Copilot CLI Reference Skill#

GitHub Copilot CLI is a terminal-native AI coding agent. This skill provides reference docs for all features, commands, and operational patterns.

When to Use#

✅ USE this skill when:

• Answering questions about Copilot CLI features, commands, or configuration
• Setting up CI/CD automation with Copilot CLI or GitHub Actions
• Troubleshooting Copilot CLI errors, auth, or rate limits
• Creating custom agents, plugins, hooks, or MCP server integrations
• Writing prompts for programmatic/autopilot execution
• Comparing Copilot CLI vs Claude Code for a specific use case

❌ DON'T use this skill when:

• General Git or GitHub questions unrelated to Copilot CLI (→ use git CLI / GitHub skill)
• VS Code Copilot Chat or Copilot Edits features (→ IDE-specific docs)
• GitHub Actions workflows that don't involve Copilot (→ Actions docs)
• Copilot Workspace or other non-CLI Copilot products

Setup#

Install: npm install -g @github/copilot (or via GitHub CLI extension) Auth: copilot → trust directory → /login Config: edit ~/.copilot/config.json directly (no copilot config set command)

See references/getting-started.md for full installation, authentication, and configuration details.

Quick Reference#

Interactive: copilot → trust directory → /login → prompt Programmatic: copilot -p "PROMPT" --yolo --no-ask-user -s With permissions: copilot -p "PROMPT" --allow-tool='shell(git:*), write' --no-ask-user Autopilot: copilot --autopilot --yolo --max-autopilot-continues 10 -p "PROMPT" Custom agent: copilot -p "PROMPT" --agent=my-agent Model override: copilot -p "PROMPT" --model claude-opus-4.6 Plan mode: Shift+Tab to cycle modes (standard/plan/autopilot) Research: /research TOPIC → deep report with citations Fleet: /fleet PROMPT → parallel subagent execution Chronicle: /chronicle standup · tips · improve · reindex

Copilot CLI vs Claude Code#

NeedCopilot CLIClaude CodeRate-limited on Claude Code✅ Use as fallback—CI/CD automation✅ Built-in Actions supportLimitedClean stdout (no PTY/ANSI)—✅ BetterLong iterative reviews✅ Better for many iterations—

See references/patterns-and-best-practices.md for the full decision matrix.

Key Gotchas#

Automation:

• Always use -p (not -i) for automation — -i hangs
• Always set --max-autopilot-continues=N in CI/CD to prevent runaway loops
• Size timeouts by complexity: 120s (simple) → 1800s (large)
• Background servers die between exec spawns — restart each time

OpenClaw Integration (programmatic exec):

• Copilot requires a real TTY — pipe/stdout redirection causes EPIPE crashes

• Use pty: true on exec calls to avoid output fragmentation

• Set timeout: 120 minimum (MCP startup ~3s + inference ~25s+)

• Use --allow-all (or --yolo) for file write permissions in --no-ask-user mode

• Working formula: bash

  copilot -p "<prompt>" --no-ask-user --allow-all --max-autopilot-continues 3
  # + exec options: pty=true, timeout=120
  
  

• The --add-dir <path> flag grants access to specific directories without full --allow-all

Configuration:

• --yolo does NOT skip folder trust — pre-trust in ~/.copilot/config.json
• No copilot config set — edit config JSON manually
• Custom instructions now combine (not cascade) — avoid conflicting instructions

Experimental features:

• /chronicle and history queries require --experimental or /experimental on
• Premium requests vary by model multiplier — check with /model

See references/troubleshooting.md for all issues and fixes.

Quick Responses#

QuestionAnswerHow do I start Copilot CLI?copilot (interactive)How do I use it in CI/CD?copilot -p "PROMPT" --yolo --no-ask-user -sHow do I create a custom agent?See references/automation-and-delegation.mdHow do I add an MCP server?See references/customization.mdHow do I research a topic?/research TOPIC in interactive mode

Reference Documents#

Full index: references/index.md

FileContentsgetting-started.mdInstallation, auth, config, permissions, env vars, plan mode overviewusage.mdInteractive & programmatic modes, 40+ slash commands, shortcuts, model selection, config settings, built-in agentsautomation-and-delegation.mdCI/CD, GitHub Actions, autopilot, delegate, fleet, custom agent creationcustomization.mdCustom instructions (combining), plugins, MCP servers, enterprise governancehooks.mdHook types (command + prompt), config, denial responses, PowerShell supportintegrations.mdVS Code integration (diffs, sessions, selection), ACP serverresearch.md``/research reports with citations, /chronicle session history & insightstroubleshooting.mdAuth, rate limits, autopilot runaway, enterprise access, diagnosticspatterns-and-best-practices.mdDecision matrix, prompt engineering, anti-patterns

All files in references/ directory.