copilot-sdk · github — GitHub Copilot skill: what it does, how to install

---
name: copilot-sdk
description: Build agentic applications with GitHub Copilot SDK. Use when embedding AI agents in apps, creating custom tools, implementing streaming responses, managing sessions, connecting to MCP servers, or creating custom agents. Triggers on Copilot SDK, GitHub SDK, agentic app, embed Copilot, programmable agent, MCP server, custom agent.
---

# GitHub Copilot SDK

Embed Copilot's agentic workflows in any application using Python, TypeScript, Go, or .NET.

## Overview

The GitHub Copilot SDK exposes the same engine behind Copilot CLI: a production-tested agent runtime you can invoke programmatically. No need to build your own orchestration - you define agent behavior, Copilot handles planning, tool invocation, file edits, and more.

## Prerequisites

1. **GitHub Copilot access** and an authenticated environment
2. **Language runtime**: Node.js ^20.19.0 or >=22.12.0, Python 3.11+, Go 1.24+, or a .NET Standard 2.0-compatible implementation
3. **Go**: GitHub Copilot CLI installed and authenticated ([Installation guide](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/set-up/install-copilot-cli))

The TypeScript, Python, and .NET packages use a bundled Copilot runtime by default, so they do not need a separate CLI installation.

## Installation

### Node.js/TypeScript
```bash
mkdir copilot-demo && cd copilot-demo
npm init -y --init-type module
npm install @github/copilot-sdk tsx
```

### Python
```bash
pip install github-copilot-sdk

# Optional: pre-download the bundled runtime instead of downloading it on first use
python -m copilot download-runtime
```

Published Python wheels include a pinned runtime version. The pre-download command caches that runtime locally; if skipped, the SDK attempts to download it automatically on first use.

### Go
```bash
mkdir copilot-demo && cd copilot-demo
go mod init copilot-demo
go get github.com/github/copilot-sdk/go
```

### .NET
```bash
dotnet new console -n CopilotDemo && cd CopilotDemo
dotnet add package GitHub.Copilot.SDK
```

## Quick Start

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

const client = new CopilotClient();
const session = await client.createSession({
    onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
    model: "gpt-4.1",
});

const response = await session.sendAndWait({ prompt: "What is 2 + 2?" });
console.log(response?.data.content);

await client.stop();
process.exit(0);
```

Run: `npx tsx index.ts`

### Python
```python
import asyncio
from copilot import CopilotClient, PermissionHandler

async def main():
    async with CopilotClient() as client:
        async with await client.create_session(
            on_permission_request=PermissionHandler.approve_all,
            model="gpt-4.1",
        ) as session:
            response = await session.send_and_wait("What is 2 + 2?")
            print(response.data.content)

asyncio.run(main())
```

### Go
```go
package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "log"
    "os"
    copilot "github.com/github/copilot-sdk/go"
)

func main() {
    client := copilot.NewClient(nil)
    if err := client.Start(); err != nil {
        log.Fatal(err)
    }
    defer client.Stop()

    session, err := client.CreateSession(&copilot.SessionConfig{
        OnPermissionRequest: copilot.PermissionHandler.ApproveAll,
        Model:               "gpt-4.1",
    })
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatal(err)
    }

    response, err := session.SendAndWait(copilot.MessageOptions{Prompt: "What is 2 + 2?"}, 0)
    if err != nil {
        log.Fatal(err)
    }

    fmt.Println(*response.Data.Content)
    os.Exit(0)
}
```

### .NET (C#)
```csharp
using GitHub.Copilot.SDK;

await using var client = new CopilotClient();
await using var session = await client.CreateSessionAsync(new SessionConfig
{
    OnPermissionRequest = PermissionHandler.ApproveAll,
    Model = "gpt-4.1",
});

var response = await session.SendAndWaitAsync(new MessageOptions { Prompt = "What is 2 + 2?" });
Console.WriteLine(response?.Data.Content);
```

Run: `dotnet run`

## Streaming Responses

Enable real-time output for better UX:

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

const client = new CopilotClient();
const session = await client.createSession({
    onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
    model: "gpt-4.1",
    streaming: true,
});

session.on((event: SessionEvent) => {
    if (event.type === "assistant.message_delta") {
        process.stdout.write(event.data.deltaContent);
    }
    if (event.type === "session.idle") {
        console.log(); // New line when done
    }
});

await session.sendAndWait({ prompt: "Tell me a short joke" });

await client.stop();
process.exit(0);
```

### Python
```python
import asyncio
import sys
from copilot import CopilotClient, PermissionHandler
from copilot.generated.session_events import SessionEventType

async def main():
    async with CopilotClient() as client:
        async with await client.create_session(
            on_permission_request=PermissionHandler.approve_all,
            model="gpt-4.1",
            streaming=True,
        ) as session:
            def handle_event(event):
                if event.type == SessionEventType.ASSISTANT_MESSAGE_DELTA:
                    sys.stdout.write(event.data.delta_content)
                    sys.stdout.flush()
                if event.type == SessionEventType.SESSION_IDLE:
                    print()

            session.on(handle_event)
            await session.send_and_wait("Tell me a short joke")

asyncio.run(main())
```

### Go
```go
session, err := client.CreateSession(&copilot.SessionConfig{
	OnPermissionRequest: copilot.PermissionHandler.ApproveAll,
    Model:     "gpt-4.1",
    Streaming: true,
})

session.On(func(event copilot.SessionEvent) {
    if event.Type == "assistant.message_delta" {
        fmt.Print(*event.Data.DeltaContent)
    }
    if event.Type == "session.idle" {
        fmt.Println()
    }
})

_, err = session.SendAndWait(copilot.MessageOptions{Prompt: "Tell me a short joke"}, 0)
```

### .NET
```csharp
await using var session = await client.CreateSessionAsync(new SessionConfig
{
    OnPermissionRequest = PermissionHandler.ApproveAll,
    Model = "gpt-4.1",
    Streaming = true,
});

session.On(ev =>
{
    if (ev is AssistantMessageDeltaEvent deltaEvent)
        Console.Write(deltaEvent.Data.DeltaContent);
    if (ev is SessionIdleEvent)
        Console.WriteLine();
});

await session.SendAndWaitAsync(new MessageOptions { Prompt = "Tell me a short joke" });
```

## Custom Tools

Define tools that Copilot can invoke during reasoning. When you define a tool, you tell Copilot:
1. **What the tool does** (description)
2. **What parameters it needs** (schema)
3. **What code to run** (handler)

### TypeScript (JSON Schema)
```typescript
import { CopilotClient, approveAll, defineTool, SessionEvent } from "@github/copilot-sdk";

const getWeather = defineTool("get_weather", {
    description: "Get the current weather for a city",
    parameters: {
        type: "object",
        properties: {
            city: { type: "string", description: "The city name" },
        },
        required: ["city"],
    },
    handler: async (args: { city: string }) => {
        const { city } = args;
        // In a real app, call a weather API here
        const conditions = ["sunny", "cloudy", "rainy", "partly cloudy"];
        const temp = Math.floor(Math.random() * 30) + 50;
        const condition = conditions[Math.floor(Math.random() * conditions.length)];
        return { city, temperature: `${temp}°F`, condition };
    },
});

const client = new CopilotClient();
const session = await client.createSession({
    onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
    model: "gpt-4.1",
    streaming: true,
    tools: [getWeather],
});

session.on((event: SessionEvent) => {
    if (event.type === "assistant.message_delta") {
        process.stdout.write(event.data.deltaContent);
    }
});

await session.sendAndWait({
    prompt: "What's the weather like in Seattle and Tokyo?",
});

await client.stop();
process.exit(0);
```

### Python (Pydantic)
```python
import asyncio
import random
import sys
from copilot import CopilotClient, PermissionHandler
from copilot.tools import define_tool
from copilot.generated.session_events import SessionEventType
from pydantic import BaseModel, Field

class GetWeatherParams(BaseModel):
    city: str = Field(description="The name of the city to get weather for")

@define_tool(description="Get the current weather for a city")
async def get_weather(params: GetWeatherParams) -> dict:
    city = params.city
    conditions = ["sunny", "cloudy", "rainy", "partly cloudy"]
    temp = random.randint(50, 80)
    condition = random.choice(conditions)
    return {"city": city, "temperature": f"{temp}°F", "condition": condition}

async def main():
    async with CopilotClient() as client:
        async with await client.create_session(
            on_permission_request=PermissionHandler.approve_all,
            model="gpt-4.1",
            streaming=True,
            tools=[get_weather],
        ) as session:
            def handle_event(event):
                if event.type == SessionEventType.ASSISTANT_MESSAGE_DELTA:
                    sys.stdout.write(event.data.delta_content)
                    sys.stdout.flush()

            session.on(handle_event)
            await session.send_and_wait(
                "What's the weather like in Seattle and Tokyo?"
            )

asyncio.run(main())
```

### Go
```go
type WeatherParams struct {
    City string `json:"city" jsonschema:"The city name"`
}

type WeatherResult struct {
    City        string `json:"city"`
    Temperature string `json:"temperature"`
    Condition   string `json:"condition"`
}

getWeather := copilot.DefineTool(
    "get_weather",
    "Get the current weather for a city",
    func(params WeatherParams, inv copilot.ToolInvocation) (WeatherResult, error) {
        conditions := []string{"sunny", "cloudy", "rainy", "partly cloudy"}
        temp := rand.Intn(30) + 50
        condition := conditions[rand.Intn(len(conditions))]
        return WeatherResult{
            City:        params.City,
            Temperature: fmt.Sprintf("%d°F", temp),
            Condition:   condition,
        }, nil
    },
)

session, _ := client.CreateSession(&copilot.SessionConfig{
	OnPermissionRequest: copilot.PermissionHandler.ApproveAll,
    Model:     "gpt-4.1",
    Streaming: true,
    Tools:     []copilot.Tool{getWeather},
})
```

### .NET (Microsoft.Extensions.AI)
```csharp
using GitHub.Copilot.SDK;
using Microsoft.Extensions.AI;
using System.ComponentModel;

var getWeather = AIFunctionFactory.Create(
    ([Description("The city name")] string city) =>
    {
        var conditions = new[] { "sunny", "cloudy", "rainy", "partly cloudy" };
        var temp = Random.Shared.Next(50, 80);
        var condition = conditions[Random.Shared.Next(conditions.Length)];
        return new { city, temperature = $"{temp}°F", condition };
    },
    "get_weather",
    "Get the current weather for a city"
);

await using var session = await client.CreateSessionAsync(new SessionConfig
{
    OnPermissionRequest = PermissionHandler.ApproveAll,
    Model = "gpt-4.1",
    Streaming = true,
    Tools = [getWeather],
});
```

## How Tools Work

When Copilot decides to call your tool:
1. Copilot sends a tool call request with the parameters
2. The SDK runs your handler function
3. The result is sent back to Copilot
4. Copilot incorporates the result into its response

Copilot decides when to call your tool based on the user's question and your tool's description.

## Interactive CLI Assistant

Build a complete interactive assistant:

### TypeScript
```typescript
import { CopilotClient, approveAll, defineTool, SessionEvent } from "@github/copilot-sdk";
import * as readline from "readline";

const getWeather = defineTool("get_weather", {
    description: "Get the current weather for a city",
    parameters: {
        type: "object",
        properties: {
            city: { type: "string", description: "The city name" },
        },
        required: ["city"],
    },
    handler: async ({ city }) => {
        const conditions = ["sunny", "cloudy", "rainy", "partly cloudy"];
        const temp = Math.floor(Math.random() * 30) + 50;
        const condition = conditions[Math.floor(Math.random() * conditions.length)];
        return { city, temperature: `${temp}°F`, condition };
    },
});

const client = new CopilotClient();
const session = await client.createSession({
    onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
    model: "gpt-4.1",
    streaming: true,
    tools: [getWeather],
});

session.on((event: SessionEvent) => {
    if (event.type === "assistant.message_delta") {
        process.stdout.write(event.data.deltaContent);
    }
});

const rl = readline.createInterface({
    input: process.stdin,
    output: process.stdout,
});

console.log("Weather Assistant (type 'exit' to quit)");
console.log("Try: 'What's the weather in Paris?'\n");

const prompt = () => {
    rl.question("You: ", async (input) => {
        if (input.toLowerCase() === "exit") {
            await client.stop();
            rl.close();
            return;
        }

        process.stdout.write("Assistant: ");
        await session.sendAndWait({ prompt: input });
        console.log("\n");
        prompt();
    });
};

prompt();
```

### Python
```python
import asyncio
import random
import sys
from copilot import CopilotClient, PermissionHandler
from copilot.tools import define_tool
from copilot.generated.session_events import SessionEventType
from pydantic import BaseModel, Field

class GetWeatherParams(BaseModel):
    city: str = Field(description="The name of the city to get weather for")

@define_tool(description="Get the current weather for a city")
async def get_weather(params: GetWeatherParams) -> dict:
    conditions = ["sunny", "cloudy", "rainy", "partly cloudy"]
    temp = random.randint(50, 80)
    condition = random.choice(conditions)
    return {"city": params.city, "temperature": f"{temp}°F", "condition": condition}

async def main():
    async with CopilotClient() as client:
        async with await client.create_session(
            on_permission_request=PermissionHandler.approve_all,
            model="gpt-4.1",
            streaming=True,
            tools=[get_weather],
        ) as session:
            def handle_event(event):
                if event.type == SessionEventType.ASSISTANT_MESSAGE_DELTA:
                    sys.stdout.write(event.data.delta_content)
                    sys.stdout.flush()

            session.on(handle_event)

            print("Weather Assistant (type 'exit' to quit)")
            print("Try: 'What's the weather in Paris?'\n")

            while True:
                try:
                    user_input = input("You: ")
                except EOFError:
                    break

                if user_input.lower() == "exit":
                    break

                sys.stdout.write("Assistant: ")
                await session.send_and_wait(user_input)
                print("\n")

asyncio.run(main())
```

## MCP Server Integration

Connect to MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers for pre-built tools. Connect to GitHub's MCP server for repository, issue, and PR access:

### TypeScript
```typescript
const session = await client.createSession({
    onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
    model: "gpt-4.1",
    mcpServers: {
        github: {
            type: "http",
            url: "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/",
        },
    },
});
```

### Python
```python
async with await client.create_session(
    on_permission_request=PermissionHandler.approve_all,
    model="gpt-4.1",
    mcp_servers={
        "github": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/",
        },
    },
) as session:
    ...
```

### Go
```go
session, _ := client.CreateSession(&copilot.SessionConfig{
	OnPermissionRequest: copilot.PermissionHandler.ApproveAll,
    Model: "gpt-4.1",
    MCPServers: map[string]copilot.MCPServerConfig{
        "github": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/",
        },
    },
})
```

### .NET
```csharp
await using var session = await client.CreateSessionAsync(new SessionConfig
{
    OnPermissionRequest = PermissionHandler.ApproveAll,
    Model = "gpt-4.1",
    McpServers = new Dictionary<string, McpServerConfig>
    {
        ["github"] = new McpServerConfig
        {
            Type = "http",
            Url = "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/",
        },
    },
});
```

## Custom Agents

Define specialized AI personas for specific tasks:

### TypeScript
```typescript
const session = await client.createSession({
    onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
    model: "gpt-4.1",
    customAgents: [{
        name: "pr-reviewer",
        displayName: "PR Reviewer",
        description: "Reviews pull requests for best practices",
        prompt: "You are an expert code reviewer. Focus on security, performance, and maintainability.",
    }],
});
```

### Python
```python
async with await client.create_session(
    on_permission_request=PermissionHandler.approve_all,
    model="gpt-4.1",
    custom_agents=[{
        "name": "pr-reviewer",
        "display_name": "PR Reviewer",
        "description": "Reviews pull requests for best practices",
        "prompt": "You are an expert code reviewer. Focus on security, performance, and maintainability.",
    }],
) as session:
    ...
```

## System Message

Customize the AI's behavior and personality:

### TypeScript
```typescript
const session = await client.createSession({
    onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
    model: "gpt-4.1",
    systemMessage: {
        content: "You are a helpful assistant for our engineering team. Always be concise.",
    },
});
```

### Python
```python
async with await client.create_session(
    on_permission_request=PermissionHandler.approve_all,
    model="gpt-4.1",
    system_message={
        "content": "You are a helpful assistant for our engineering team. Always be concise.",
    },
) as session:
    ...
```

## External CLI Server

Run the CLI in server mode separately and connect the SDK to it. Useful for debugging, resource sharing, or custom environments.

### Start CLI in Server Mode
```bash
copilot --server --port 4321
```

### Connect SDK to External Server

#### TypeScript
```typescript
const client = new CopilotClient({
    cliUrl: "localhost:4321"
});

const session = await client.createSession({
    onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
    model: "gpt-4.1",
});
```

#### Python
```python
from copilot import CopilotClient, PermissionHandler, RuntimeConnection

async with CopilotClient(
    connection=RuntimeConnection.for_uri("localhost:4321")
) as client:
    async with await client.create_session(
        on_permission_request=PermissionHandler.approve_all,
        model="gpt-4.1",
    ) as session:
        ...
```

#### Go
```go
client := copilot.NewClient(&copilot.ClientOptions{
    CLIUrl: "localhost:4321",
})

if err := client.Start(); err != nil {
    log.Fatal(err)
}

session, _ := client.CreateSession(&copilot.SessionConfig{
	OnPermissionRequest: copilot.PermissionHandler.ApproveAll,
	Model:               "gpt-4.1",
})
```

#### .NET
```csharp
using var client = new CopilotClient(new CopilotClientOptions
{
    CliUrl = "localhost:4321"
});

await using var session = await client.CreateSessionAsync(new SessionConfig
{
    OnPermissionRequest = PermissionHandler.ApproveAll,
    Model = "gpt-4.1",
});
```

**Note:** When configured to use an external server, the SDK manages only its connection and does not manage the external process.

## Event Types

| Event | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `user.message` | User input added |
| `assistant.message` | Complete model response |
| `assistant.message_delta` | Streaming response chunk |
| `assistant.reasoning` | Model reasoning (model-dependent) |
| `assistant.reasoning_delta` | Streaming reasoning chunk |
| `tool.execution_start` | Tool invocation started |
| `tool.execution_complete` | Tool execution finished |
| `session.idle` | No active processing |
| `session.error` | Error occurred |

## Client Configuration

| Option | Description | Default |
|--------|-------------|---------|
| `cliPath` | Path to Copilot CLI executable | System PATH |
| `cliUrl` | Connect to existing server (e.g., "localhost:4321") | None |
| `port` | Server communication port | Random |
| `useStdio` | Use stdio transport instead of TCP | true |
| `logLevel` | Logging verbosity | "info" |
| `autoStart` | Launch server automatically | true |
| `autoRestart` | Restart on crashes | true |
| `cwd` | Working directory for CLI process | Inherited |

## Session Configuration

| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `model` | LLM to use ("gpt-4.1", "claude-sonnet-4.5", etc.) |
| `sessionId` | Custom session identifier |
| `tools` | Custom tool definitions |
| `mcpServers` | MCP server connections |
| `customAgents` | Custom agent personas |
| `systemMessage` | Override default system prompt |
| `streaming` | Enable incremental response chunks |
| `availableTools` | Whitelist of permitted tools |
| `excludedTools` | Blacklist of disabled tools |

## Session Persistence

Save and resume conversations across restarts:

### Create with Custom ID
```typescript
const session = await client.createSession({
    onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
    sessionId: "user-123-conversation",
    model: "gpt-4.1"
});
```

### Resume Session
```typescript
const session = await client.resumeSession("user-123-conversation", { onPermissionRequest: approveAll });
await session.send({ prompt: "What did we discuss earlier?" });
```

### List and Delete Sessions
```typescript
const sessions = await client.listSessions();
await client.deleteSession("old-session-id");
```

## Error Handling

```typescript
try {
    const client = new CopilotClient();
    const session = await client.createSession({
        onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
        model: "gpt-4.1",
    });
    const response = await session.sendAndWait(
        { prompt: "Hello!" },
        30000 // timeout in ms
    );
} catch (error) {
    if (error.code === "ENOENT") {
        console.error("Copilot CLI not installed");
    } else if (error.code === "ECONNREFUSED") {
        console.error("Cannot connect to Copilot server");
    } else {
        console.error("Error:", error.message);
    }
} finally {
    await client.stop();
}
```

## Graceful Shutdown

```typescript
process.on("SIGINT", async () => {
    console.log("Shutting down...");
    await client.stop();
    process.exit(0);
});
```

## Common Patterns

### Multi-turn Conversation
```typescript
const session = await client.createSession({
    onPermissionRequest: approveAll,
    model: "gpt-4.1",
});

await session.sendAndWait({ prompt: "My name is Alice" });
await session.sendAndWait({ prompt: "What's my name?" });
// Response: "Your name is Alice"
```

### File Attachments
```typescript
await session.send({
    prompt: "Analyze this file",
    attachments: [{
        type: "file",
        path: "./data.csv",
        displayName: "Sales Data"
    }]
});
```

### Abort Long Operations
```typescript
const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
    session.abort();
}, 60000);

session.on((event) => {
    if (event.type === "session.idle") {
        clearTimeout(timeoutId);
    }
});
```

## Available Models

Query available models at runtime:

```typescript
const models = await client.getModels();
// Returns: ["gpt-4.1", "gpt-4o", "claude-sonnet-4.5", ...]
```

## Best Practices

1. **Always clean up**: Use language-native context managers or disposal, or explicitly disconnect sessions and stop clients
2. **Set timeouts**: Use `sendAndWait` with timeout for long operations
3. **Handle events**: Subscribe to error events for robust error handling
4. **Use streaming**: Enable streaming for better UX on long responses
5. **Persist sessions**: Use custom session IDs for multi-turn conversations
6. **Define clear tools**: Write descriptive tool names and descriptions

## Architecture

```
Your Application
       |
  SDK Client
       | JSON-RPC
  Copilot CLI (server mode)
       |
  GitHub (models, auth)
```

The SDK manages the CLI process lifecycle automatically. All communication happens via JSON-RPC over stdio or TCP.

## Resources

- **GitHub Repository**: https://github.com/github/copilot-sdk
- **Getting Started Tutorial**: https://github.com/github/copilot-sdk/blob/main/docs/tutorials/first-app.md
- **GitHub MCP Server**: https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server
- **MCP Servers Directory**: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers
- **Cookbook**: https://github.com/github/copilot-sdk/tree/main/cookbook
- **Samples**: https://github.com/github/copilot-sdk/tree/main/samples

## Status

This SDK is in **Technical Preview** and may have breaking changes. Not recommended for production use yet.