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github/copilot-cli

GitHub's terminal AI coding agent that builds, debugs and explains code and works with your GitHub repos, issues and pull requests.

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What is it?

GitHub Copilot CLI is a terminal application that lets developers work with a Copilot AI agent through natural language conversation. It can build, edit, debug and refactor code in the current project, and plan and carry out multi-step tasks. It uses the same agentic harness as GitHub's Copilot coding agent.

The CLI authenticates with your existing GitHub account, so it can read repositories, issues and pull requests without leaving the terminal. It ships with GitHub's MCP server by default and accepts custom MCP servers for additional tools. Every action can be previewed and approved before it runs. Language Server Protocol support adds go-to-definition, hover information and diagnostics when you configure LSP servers.

The tool runs on Linux, macOS and Windows (PowerShell 6+ required on Windows) and requires an active Copilot subscription. It can be installed via a shell script, Homebrew, WinGet or npm. A container image is also published for running it as a headless server for Copilot SDK clients.

Key features

  • 01Natural-language coding help for building, editing, debugging and refactoring code.
  • 02Built-in access to GitHub repositories, issues and pull requests under your GitHub account.
  • 03Support for custom MCP servers to extend the agent's tools.
  • 04Preview and approve every action before it executes.
  • 05Optional LSP integration for go-to-definition, hover and diagnostics.
  • 06Model selection through the /model command.

Use cases

  • Asking an agent to explain or debug unfamiliar code in a local project.
  • Triaging issues or reviewing pull requests from the terminal.
  • Running multi-step refactors with approval at each step.
  • Running a headless Copilot server in a container for SDK clients.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install with npm

    npm install -g @github/copilot
  2. 2

    Launch the CLI in a project folder

    copilot

Things to know

  • Requires an active Copilot subscription and may be disabled by your organization's policy.
  • Still early stage, with frequent updates that may change behavior.
  • Each prompt consumes one premium request from your monthly quota.

In collections

AI coding agentsAI coding assistants & agentsMCP serversCLI & terminal tools

Topics

#ai#coding-agent#cli#terminal#github-copilot#mcp#llm

FAQ

What is copilot-cli?
GitHub's terminal AI coding agent that builds, debugs and explains code and works with your GitHub repos, issues and pull requests. GitHub Copilot CLI is a terminal application that lets developers work with a Copilot AI agent through natural language conversation. It can build, edit, debug and refactor code in the current project, and plan and carry out multi-step tasks. It uses the same agentic harness as GitHub's Copilot coding agent.
Is copilot-cli free to use? What license does it have?
copilot-cli is open source under the Other license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is copilot-cli still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to copilot-cli was on Nov 6, 2026.
What can I use copilot-cli for?
Asking an agent to explain or debug unfamiliar code in a local project. Triaging issues or reviewing pull requests from the terminal. Running multi-step refactors with approval at each step. Running a headless Copilot server in a container for SDK clients.
How do I install copilot-cli?
Install with npm: npm install -g @github/copilot Launch the CLI in a project folder: copilot
Where can I get copilot-cli?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/github/copilot-cli

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