# copilot-sdk-nodejs

Guidance for Node.js and TypeScript apps built with the GitHub Copilot SDK, covering client startup, sessions, events, and streamed output.

- rule · `type=rule` · GitHub Copilot · ★ 40418
- Author: github · official GitHub repository
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot/tree/HEAD/instructions/copilot-sdk-nodejs.instructions.md
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/rules/copilot-sdk-nodejs

## What it does

This rule applies to `**.ts`, `**.js`, and `package.json`. It covers installing `@github/copilot-sdk`, creating a `CopilotClient`, starting and stopping it, then configuring and using sessions. The examples rely on `async/await`, TypeScript types, and event handlers.

The guidance also covers streamed responses, event cleanup, session resumption, and manual server control. Session options include a model, tool access, MCP servers, a system message, and permission handling. The package is installed with `npm`, `pnpm`, or `yarn`.

The SDK is in technical preview, so breaking changes are possible. Node.js 18.0 or later and the GitHub Copilot CLI in `PATH` are required. The client will not start without the CLI available there.

## Install

### GitHub Copilot (native platform)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/instructions/copilot-sdk-nodejs.instructions.md` — The applyTo field sets which files it applies to

### Claude Code

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.claude/rules/copilot-sdk-nodejs.md` — The paths frontmatter field limits the files: move applyTo from the source into paths

### Codex

**AGENTS.md**
- Codex reads AGENTS.md: paste the rule text there

### Cursor

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/rules/copilot-sdk-nodejs.mdc` — Frontmatter: description, globs, alwaysApply. Move applyTo from the source into globs, or the rule will not attach on its own

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/rules/copilot-sdk-nodejs.md`

### Cline

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.clinerules/copilot-sdk-nodejs.md`

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot/tree/HEAD/instructions/copilot-sdk-nodejs.instructions.md

## When to use it
- set up a GitHub Copilot SDK client in Node.js
- create and close an SDK session
- handle response and error events
- print streamed response chunks
- resume an existing session

## Example prompts
- Create a TypeScript file with `CopilotClient`, start it, and stop it after the session finishes.
- Set `streaming: true` for this session and print response text as events arrive.
- Add an event handler that waits for `session.idle`, logs `assistant.message`, and unsubscribes when processing ends.

## Source text · copilot-sdk-nodejs.instructions.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 86a26d9f02762f74.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 86a26d9f02762f74
````text
---
applyTo: "**.ts, **.js, package.json"
description: "This file provides guidance on building Node.js/TypeScript applications using GitHub Copilot SDK."
name: "GitHub Copilot SDK Node.js Instructions"
---

## Core Principles

- The SDK is in technical preview and may have breaking changes
- Requires Node.js 18.0 or later
- Requires GitHub Copilot CLI installed and in PATH
- Built with TypeScript for type safety
- Uses async/await patterns throughout
- Provides full TypeScript type definitions

## Installation

Always install via npm/pnpm/yarn:

```bash
npm install @github/copilot-sdk
# or
pnpm add @github/copilot-sdk
# or
yarn add @github/copilot-sdk
```

## Client Initialization

### Basic Client Setup

```typescript
import { CopilotClient, approveAll } from "@github/copilot-sdk";

const client = new CopilotClient();
await client.start();
// Use client...
await client.stop();
```

### Client Configuration Options

When creating a CopilotClient, use `CopilotClientOptions`:

- `cliPath` - Path to CLI executable (default: "copilot" from PATH)
- `cliArgs` - Extra arguments prepended before SDK-managed flags (string[])
- `cliUrl` - URL of existing CLI server (e.g., "localhost:8080"). When provided, client won't spawn a process
- `port` - Server port (default: 0 for random)
- `useStdio` - Use stdio transport instead of TCP (default: true)
- `logLevel` - Log level (default: "debug")
- `autoStart` - Auto-start server (default: true)
- `autoRestart` - Auto-restart on crash (default: true)
- `cwd` - Working directory for the CLI process (default: process.cwd())
- `env` - Environment variables for the CLI process (default: process.env)

### Manual Server Control

For explicit control:

```typescript
const client = new CopilotClient({ autoStart: false });
await client.start();
// Use client...
await client.stop();
```

Use `forceStop()` when `stop()` takes too long.

## Session Management

### Creating Sessions

Use `SessionConfig` for configuration:

```typescript
const session = await client.createSession({
    onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
    model: "gpt-5",
    streaming: true,
    tools: [...],
    systemMessage: { ... },
    availableTools: ["tool1", "tool2"],
    excludedTools: ["tool3"],
    provider: { ... }
});
```

### Session Config Options

- `sessionId` - Custom session ID (string)
- `model` - Model name ("gpt-5", "claude-sonnet-4.5", etc.)
- `tools` - Custom tools exposed to the CLI (Tool[])
- `systemMessage` - System message customization (SystemMessageConfig)
- `availableTools` - Allowlist of tool names (string[])
- `excludedTools` - Blocklist of tool names (string[])
- `provider` - Custom API provider configuration (BYOK) (ProviderConfig)
- `streaming` - Enable streaming response chunks (boolean)
- `mcpServers` - MCP server configurations (MCPServerConfig[])
- `customAgents` - Custom agent configurations (CustomAgentConfig[])
- `configDir` - Config directory override (string)
- `skillDirectories` - Skill directories (string[])
- `disabledSkills` - Disabled skills (string[])
- `onPermissionRequest` - Permission request handler (PermissionHandler)

### Resuming Sessions

```typescript
const session = await client.resumeSession("session-id", {
  tools: [myNewTool],
  onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
});
```

### Session Operations

- `session.sessionId` - Get session identifier (string)
- `await session.send({ prompt: "...", attachments: [...] })` - Send message, returns Promise<string>
- `await session.sendAndWait({ prompt: "..." }, timeout)` - Send and wait for idle, returns Promise<AssistantMessageEvent | null>
- `await session.abort()` - Abort current processing
- `await session.getMessages()` - Get all events/messages, returns Promise<SessionEvent[]>
- `await session.destroy()` - Clean up session

## Event Handling
````
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