GitHub Copilot for the Command Line

Introduction

GitHub Copilot CLI (Command Line Interface) brings AI assistance directly to your terminal. It allows you to use Copilot's capabilities from the command line for shell commands, scripts, and terminal-based workflows.

Key Concept: Copilot CLI provides AI assistance for command-line tasks, script generation, and terminal operations without leaving your terminal.

Installation

Prerequisites

Active GitHub Copilot subscription
GitHub account
Terminal/shell access
Node.js (for npm installation) or Homebrew (for macOS)

Installation Methods

Using npm

npm install -g @githubnext/github-copilot-cli

Using Homebrew (macOS)

brew install github-copilot-cli

Authentication

After installation, authenticate:

github-copilot-cli auth login

Follow the prompts to authenticate with GitHub.

Basic Usage

1. Command Explanation

Get explanations of shell commands:

github-copilot-cli explain "git log --oneline --graph"

2. Command Generation

Generate commands based on natural language:

github-copilot-cli suggest "find all Python files modified in last week"

3. Script Generation

Generate shell scripts:

github-copilot-cli script "backup all files in /home/user/docs"

Use Cases

1. Command Help

Get help understanding complex commands:

Explain command flags and options
Understand command syntax
Learn command usage
Get examples

2. Script Writing

Generate shell scripts:

Bash scripts
PowerShell scripts
Python scripts
Automation scripts

3. Workflow Automation

Create automation workflows:

File processing scripts
Deployment scripts
Backup scripts
Monitoring scripts

4. Learning

Learn command-line tools:

Understand complex commands
Learn new tools
Get best practices
See examples

Common Commands

Command	Description
`github-copilot-cli auth login`	Authenticate with GitHub
`github-copilot-cli explain <command>`	Explain a command
`github-copilot-cli suggest <description>`	Suggest a command
`github-copilot-cli script <description>`	Generate a script
`github-copilot-cli help`	Show help information

Best Practices

1. Review Generated Commands

Always review commands before executing:

Understand what the command does
Check for potentially destructive operations
Verify paths and file names
Test in safe environment first

2. Be Specific

Provide clear descriptions:

Specify operating system if relevant
Include constraints and requirements
Mention file paths or directories
Specify output format if needed

3. Security Considerations

Never execute commands with sensitive data
Review scripts for security issues
Be cautious with file operations
Verify permissions before execution

Integration with Shell

Shell Aliases

Create aliases for easier access:

# Add to .bashrc or .zshrc
alias copilot='github-copilot-cli'
alias copilot-explain='github-copilot-cli explain'
alias copilot-suggest='github-copilot-cli suggest'

Interactive Mode

Some versions support interactive mode for continuous assistance.

Troubleshooting

Authentication Issues

Re-authenticate: github-copilot-cli auth login
Check subscription status
Verify GitHub account access

Command Not Found

Verify installation
Check PATH environment variable
Reinstall if necessary

Exam Key Points

GitHub Copilot CLI brings AI assistance to the command line
Install via npm or Homebrew
Requires authentication: github-copilot-cli auth login
Main commands: explain, suggest, script
Use cases: command help, script generation, workflow automation, learning
Always review generated commands before executing
Be specific in descriptions for better results
Security: never execute commands with sensitive data
Can create shell aliases for easier access
Useful for understanding complex commands and generating scripts