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GitHub Copilot CLI reaches general availability with agentic planning and autonomous task execution
GitHub CopilotGitHub · releasefeatureapisdkplatform · github.blog ↗

GA Launch for Terminal-Native Coding Agent

GitHub Copilot CLI is now generally available to all GitHub Copilot subscribers after six months in public preview. What started as a terminal assistant has evolved into a full agentic development environment capable of planning complex tasks, executing multistep workflows, editing files, running tests, and iterating autonomously—all without leaving the command line.

Agentic Development Modes

Copilot CLI introduces multiple operational modes that give developers control over automation levels:

  • Plan Mode (Shift + Tab): Analyzes requests, asks clarifying questions, and builds structured implementation plans for developer approval before execution
  • Autopilot Mode: Enables fully autonomous execution of tools, commands, and iterations without stopping for approval
  • Specialized Agents: Automatically delegates to expert agents (Explore for codebase analysis, Task for builds/tests, Code Review for change analysis, Plan for implementation planning)
  • Background Delegation: Prefix prompts with & to run agents in the cloud, freeing your local terminal for other work

Model Flexibility and Extensibility

Developers can choose from cutting-edge models including Claude Opus 4.6, Claude Sonnet 4.6, GPT-5.3-Codex, and Gemini 3 Pro, with faster models like Claude Haiku 4.5 available for quick tasks. Switch models mid-session with /model and configure reasoning effort for extended thinking. GPT-5 mini and GPT-4.1 are included with standard Copilot subscriptions at no additional cost.

The platform ships with GitHub's Model Context Protocol (MCP) built in and supports custom MCP servers. Developers can install plugins directly from GitHub repositories, create custom agents via markdown .agent.md files, and extend behavior through preToolUse and postToolUse hooks.

Session Persistence and Code Review Tools

Copilot CLI maintains context across sessions with automatic conversation compression when approaching context limits and "repository memory" that learns codebase conventions and patterns. New review tools include:

  • /diff: Syntax-highlighted inline diffs of all session changes with line-specific commenting
  • /review: Quick analysis of staged or unstaged changes before committing
  • Undo/Rewind: Press Esc–Esc to restore files to any previous session snapshot

Terminal Experience and Availability

The release includes a polished terminal experience with full-screen alt-screen mode (experimental), theme customization, shell integration respecting $SHELL variables, full UNIX keybindings, and accessibility features including screen reader support. Copilot CLI is available via npm, Homebrew, WinGet, shell scripts, and standalone executables for macOS, Linux, and Windows, with automatic updates for most installation methods. It's included by default in GitHub Codespaces and available as a Dev Container Feature.