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Dev & Engineering ✓ GitHub · Official terminalclicode-assistantgithub-integrationmcplsp

GitHub Copilot CLI

Bring the power of GitHub Copilot coding agent to your terminal for natural language coding, debugging, and understanding.

View on GitHub ↗ Quick start ↓
Source repo
github/copilot-cli
Stars
★ 11k
Last updated
4d ago
License
NOASSERTION
Primary language
Shell
FA score
46/100 · Major gaps

At a glance

How it runs
CLI
Works with
Platform-specificChatGPT · Claude Code
Cost
Needs a paid subscription or licence
Setup effort
Low · running in minutes
You'll need
PowerShell v6+ (Windows)GitHub Copilot subscriptiongh CLI (for auth)Shell / CLINetwork accessLocal filesystemMCP Server
Typical use
A developer wants quick code explanations without leaving the terminal.
Not a fit if
  • Individuals or teams without a paid GitHub Copilot subscription
  • Users whose organization or enterprise has disabled Copilot CLI
  • Teams that need fully offline operation with no data leaving the machine
Source review
46/100 · Major gaps 1 safety controls not found

What does this agent do, and when should you use it?

GitHub Copilot CLI is a command-line tool that brings GitHub Copilot's coding agent capabilities directly to your terminal. It leverages the same agentic harness as GitHub's Copilot coding agent, enabling it to understand your codebase and GitHub context (repos, issues, pull requests) and execute complex multi-step tasks. The tool supports natural language conversations for building, editing, debugging, and refactoring code. It integrates natively with GitHub's MCP server and supports custom MCP servers for extensibility. It is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and requires an active GitHub Copilot subscription to function.

It launches an interactive session in the terminal where users interact with an AI agent via natural language prompts. It uses GitHub integration to access repositories, issues, and pull requests, and can perform code edits, debugging, and refactoring. It supports extension via MCP servers, with GitHub's MCP server bundled by default. It provides code intelligence through LSP servers, offering go-to-definition, hover info, and diagnostics. It requires user approval before executing actions, with previews of each action. It supports multiple models (e.g., Claude Sonnet 4.5, GPT-5) and includes experimental features like Autopilot mode.

  1. A developer wants quick code explanations without leaving the terminal.
  2. A developer needs to write or modify code based on natural language instructions.
  3. A developer wants to debug code with AI-driven diagnostics and suggestions.
  4. A developer wants to refactor a codebase with AI assistance for planning and execution.
  5. A developer wants to manage GitHub issues or pull requests directly from the terminal.
  6. A developer wants to extend the coding agent with custom MCP servers for specialized workflows.

How do you install or deploy this agent?

  1. Ensure you have an active GitHub Copilot subscription. 2. For macOS/Linux, use the install script: curl -fsSL https://gh.io/copilot-install | bash or wget -qO- https://gh.io/copilot-install | bash. 3. For macOS via Homebrew: brew install copilot-cli. 4. For Windows via WinGet: winget install GitHub.Copilot. 5. Or via npm: npm install -g @github/copilot.

How do you use this agent?

Run copilot in a directory containing code to launch the CLI. On first launch, use the /login slash command to authenticate with your GitHub account, or set the environment variable GH_TOKEN or GITHUB_TOKEN with a fine-grained PAT that has 'Copilot Requests' permission. After authentication, start a conversation by typing natural language prompts. Use /model to select models, /experimental for experimental features, and /feedback for feedback. You can also configure LSP servers via ~/.copilot/lsp-config.json or .github/lsp.json.

What are this agent's strengths and limitations?

Pros
  • Deep GitHub integration for repos, issues, and PRs.
  • Agentic capabilities for planning and executing complex tasks.
  • Extensible via MCP servers.
  • LSP support for enhanced code intelligence.
  • Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux).
Limitations
  • Requires a paid GitHub Copilot subscription.
  • May be disabled by organization or enterprise policies.
  • Tied to GitHub authentication and cloud service.
  • LSP servers must be installed separately and configured.
  • Frequent updates may require regular upkeep.

How does this agent compare with similar options?

Key facts side by side with the most closely related agents.

Agent Source review Form / cost Stars Updated Language Full support on
GitHub Copilot CLI This agent 46 · Major gaps CLIPaid ★ 11k 4d ago Shell ChatGPT · Claude Code
Deep Code CLI 49 · Major gaps CLIFree + model costs ★ 2.2k 4d ago TypeScript —
Amazon Q CLI (deprecated, migrate to Kiro CLI) 46 · Major gaps CLIFree + model costs ★ 2k 5mo ago Rust —
Mistral Vibe 59 · Major gaps CLIFree + model costs ★ 5.1k 9d ago Python —

How does FollowAgents rate this agent?

FollowAgents source review · FARS-2.1
Major gaps
46/ 100 5-point scale 2.3 / 5
This review covers the source as of Aug 09, 2026. The project has shipped 4 stable release(s) since, which have not been re-reviewed. The score and verdict describe the reviewed version only. Recent releases ↓
Trust 11/29
Reliability 6/14
Adaptability 9/18
Convention 10/18
Effectiveness 7/13
Verifiability 3/8
Why each dimension lost points
Trust11 / 29 · 1.9/5

Evidence: README claims 'preview every action' indicating user confirmation; but no implementation details. Workflow permissions are minimal (e.g., close-invalid.yml only needs issues: write), but not fully assessed. Data flow transparency limited, no details on data transmission. Sensitive data handling not mentioned. Dependency security not audited. External effects (e.g., file modifications) not explicitly stated. Rollback not mentioned. Source attribution clear (GitHub official org). Deductions: lack of concrete implementation evidence, some criteria based on claims only.

Reliability6 / 14 · 2.1/5

Evidence: README and changelog exist, but no tests or error handling details. Dependency availability not explicit. Failure messages not mentioned. Deductions: lack of concrete implementation evidence, some criteria based on claims only.

Adaptability9 / 18 · 2.5/5

Evidence: README clearly identifies target users (developers) and use cases (terminal coding). Capability boundaries partially described (e.g., requires Copilot subscription). Trigger precision not detailed. Environment fit explicit (Linux/macOS/Windows). Deductions: capability boundaries and trigger precision lack specifics.

Convention10 / 18 · 2.8/5

Evidence: README structure clear, install instructions detailed, license explicit (proprietary), maintenance responsibility clear (GitHub). But version changelog not provided, known limitations not explicit. Deductions: version changelog and known limitations missing.

Effectiveness7 / 13 · 2.7/5

Evidence: README describes output as natural language conversation, likely useful. Marginal value clear (terminal integration). Cost-benefit not detailed. Deductions: cost-benefit lacks concrete data.

Verifiability3 / 8 · 1.9/5

Evidence: README claims link to official docs, but no specific evidence. Cross-source verification limited. Facts vs inferences not clearly separated. Deductions: lack of concrete evidence and separation.

Risks and how to mitigate them
  • Not found in source: rollback or recovery pathBack up first, or work on a git branch or snapshot, so its changes can be undone.
  • Static review, no code execution, all scores based on file contents.
  • The 'preview every action' claim in README is not verified in code.
  • License is proprietary, restricts modification and redistribution.
  • Dependency security not audited.
  • Rollback mechanism not mentioned.
Evidence confidence: Low Reviewed Aug 09, 2026 Reviewed revision 9532bdacf5a3 New commits since this review; the score may not cover them
Review evidence github.comREADME.mdLICENSE.mdworkflows/close-invalid.ymlworkflows/close-single-word-issues.yml
See the full review method →

Recent releases

Latest entries from the project's GitHub Releases. Notes are quoted from upstream as written, not rewritten or tested by FollowAgents.

  1. v1.0.100-1 1.0.100-1 Pre-release
    Release notes excerpt
    Improved - Use the unified Sessions browser by default for /sessions, /session, and /resume. - Session browsing now caps account discovery at 500 records and respects Retry-After hints for automatic refresh timing. Fixed - Sandbox host-rule traffic now honors HTTPS_PROXY and HTTP_PROXY when no sandbox proxy is configured - Voice dictation no longer inserts language markers like <en-US> into transcript text
    View on GitHub ↗
  2. v1.0.98 1.0.98
  3. v1.0.97 1.0.97

FAQ

Do I need a GitHub Copilot subscription?
Yes, an active Copilot subscription is required. If you access via an organization, an admin may disable it.
What programming languages are supported?
It supports various languages via LSP configuration. You need to install LSP servers manually, e.g., typescript-language-server for TypeScript.
How are premium requests counted?
Each prompt you submit consumes one premium request from your monthly quota.
Can I use custom models?
You can choose from available models like Claude Sonnet 4.5, Claude Sonnet 4, and GPT-5 via the /model command, depending on your subscription.
How does it ensure safe actions?
It requires explicit approval before executing any action, with previews of each step.
View on GitHub ↗ Install ↓

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