# GitHub Copilot CLI
> AI-powered coding agent in your terminal by GitHub

## Summary
GitHub's terminal-native AI coding agent — plans, builds, reviews, and iterates on code through natural language, with deep GitHub integration.

## Capabilities
- Autonomous multi-step coding tasks from natural language
- Plan and execute complex workflows (edit, test, iterate)
- Deep GitHub integration (repos, issues, PRs)
- MCP server support for extensibility
- Multiple model support (Claude Sonnet, GPT-4, etc.)
- Preview changes before execution
- LSP integration for code intelligence

## When to Use
- You want an AI coding agent in the terminal
- You need to plan, build, and debug code with AI assistance
- You work heavily with GitHub repos, issues, and PRs
- You want agentic multi-step task execution

## When NOT to Use
- You don't have a GitHub Copilot subscription
- You need offline-only operation

## Usage Patterns
### Start a conversation
```
copilot
```
Launch the interactive agent in your terminal

### Ask a coding question
```
copilot "refactor this function to use async/await"
```
Provide a natural language prompt directly

## Input / Output
- **stdin**: Interactive terminal input
- **stdout**: Conversational responses, code edits, and command output

## Installation
- **homebrew**: `brew install copilot-cli`
- **npm**: `npm install -g @github/copilot`
- **shell**: `curl -fsSL https://gh.io/copilot-install | bash`
- **winget**: `winget install GitHub.Copilot`

## Related Tools
- [aider](/tools/aider) (alternative): Open-source AI pair programming tool
- [cli-co-pilot](/tools/cli-co-pilot) (complementary): Earlier GPT-4 based CLI command translator

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Source: https://littlescripts.sh/tools/copilot-cli