GitHub Copilot CLI Workshop

Version

Tested against: GitHub Copilot CLI v0.0.415. Check releases for newer versions. Some features may change or new ones may be added.

Welcome to this hands-on workshop for mastering GitHub Copilot CLI! This workshop will take you from installation to advanced automation techniques.

Prerequisites

• GitHub account with an active Copilot subscription (Pro, Pro+, Business, or Enterprise)
• Node.js v22+ and npm v10+ (for npm installation method)
• Basic command-line experience
• A code editor (VS Code recommended)
• Git installed and configured

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

• Install and configure Copilot CLI on any platform
• Use interactive and programmatic modes effectively, including slash commands
• Manage sessions and delegate tasks to cloud agents
• Create custom instructions with AGENTS.md and llm.txt
• Control tool permissions and use --yolo mode safely
• Configure and use MCP servers
• Create and use skills from agentskills.io
• Build custom agents for specialized workflows
• Set up hooks for lifecycle automation
• Manage context effectively with /context and /compact
• Use autopilot mode for autonomous task execution
• Leverage fleet command for parallel multi-agent workflows

Workshop Modules

#	Module	Duration	Description
01	Installation	15 min	Install via npm, Homebrew, or script
02	Operating Modes & Commands	30 min	Interactive chat, slash commands, programmatic, and /delegate
03	Session Management	15 min	Continue, resume, clear, and track sessions
04	Custom Instructions	25 min	AGENTS.md, llm.txt, copilot-instructions.md
05	Tools & Permissions	20 min	Built-in tools, allow/deny, --yolo mode
06	MCP Servers	25 min	Configure remote and local MCP servers
07	Agent Skills	20 min	Create and use skills, agentskills.io
08	Plugins	15 min	Plugins and the marketplace ecosystem
09	Custom Agents	25 min	Build specialized agents and subagents
10	Hooks	20 min	Lifecycle hooks and automation
11	Context Management	15 min	/context, /compact, token optimization
12	Advanced Topics	30 min	Autopilot, Fleet, environment, CI/CD, LSP config, tips

Total estimated time: ~4.25 hours

Workshop Flow

How to Use This Workshop

1. Follow in order - Modules build on each other
2. Complete exercises - Hands-on practice reinforces learning
3. Check expected outcomes - Verify your understanding
4. Use the references - Official docs have more detail

Quick Reference Card

Essential Commands

# Start interactive session
copilot

# Programmatic mode (single prompt)
copilot -p "your prompt here"

# Allow specific tools
copilot --allow-tool 'shell(git)'

# Full autonomy (use carefully!)
copilot --yolo

# Resume last session
copilot --resume

Essential Slash Commands

Command	Description
/help	Show all available commands
/clear	Clear session context
/context	View token usage
/compact	Compress session history
/plan	Create implementation plan before coding
/review	Run code review agent
/diff	Review changes made in current directory
/delegate	Hand off to cloud agent
/model	Switch AI model
/mcp	Manage MCP servers
/init	Initialize Copilot config for repo
/instructions	View and toggle custom instruction files
/cwd	Change working directory

Environment Setup Check

Before starting, verify your environment:

# Check Node.js version (need v22+)
node --version

# Check npm version (need v10+)
npm --version

# Check Git
git --version

# Check GitHub CLI (optional but recommended)
gh --version

Ubuntu/Debian Quick Setup

If you are missing prerequisites (for example, in a fresh Docker container):

# Basic tools
apt-get update && apt-get install -y curl git jq gh

# Install uv (Python package manager)
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
source $HOME/.local/bin/env

# Install nvm and Node.js LTS
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.1/install.sh | bash
source ~/.bashrc
nvm install --lts

Getting Help

• Official Docs: docs.github.com/en/copilot
• GitHub Community: github.com/orgs/community/discussions
• Issue Tracker: github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues

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Ready to begin? Continue to Module 1: Installation