Skip to main content
Watchfire
GitHub

GitHub Copilot CLI

GitHub Copilot from the command line, running in yolo mode behind the sandbox.

What is GitHub Copilot CLI?

GitHub Copilot CLI is GitHub's command-line Copilot agent. It signs in via `gh` or its own flow and stores config, MCP setup, and session history under `~/.copilot/`.

Vendor: github.com/github/copilot-cli

GitHub Copilot CLI + Watchfire

Watchfire gives each Copilot session its own `COPILOT_HOME`, symlinks your real `~/.copilot/{config.json,mcp-config.json,session-store.db}` into it, and points Copilot at a Watchfire-generated `AGENTS.md` via `COPILOT_CUSTOM_INSTRUCTIONS_DIRS`. Sessions run in yolo mode (`--allow-all`) — the Watchfire sandbox is the boundary, not Copilot's prompt gate.

Install with GitHub Copilot CLI as default

Install Watchfire, then initialise a project that defaults to GitHub Copilot CLI. Make sure the agent CLI is installed and authenticated outside Watchfire first.

watchfire init --agent copilot

See the installation guide for platform installers and Homebrew taps.

Interop notes

  • Sessions run in yolo mode — Watchfire sandbox is the boundary
  • Symlinks `~/.copilot/{config.json,mcp-config.json,session-store.db}` into the session home
  • Uses `COPILOT_CUSTOM_INSTRUCTIONS_DIRS` to load the per-session `AGENTS.md`
  • Sign in with `gh` or Copilot CLI before running through Watchfire