# https://github.com/github/copilot-cli Project Manual

Generated at: 2026-07-01 23:43:33 UTC

## Table of Contents

- [Overview, Prerequisites, and Installation](#page-1)
- [LSP Servers, MCP, and Extensibility Configuration](#page-2)
- [Authentication, Model Selection, and Daily Workflows](#page-3)
- [Experimental Mode, Changelog, and Community Roadmap](#page-4)

<a id='page-1'></a>

## Overview, Prerequisites, and Installation

### Related Pages

Related topics: [LSP Servers, MCP, and Extensibility Configuration](#page-2), [Authentication, Model Selection, and Daily Workflows](#page-3)

<details>
<summary>Related Source Files</summary>

The following source files were used to generate this page:

- [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md)
- [LICENSE.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/LICENSE.md)
- [install.sh](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/install.sh)
- [package.json](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/package.json)
- [changelog.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md)
</details>

# Overview, Prerequisites, and Installation

## Purpose and Scope

GitHub Copilot CLI is a terminal-native agentic assistant that brings the same coding-agent harness used by GitHub's Copilot coding agent into a local command-line interface. It is designed for synchronous, in-repo work: you launch the binary inside a project folder, converse in natural language, and the agent plans and executes coding actions (build, edit, debug, refactor) while you preview and approve every step. Source: [README.md:1-18]().

The tool is positioned as an early-stage product that is iterating quickly. Per the project's own framing, it "brings AI-powered coding assistance directly to your command line, enabling you to build, debug, and understand code through natural language conversations," and it is "powered by the same agentic harness as GitHub's Copilot coding agent." Source: [README.md:3-5]().

Key capabilities advertised in the README include:

- **Terminal-native workflow:** No IDE or browser context-switching required. Source: [README.md:12-13]().
- **GitHub integration:** Repositories, issues, and pull requests are reachable via natural language using the same GitHub account you already use. Source: [README.md:14-15]().
- **Agentic execution:** The agent can plan and execute multi-step coding tasks rather than only suggesting snippets. Source: [README.md:16-17]().
- **MCP extensibility:** A built-in GitHub MCP server ships by default, with support for custom MCP servers. Source: [README.md:18-19]().
- **Explicit approval:** Nothing executes without user confirmation. Source: [README.md:20-21]().

### Related Community Signals

Several high-engagement issues shape the roadmap around the install/launch experience:

- **Model selection (#32):** Users want to use 0x-credit free models (GPT-4.1, GPT-4o, GPT-5 mini, Grok Code Fast) instead of being locked to a premium default. Today, switching models is done post-launch via the `/model` slash command. Source: [README.md:112-114]().
- **Legacy `gh copilot` workflows (#53):** A long-running thread requests that the legacy `gh copilot` subcommands be restored so existing scripts do not break. The CLI ships as a standalone `copilot` binary today. Source: [README.md:98-106]().
- **ACP (Agent Client Protocol) (#222):** An open request to integrate ACP so editors can drive the same agent over a standard protocol.
- **Custom slash commands (#618):** Request to load user-defined prompts from `.github/prompts/`, mirroring the VS Code extension.

## Prerequisites

### Supported Platforms

Copilot CLI ships binaries for the three major desktop platforms:

| Platform | Notes |
| --- | --- |
| Linux | Supported via install script, Homebrew, npm |
| macOS | Supported via install script, Homebrew (cask), npm |
| Windows | PowerShell v6 or higher is required; install via WinGet or npm |

Source: [README.md:30-34]().

### Account and Subscription

An active Copilot subscription is mandatory. Organization and enterprise administrators can disable the CLI for their members; if that has happened, the CLI cannot authenticate regardless of install success. Source: [README.md:36-41]().

### Licensing Constraint

The GitHub Copilot CLI License explicitly prohibits modifying the binary, creating derivative works, or redistributing modified copies. Redistribution is permitted only unmodified, bundled inside a larger application, and not on a standalone basis. This is relevant for anyone planning to package or fork the tool. Source: [LICENSE.md:1-26]().

## Installation Methods

The project ships four parallel install paths so users can pick whichever matches their platform and tooling preference.

### 1. Install Script (macOS and Linux)

The canonical install path uses a shell pipeline hosted at `https://gh.io/copilot-install`. Source: [README.md:44-45]().

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

Equivalent `wget` form is also documented. Source: [README.md:46-47]().

Two environment variables tune the script's behavior:

- `PREFIX` — install location. Defaults to `/usr/local` under root, otherwise `$HOME/.local`. Prepend with `sudo` to install system-wide. Source: [README.md:50-53]().
- `VERSION` — pin a specific release tag (for example, `v0.0.369`) instead of tracking `latest`. Source: [README.md:55-56]().

Example pinning both:

```bash
curl -fsSL https://gh.io/copilot-install | VERSION="v0.0.369" PREFIX="$HOME/custom" bash
```

Source: [README.md:57-58]().

### 2. Homebrew (macOS and Linux)

Stable and prerelease casks are published to the Homebrew tap. Source: [README.md:61-67]().

```bash
brew install copilot-cli
brew install copilot-cli@prerelease
```

### 3. WinGet (Windows)

```powershell
winget install GitHub.Copilot
winget install GitHub.Copilot.Prerelease
```

Source: [README.md:70-75]().

### 4. npm (Cross-platform)

Distributed as the `@github/copilot` package; works on every supported platform including Windows. Source: [README.md:78-86]().

```bash
npm install -g @github/copilot
npm install -g @github/copilot@prerelease
```

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    A[Pick platform] --> B{Windows?}
    B -- Yes --> C[WinGet or npm]
    B -- No --> D{Use Homebrew?}
    D -- Yes --> E[brew install copilot-cli]
    D -- No --> F[curl/wget install.sh]
    E --> G[copilot binary in PATH]
    C --> G
    F --> G
```

## Launching, Authentication, and First Use

Once installed, invoke the binary inside any directory containing source code. The README recommends running `copilot` with no arguments in a project folder. Source: [README.md:90-91]().

### Authentication Options

Two flows are documented:

1. **Interactive login:** On first launch, if you are not already authenticated, the CLI prompts you to run the `/login` slash command and follow the on-screen OAuth-style flow. Source: [README.md:95-97]().
2. **Personal Access Token (PAT):** A fine-grained PAT with the "Copilot Requests" permission can be exported via the `GH_TOKEN` or `GITHUB_TOKEN` environment variables. `GH_TOKEN` takes precedence. Source: [README.md:100-106]().

PAT setup steps are:

1. Visit `https://github.com/settings/personal-access-tokens/new`.
2. Under **Permissions**, add the **Copilot Requests** scope.
3. Generate and copy the token.
4. Export it: `export GH_TOKEN=…`.

### Selecting a Model

The CLI defaults to Claude Sonnet 4.5 at launch. Other models, including Claude Sonnet 4 and GPT-5, are reachable from inside an interactive session via the `/model` slash command. The community's open request #32 asks for a way to default to a 0x-credit free model; today the only mechanism is choosing one manually after each launch. Source: [README.md:112-114]().

### Experimental Mode

Two ways to opt in to in-development features:

- Launch flag: `copilot --experimental`.
- In-session toggle: `/experimental`.

The setting persists in user config, so subsequent launches inherit it. The current headline experimental feature is **Autopilot mode**, toggled by pressing `Shift+Tab`, which lets the agent keep iterating until a task is complete. Source: [README.md:116-127]().

## Common Failure Modes

- **Authentication blocked by org policy:** Install completes but `/login` fails; check organization Copilot policy settings. Source: [README.md:36-41]().
- **Stale binary behavior:** Because the project iterates quickly, the maintainers recommend keeping the client up to date. Old builds may behave differently from the documented surface. Source: [README.md:131-134]().
- **PATH not updated after script install:** When using `PREFIX=$HOME/custom` or a non-root install, add `$PREFIX/bin` to your shell's `PATH` or the `copilot` command will be missing.
- **License-driven redistribution blocks:** Forks or repackagings cannot legally be redistributed modified; only unmodified copies embedded in a larger application are permitted. Source: [LICENSE.md:7-15]().

## See Also

- Configuring LSP Servers — Code-intelligence setup is documented as a separate concern, with config files at `~/.copilot/lsp-config.json` (user) and `.github/lsp.json` (repo). Source: [README.md:17-25]().
- Changelog — Release-by-release notes including the v1.0.68 model additions and slash-command alias work. Source: [changelog.md:1-9]().
- Official documentation: <https://docs.github.com/copilot/concepts/agents/about-copilot-cli>. Source: [README.md:6]().

> **Note:** This page reflects the publicly visible README and LICENSE content at the time of writing. Internal source files beyond `README.md`, `LICENSE.md`, `install.sh`, `package.json`, and `changelog.md` were not retrieved for this topic, so deeper implementation details (auth flows, MCP server internals, slash-command registry) should be covered in dedicated pages.

---

<a id='page-2'></a>

## LSP Servers, MCP, and Extensibility Configuration

### Related Pages

Related topics: [Overview, Prerequisites, and Installation](#page-1), [Experimental Mode, Changelog, and Community Roadmap](#page-4)

<details>
<summary>Related Source Files</summary>

The following source files were used to generate this page:

- [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md)
- [changelog.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md)
- [LICENSE.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/LICENSE.md)
</details>

# LSP Servers, MCP, and Extensibility Configuration

## Overview

GitHub Copilot CLI is designed as an extensible agentic harness. Beyond its core conversational abilities, it exposes three primary extensibility surfaces: **Language Server Protocol (LSP) servers** for in-editor code intelligence, **Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers** for tool and resource integration, and **slash commands** for user-defined prompt shortcuts. Together, these mechanisms let users tailor the agent to their local toolchains, third-party services, and personal workflows without modifying the CLI binary itself.

The CLI is shipped as a thin client that authenticates with a GitHub account, then delegates reasoning to a selected model (defaulting to Claude Sonnet 4.5) while orchestrating external tools through the protocols described below. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

## LSP Server Configuration

### Purpose and Scope

LSP integration enables code-aware features such as go-to-definition, hover information, and diagnostics inside the interactive Copilot CLI session. The CLI does **not** bundle language servers — users must install them separately (for example, `typescript-language-server` via `npm install -g`). Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

### Configuration Locations

LSP servers can be declared at two scopes, both of which are merged at launch:

| Scope | Path | Use Case |
|-------|------|----------|
| User-level | `~/.copilot/lsp-config.json` | Applies to every project on the machine |
| Repository-level | `.github/lsp.json` | Project-specific overrides committed to source control |

Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

### Configuration Schema

A minimal LSP entry maps a server command to one or more file extensions:

```json
{
  "lspServers": {
    "typescript": {
      "command": "typescript-language-server",
      "args": ["--stdio"],
      "fileExtensions": {
        ".ts": "typescript",
        ".tsx": "typescript"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Each key under `lspServers` is a logical server name. The `command` and `args` define how the server is spawned, while `fileExtensions` controls which files activate it. Users can inspect the merged configuration at runtime with the `/lsp` slash command inside an interactive session. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    A[Editor / CLI Session] -->|reads| B[~/.copilot/lsp-config.json]
    A -->|reads| C[.github/lsp.json]
    B --> D[Merged LSP Config]
    C --> D
    D -->|spawns| E[typescript-language-server]
    D -->|spawns F[gopls]
    D -->|spawns G[Other servers]
    A -->|/lsp command| H[Status view]
```

### Runtime Behavior

When a file matching a configured extension is opened or modified, the CLI launches the corresponding server over stdio. Diagnostics and other responses are surfaced back into the chat context so the agent can reason about them. If you encounter a non-functional language feature, first verify the binary is on `PATH` and that the file extension mapping matches the project's actual file types.

## MCP Server Integration

### Built-in Default

The CLI ships with GitHub's own MCP server enabled by default, providing immediate access to repository, issue, and pull-request tooling. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

### Adding Custom MCP Servers

Custom MCP servers extend the agent with additional tools, prompts, and resources. They are configured through the `/mcp` slash command inside an interactive session. The CLI persists entries so they survive restarts. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

A long-standing community request, tracked in issue **#33 "Support OAuth http MCP servers"** (38 comments), highlights the demand for connecting to remote, OAuth-protected MCP endpoints such as the Figma and Atlassian remote servers. As of release **1.0.68** (2026-07-01), the focused field in the `/mcp` config form is now marked with a `❯` chevron in addition to color, improving accessibility when stepping through the form. Source: [changelog.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md).

## Custom Slash Commands and Workflow Extensibility

### Bundled Slash Commands

The CLI exposes a growing set of built-in slash commands. Notable examples include:

- `/model` — switch the active model (e.g., between Claude Sonnet 4.5, Claude Sonnet 4, and GPT-5). Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).
- `/login` — authenticate when no GitHub session is detected. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).
- `/lsp` — view configured language servers. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).
- `/mcp` — manage MCP server entries. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).
- `/experimental` — toggle experimental features for the current user. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).
- `/feedback` — submit a confidential feedback survey. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

### Tab Completion and Aliases

Release 1.0.68 introduces inline alias rendering during tab completion, so pressing Tab after a partial command displays alternatives such as `/pr automerge|agentmerge`. This is documented in: Source: [changelog.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md).

### Custom Prompts from `.github/prompts`

Community issue **#618 "Feature Request: Support custom slash commands from .github/prompts directory"** (31 comments) asks for parity with the VS Code extension's behavior of loading prompt files from a `.github/prompts/` directory. Users should monitor the changelog and the issue thread for status updates before relying on this mechanism. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md) and [changelog.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md).

## Experimental Mode and Stop Hooks

### Enabling Experimental Features

Experimental features are gated behind a feature flag activated by either `copilot --experimental` at launch or the `/experimental` slash command. Once toggled on, the setting is persisted in the user's config so subsequent launches inherit it. The headline experimental capability is **Autopilot mode**, cycled via `Shift+Tab`, which encourages the agent to continue working until a task is complete. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

### Stop Hooks

Release 1.0.68 adds support for **stop hooks**, allowing users to define actions that fire when the agent finishes a turn. Combined with `Shift+Tab` mode cycling, this provides finer-grained control over long-running autonomous sessions. Source: [changelog.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md).

## Common Failure Modes

1. **LSP server not found** — the binary is missing from `PATH`. Install it globally and restart the CLI.
2. **MCP server fails to connect** — verify the command path and arguments via `/mcp`; for remote/OAuth servers, confirm tokens and scopes (see issue #33).
3. **Wrong model selected** — each prompt reduces your monthly premium-request quota; use `/model` to choose a 0x-cost option where available (see issue #32 "Ability to use Free Models").
4. **IDE disconnect** — during transient disconnects the CLI now keeps IDE tools available and returns a clear error, automatically recovering when the IDE reconnects. Source: [changelog.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md).

## See Also

- [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md) — Installation, authentication, and high-level feature overview.
- [changelog.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md) — Per-release notes including MCP, LSP, and stop-hook changes.
- [LICENSE.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/LICENSE.md) — Terms governing redistribution of the CLI binary.
- Official documentation: [About Copilot CLI](https://docs.github.com/copilot/concepts/agents/about-copilot-cli).

---

<a id='page-3'></a>

## Authentication, Model Selection, and Daily Workflows

### Related Pages

Related topics: [Overview, Prerequisites, and Installation](#page-1), [Experimental Mode, Changelog, and Community Roadmap](#page-4)

<details>
<summary>Related Source Files</summary>

The following source files were used to generate this page:

- [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md)
- [LICENSE.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/LICENSE.md)
- [changelog.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md)
</details>

# Authentication, Model Selection, and Daily Workflows

## Overview

GitHub Copilot CLI is an agentic AI coding assistant that runs directly in the terminal. It is powered by the same agentic harness used by GitHub's Copilot coding agent, providing intelligent, GitHub-aware assistance while requiring an active Copilot subscription. This page documents the three core operational concerns for daily use: how to authenticate, how to choose a model, and how to drive the CLI through its built-in slash-command workflow. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

Because the CLI is in active development and ships frequent releases, users are expected to keep the client up to date and to participate in feedback through issues, Discussions, or the in-CLI `/feedback` command. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

---

## Authentication

Copilot CLI supports two primary authentication mechanisms, both of which are resolved on first launch and then cached for subsequent sessions.

### Interactive Login

On first launch the CLI prompts you to run `/login` if no credentials are present. The `/login` slash command opens an authentication flow against your GitHub account, which is the recommended path for users with a personal Copilot subscription. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

### Personal Access Token (PAT) Authentication

For headless or scripted environments, the CLI accepts a fine-grained Personal Access Token via environment variables:

1. Visit https://github.com/settings/personal-access-tokens/new.
2. Under **Permissions**, click **add permissions** and select **Copilot Requests**.
3. Generate the token.
4. Export it as `GH_TOKEN` or `GITHUB_TOKEN` (resolved in order of precedence). Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

### Subscription and Organization Constraints

An active Copilot subscription is required. Users who access Copilot through an organization or enterprise may be blocked if the owner or administrator has disabled the CLI in their organization's policies. See the official Copilot policy management docs referenced in the README for details. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

---

## Model Selection

By default, `copilot` launches with **Claude Sonnet 4.5** as the active model. To choose a different model, run the `/model` slash command inside an interactive session. Available alternatives at the time of writing include Claude Sonnet 4 and GPT-5. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

Each prompt submitted to the CLI consumes one premium request from the user's monthly quota, so model choice has both a cost and a capability dimension. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

### Community Discussion: Free Models

A long-standing community request (issue #32 with 45 comments) asks for the ability to select free (0x credit) models such as GPT-4.1, GPT-4o, GPT-5 mini, or Grok Code Fast. At the time of the latest release notes (1.0.68, 2026-07-01), additional models such as `kimi-k2.7-code` are being added, indicating ongoing expansion of the model catalog. Users should monitor the changelog for newly available options. Source: [changelog.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md).

### Model Selection Workflow

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    A[Launch copilot] --> B{Authenticated?}
    B -- No --> C[Run /login or set GH_TOKEN]
    B -- Yes --> D[Default: Claude Sonnet 4.5]
    D --> E{Need different model?}
    E -- No --> F[Submit prompts]
    E -- Yes --> G[Run /model]
    G --> H[Pick from catalog]
    H --> F
    F --> I[1 premium request charged per prompt]
```

---

## Daily Workflows and Slash Commands

The CLI is driven primarily through natural-language prompts, but a set of built-in slash commands provides structured control. Tab completion surfaces slash-command aliases inline (for example, `/pr automerge|agentmerge`), which speeds up command recall. Source: [changelog.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md).

### Common Slash Commands

| Command | Purpose |
| --- | --- |
| `/login` | Initiate interactive GitHub authentication. |
| `/model` | Switch between available AI models. |
| `/lsp` | View status of configured Language Server Protocol servers. |
| `/experimental` | Toggle experimental mode from within a session. |
| `/feedback` | Open a confidential feedback survey. |

Sources: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md), [changelog.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md).

### Custom Slash Commands (Requested Feature)

Issue #618 (31 comments) requests support for custom slash commands loaded from a `.github/prompts/` directory, mirroring the behavior of the GitHub Copilot VS Code extension. Until that ships, all slash commands are built-in. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

### Stop Hooks and IDE Resilience

Recent releases added **stop hooks** that allow users to inject behavior when the agent halts, and the CLI now keeps IDE tools available during transient disconnects, returning a clear error while disconnected and recovering automatically when the IDE reconnects. Source: [changelog.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md).

---

## Experimental Mode and Advanced Behaviors

Experimental mode unlocks features still under active development. It can be enabled in two equivalent ways:

- Launch flag: `copilot --experimental`
- In-session command: `/experimental`

Once activated, the setting is persisted to your config, so the flag is not needed on subsequent launches. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

### Autopilot Mode

One of the headline experimental features is **Autopilot mode**, which encourages the agent to keep working until a task is complete. Modes are cycled by pressing `Shift+Tab` during an interactive session. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

### MCP-Powered Extensibility

The coding agent ships with GitHub's MCP server by default and supports custom MCP servers to extend capabilities. A separate community request (issue #33, 38 comments) asks specifically for **OAuth HTTP MCP server** support so that remote servers such as Figma and Atlassian can be authenticated. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

---

## Common Failure Modes

- **Not authenticated on launch** — the CLI prompts for `/login`; running headless requires `GH_TOKEN` or `GITHUB_TOKEN`. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).
- **Organization policy blocks the CLI** — organization owners or enterprise administrators may disable the CLI; consult the Copilot policy docs. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).
- **Premium quota exhaustion** — every prompt costs one premium request; switch models with `/model` if a cheaper option is acceptable. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).
- **Stale client** — because the project ships frequent updates, missing new commands or model support is often solved by upgrading. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md).

---

## See Also

- [Installation and Platform Support](./README.md)
- [LSP Server Configuration](./README.md)
- [Changelog and Release Notes](./changelog.md)
- [License Terms](./LICENSE.md)

---

<a id='page-4'></a>

## Experimental Mode, Changelog, and Community Roadmap

### Related Pages

Related topics: [LSP Servers, MCP, and Extensibility Configuration](#page-2), [Authentication, Model Selection, and Daily Workflows](#page-3)

<details>
<summary>Related Source Files</summary>

The following source files were used to generate this page:

- [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md)
- [LICENSE.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/LICENSE.md)
- [changelog.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md)
</details>

# Experimental Mode, Changelog, and Community Roadmap

## Purpose and Scope

GitHub Copilot CLI is a terminal-native AI coding agent built on the same agentic harness as GitHub's Copilot coding agent. Because the project is iterating quickly, the maintainers distinguish between stable behavior (shipping by default) and **experimental** behavior (opt-in, subject to change). This page consolidates three closely related concerns:

1. How the **Experimental Mode** is toggled and what it unlocks.
2. How the **changelog** communicates release-level changes (model additions, IDE resilience, slash-command UX, hook system).
3. The **community roadmap** — the highest-engagement feature requests that drive near-term planning.

All information below is sourced from the repository's `README.md`, `LICENSE.md`, the publicly surfaced release notes, and the open issue tracker.

## Experimental Mode

Experimental Mode is an opt-in toggle that grants access to features still under active development. It is described in the introductory section of the README as a way to "enable access to new features that are still in development." Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md)

### Activation

Two equivalent paths are documented:

- Launch flag: `copilot --experimental` starts the CLI directly in experimental mode.
- In-session command: `/experimental` flips the persisted preference while a session is running.

Once activated, the setting is **persisted in the user's config**, so subsequent launches no longer require the `--experimental` flag. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md)

### Feature: Autopilot

The headline experimental capability is **Autopilot mode**, a persistence-oriented mode in which the agent continues working until a task is completed. Users cycle through modes (and reach Autopilot) by pressing `Shift+Tab`. The README frames Autopilot as a mode that "encourages the agent to continue working until a task is completed." Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md)

### Failure Modes and Caveats

Because experimental features are not API-stable, users should expect:

- Behavior changes between minor releases without prior deprecation notice.
- Removal of features that fail to graduate to stable status.
- Possible interaction effects with model selection (`/model`), MCP servers, and LSP servers.

The README does not enumerate every experimental feature; only Autopilot is explicitly named. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md)

## Release Cadence and Changelog Highlights

The project publishes a `changelog.md` file in the repository root, referenced from the README's "Configuring LSP Servers" section: "For more information, see the changelog." Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md)

The most recently surfaced release notes describe a steady cadence of UX, model, and resilience improvements. The following table summarizes themes that recur across recent releases:

| Theme | Representative Change | Source |
|-------|-----------------------|--------|
| Model coverage | New models added to the `/model` picker (e.g., `kimi-k2.7-code`) | Release notes for `1.0.68` |
| IDE integration resilience | IDE tools remain available during transient disconnects, with a clear error returned while disconnected and automatic recovery on reconnect | Release notes for `1.0.68` |
| Slash-command UX | Tab completion shows slash command aliases inline (e.g., `/pr automerge\|agentmerge`) | Release notes for `1.0.68` |
| Accessibility | The focused field in the `/mcp` config form is marked with a `❯ ` chevron rather than color alone | Release notes for `1.0.68` |
| Extensibility | Stop hooks shipped to let users run commands when the agent halts | Release notes for `1.0.68` |

The dominant narrative in the README is that the CLI is "still early in our journey" and that users should "keep your client up to date for the latest features and fixes." Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md)

## Community Roadmap

The open issue tracker surfaces a small number of feature requests with disproportionately high engagement. These shape the near-term roadmap even when no maintainer response has been posted.

### High-engagement Requests

- **Free / 0x-credit models** ([#32](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/32), 45 comments) — Request to select from free Copilot models (e.g., GPT-4.1, GPT-4o, GPT-5 mini, Grok Code Fast) instead of being billed premium-request quota for the default Sonnet 4 model.
- **Agent Client Protocol (ACP) support** ([#222](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/222), 25 comments) — Add ACP so that IDEs and editors can integrate the CLI as a standardized agent, analogous to LSP.
- **OAuth HTTP MCP servers** ([#33](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/33), 38 comments) — Enable remote MCP servers that use OAuth (e.g., Figma Remote MCP, Atlassian MCP).
- **Restore classic Copilot-in-the-CLI workflows** ([#53](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/53), 37 comments) — The most reacted issue; the community has started unofficial forks (e.g., `shell-ai`) to recover the old `gh copilot` commands.
- **Custom slash commands from `.github/prompts`** ([#618](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/618), 31 comments) — Allow prompt files in `.github/prompts/` to be exposed as custom slash commands, mirroring VS Code behavior.

### Roadmap Signal

Several themes recur across these threads and align with the existing release notes:

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    A[Community Requests] --> B{Theme}
    B --> C[Model Selection<br/>#32]
    B --> D[IDE / Editor Integration<br/>#222]
    B --> E[Remote MCP Auth<br/>#33]
    B --> F[Custom Slash Commands<br/>#618]
    C --> G[/model picker]
    D --> H[ACP / LSP surface]
    E --> I[/mcp OAuth flow]
    F --> J[.github/prompts loader]
```

The release notes for `1.0.68` already show movement toward **(G)**, **(I)** (OAuth-related MCP work), and **(J)**-adjacent slash-command UX improvements (inline aliases), indicating that community feedback is feeding directly into shipped behavior. Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md); release notes for `1.0.68`.

## Feedback and Contribution Channels

The README closes with explicit guidance for participation: open issues, join Discussions, and run `/feedback` from inside the CLI to submit a "confidential feedback survey." Source: [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md)

Licensing terms, which govern redistribution and modification of the CLI binary, are defined in `LICENSE.md`. The license explicitly **does not grant the right to modify, adapt, translate, or create derivative works** of the Software, which is relevant context for community forks such as those referenced in issue [#53](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/53). Source: [LICENSE.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/LICENSE.md)

## See Also

- [README.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/README.md) — Overview, installation, configuration
- [changelog.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md) — Per-release notes
- [LICENSE.md](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/LICENSE.md) — License terms

---

<!-- evidence_pipeline_checked: true -->
<!-- evidence_injected: true -->

---

## Pitfall Log

Project: github/copilot-cli

Summary: Found 22 structured pitfall item(s), including 9 high/blocking item(s). Top priority: Installation risk - Installation risk requires verification.

## 1. Installation risk - Installation risk requires verification

- Severity: high
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a installation risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/1504

## 2. Installation risk - Installation risk requires verification

- Severity: high
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a installation risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/3331

## 3. Installation risk - Installation risk requires verification

- Severity: high
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a installation risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/2891

## 4. Installation risk - Installation risk requires verification

- Severity: high
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a installation risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/3627

## 5. Configuration risk - Configuration risk requires verification

- Severity: high
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a configuration risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/3997

## 6. Configuration risk - Configuration risk requires verification

- Severity: high
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a configuration risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/3158

## 7. Security or permission risk - Security or permission risk requires verification

- Severity: high
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a security or permission risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/3948

## 8. Security or permission risk - Security or permission risk requires verification

- Severity: high
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a security or permission risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/3596

## 9. Security or permission risk - Security or permission risk requires verification

- Severity: high
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a security or permission risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/3982

## 10. Installation risk - Installation risk requires verification

- Severity: medium
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a installation risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/4001

## 11. Configuration risk - Configuration risk requires verification

- Severity: medium
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a configuration risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/3984

## 12. Configuration risk - Configuration risk requires verification

- Severity: medium
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a configuration risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/3998

## 13. Capability evidence risk - Capability evidence risk requires verification

- Severity: medium
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: README/documentation is current enough for a first validation pass.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: capability.assumptions | https://www.npmjs.com/package/@github/copilot

## 14. Maintenance risk - Maintenance risk requires verification

- Severity: medium
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a maintenance risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/4002

## 15. Maintenance risk - Maintenance risk requires verification

- Severity: medium
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a maintenance risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: evidence.maintainer_signals | https://www.npmjs.com/package/@github/copilot

## 16. Security or permission risk - Security or permission risk requires verification

- Severity: medium
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: no_demo
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: downstream_validation.risk_items | https://www.npmjs.com/package/@github/copilot

## 17. Security or permission risk - Security or permission risk requires verification

- Severity: medium
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: no_demo
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: risks.scoring_risks | https://www.npmjs.com/package/@github/copilot

## 18. Security or permission risk - Security or permission risk requires verification

- Severity: medium
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a security or permission risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/3995

## 19. Security or permission risk - Security or permission risk requires verification

- Severity: medium
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a security or permission risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/3996

## 20. Security or permission risk - Security or permission risk requires verification

- Severity: medium
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: Project evidence flags a security or permission risk. Review the linked source before relying on this workflow.
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: community_evidence:github | https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/3994

## 21. Maintenance risk - Maintenance risk requires verification

- Severity: low
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: issue_or_pr_quality=unknown。
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: evidence.maintainer_signals | https://www.npmjs.com/package/@github/copilot

## 22. Maintenance risk - Maintenance risk requires verification

- Severity: low
- Evidence strength: source_linked
- Finding: release_recency=unknown。
- User impact: May increase setup, validation, or first-run risk for the user.
- Evidence: evidence.maintainer_signals | https://www.npmjs.com/package/@github/copilot

<!-- canonical_name: github/copilot-cli; human_manual_source: deepwiki_human_wiki -->