GitHub Copilot CLI Expert

Comprehensive knowledge of GitHub Copilot CLI installation, configuration, usage, and extensibility.

Purpose

This skill provides expert guidance on:

1. Installing and updating GitHub Copilot CLI
2. Authentication and configuration
3. Core usage patterns and slash commands
4. Extensibility (MCP servers, skills, custom agents)
5. Troubleshooting common issues

When I Activate

Automatically when you mention:

• "copilot cli", "github copilot cli", "gh copilot"
• "install copilot", "update copilot"
• "copilot commands", "copilot slash commands"
• "copilot mcp", "add mcp server"
• "copilot skills", "create copilot skill"
• "copilot custom agent"

Quick Reference

Installation (All Platforms)

Always fetch latest version - use these commands:

Platform	Command
Windows (WinGet)	winget install GitHub.Copilot
macOS/Linux (Homebrew)	brew install copilot-cli
All (npm, Node.js 22+)	npm install -g @github/copilot
macOS/Linux (Script)	curl -fsSL https://gh.io/copilot-install | bash

Prerelease versions: Add @prerelease or use GitHub.Copilot.Prerelease

Authentication

copilot                    # Launch and follow /login prompt
# OR use PAT with "Copilot Requests" permission:
export GH_TOKEN=your_token

Essential Slash Commands

Command	Purpose
/help	Show all commands and shortcuts
/model	Select AI model (Claude Sonnet 4.5, GPT-5, etc.)
/agent	Browse and select available agents
/skills	Manage skills
/mcp	Manage MCP server configuration
/delegate [prompt]	Hand off to Copilot coding agent (creates PR)
/compact	Reduce context window usage
/context	Show token usage visualization

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
@	Mention files to include in context
!	Execute shell command directly
Esc	Cancel current operation
Ctrl+C	Cancel / clear / exit
Ctrl+L	Clear screen
Ctrl+O	Expand/collapse timeline

Extensibility Overview

1. MCP Servers - Extend Copilot with external tools
2. Skills - Task-specific instructions and scripts
3. Custom Agents - Specialized agent profiles
4. Custom Instructions - Repository-wide guidance

Navigation Guide

When to Read Supporting Files

reference.md - Read when you need:

• Complete slash command reference with all options
• Detailed MCP server configuration and JSON schema
• Full permissions system documentation
• Advanced configuration options
• Environment variables reference

examples.md - Read when you need:

• Step-by-step installation walkthroughs
• Working MCP server configurations
• Skill creation examples
• Custom agent examples
• Real-world usage scenarios

Core Concepts

MCP Servers (Model Context Protocol)

Copilot CLI includes GitHub MCP server by default. Add custom MCP servers:

/mcp add             # Interactive configuration
/mcp show            # List configured servers
/mcp edit <name>     # Modify existing server

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

Skills

Skills enhance Copilot's task performance with instructions and scripts.

Locations:

• Project: .github/skills/ or .claude/skills/
• Personal: ~/.copilot/skills/ or ~/.claude/skills/

Structure:

.github/skills/my-skill/
└── SKILL.md    # Instructions with YAML frontmatter

Custom Agents

Specialized agent profiles stored as Markdown files.

Locations:

• User: ~/.copilot/agents/
• Repository: .github/agents/
• Organization: .github-private/agents/

Custom Instructions

Repository-specific guidance for Copilot:

• .github/copilot-instructions.md - Repository-wide
• .github/instructions/**/*.instructions.md - Path-specific
• AGENTS.md - Agent behavior instructions

Troubleshooting Quick Tips

Issue	Solution
Not installed	brew install copilot-cli or npm i -g @github/copilot
Not authenticated	Run /login in Copilot CLI
Policy disabled	Check org/enterprise Copilot settings
MCP server not loading	Verify ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json syntax
Skill not activating	Restart Copilot CLI, check SKILL.md YAML

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Version: 1.0.0 | Status: Public Preview Note: GitHub Copilot CLI is in public preview and subject to change.