissions)
Programmatic mode examples and scripting patterns
MCP server configuration JSON format

examples.md - Read when you need:

Step-by-step workflow examples (PR creation, code review)
Custom agent creation and invocation examples
GitHub integration use cases (issues, Actions, PRs)
Delegation to Copilot coding agent workflows

Core Capabilities

Interactive vs Programmatic Mode

Interactive (default):

copilot

Then type prompts naturally

Programmatic (scripting):

copilot -p "Summarize recent commits" --allow-tool 'shell(git)'

Custom Agents

Built-in agents: explore , task , plan , code-review

Custom agent locations:

User-level: ~/.copilot/agents/
Repository: .github/agents/
Org/Enterprise: .github-private/agents/

MCP Servers

GitHub MCP server included by default. Add more:

/mcp add

Fill details, Ctrl+S to save

Config stored in: ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json

Security Model

Trusted directories: Confirmed on first launch
Tool approval: Required for file modifications
Path permissions: Current directory + temp by default
URL permissions: All URLs require approval

Common Patterns

Include Files in Prompts

Explain @config/settings.yml Fix the bug in @src/app.js

Delegate to GitHub Agent

/delegate complete the API tests and create a PR

Resume Previous Session

copilot --resume # Cycle through sessions copilot --continue # Resume most recent

Allow Tools Without Prompts

copilot --allow-all-tools copilot --allow-tool 'shell(git)' copilot --deny-tool 'shell(rm)'

Version Information

Current Version: Check with copilot --version

Prerelease Channels:

brew install copilot-cli@prerelease npm install -g @github/copilot@prerelease winget install GitHub.Copilot.Prerelease

Releases: https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/releases/

Troubleshooting

Authentication Issues

/login # In interactive mode

Or use PAT with GH_TOKEN/GITHUB_TOKEN env var

Context Window Full

/compact # Summarize conversation /context # View token usage

MCP Server Not Loading

/mcp show # List configured servers /mcp edit [name] # Edit configuration

Tool Permission Denied

Check trusted directories: ~/.copilot/config.json → trusted_folders
Use --allow-all-paths or --allow-all-urls flags
Approve tools individually when prompted

First-Time Setup Issues

"Copilot not found" after install:

Restart terminal after installation
Check PATH includes install location
Run which copilot (Unix) or where copilot (Windows)

"No subscription" error:

Verify at https://github.com/settings/copilot
Ensure plan includes CLI access
Try /logout then /login

Related Skills

mcp-manager: Advanced MCP server configuration
agent-sdk: Building custom agents
documentation-writing: Clear documentation practices

Official Resources

Docs: https://docs.github.com/copilot/concepts/agents/about-copilot-cli
Usage Guide: https://docs.github.com/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/use-copilot-cli
Installation: https://docs.github.com/copilot/how-tos/set-up/install-copilot-cli
Releases: https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/releases/
Feedback: Use /feedback command in CLI

github-copilot-cli-expert

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