GitHub Copilot CLI
Overview
GitHub Copilot CLI is an AI-powered command-line tool that integrates GitHub Copilot directly into the terminal, enabling developers to write code, debug issues, automate tasks, and manage GitHub workflows using natural language prompts. Unlike traditional documentation lookups or manual command entry, it functions as an autonomous agent that can plan and execute multi-step development tasks from the shell.
The tool operates independently of code editors, making it valuable for development environments where traditional Copilot extensions aren’t available.
Core Capabilities
Three Operational Modes
Ask Mode
- Conversational responses to development questions
- Ideal for requesting function definitions, code examples, comparisons, or step-by-step guidance
- Example:
copilot -p "explain what this function does: myFunction" - No file modifications
Edit Mode
- Analyzes project structure and identifies files requiring updates
- Generates changes for review and approval before implementation
- Use cases: refactoring functions, updating configuration files, renaming variables, code migrations
- Available in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs
Agent Mode
- Most autonomous capability
- Interprets requests, creates multi-step workflows, executes them, and adjusts based on results
- Handles complex tasks requiring planning and multiple operations
- Example: Setting up development environments by creating directories, generating files, installing dependencies
- Commits checkpoint changes to branches and opens draft pull requests for review
GitHub Integration
- Direct access to remote repositories, branches, and workflows from terminal
- Create and manage pull requests through natural language
- Review diffs and fix open issues
- Access to repository-wide instructions via
.github/copilot-instructions.md - Path-specific instruction files for targeted context
Getting Started
Basic Usage
# Enter interactive mode
copilot
# Run one-off prompt
copilot -p "your request here"
# Login to GitHub
/login Example Commands
# Style changes across project
copilot -p "Change the background-color of H1 headings to dark blue"
# File history analysis
copilot -p "Show me the last 5 changes made to CHANGELOG.md. Who changed the file, when, and brief summary?"
# Ask for explanations
copilot -p "Why is this script failing?" Configuration
# View current settings
copilot config view
# Update specific configuration
copilot config set <key> <value>
# Reset to defaults
copilot config reset Enterprise administrators can distribute configuration templates through onboarding scripts to establish default behaviors while preserving developer flexibility.
Advanced Features
Model Context Protocol (MCP) Integration
Copilot CLI supports MCP server integrations to extend capabilities with custom tools:
# Invoke custom agents in interactive mode
/agent custom-agent-name
# Call agents directly in prompts
copilot -p "use agent:custom-tool to accomplish X" Session Context
The CLI maintains context throughout work sessions, remembering previous steps to simplify:
- Multi-step task handling
- Complex troubleshooting workflows
- Iterative development cycles
Strengths
- Terminal-native: Works independently of code editor choice
- Autonomous planning: Understands intent and orchestrates multi-step workflows
- Editor-agnostic: Valuable for editors without official Copilot support
- Unified workflow: Keeps entire development flow in terminal (no context switching)
- Contextual execution: Reads files, generates scripts, transforms data, chains operations
- Draft PRs: Agent mode creates checkpoint commits and draft pull requests for review
Use Cases
- Debugging code issues from the terminal
- Automating repetitive development tasks
- Project refactoring and migration
- Setting up development environments
- Analyzing file histories and changes
- Creating and managing GitHub workflows
- Complex multi-step development operations
Related Tools
- GitHub Copilot - IDE extension
- GitHub Copilot Chat - Web interface
- VS Code - Integration with Edit mode
- GITHUB - Repository and workflow management
Last updated: February 1, 2026