https://github.com/github/copilot-cli-for-beginners
Learn how to get started using the GitHub Copilot CLI!
https://github.com/github/copilot-cli-for-beginners
Last synced: 3 months ago
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Learn how to get started using the GitHub Copilot CLI!
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/github/copilot-cli-for-beginners
- Owner: github
- License: mit
- Created: 2026-02-04T22:15:07.000Z (4 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-02-23T20:22:05.000Z (3 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-02-24T02:54:29.454Z (3 months ago)
- Size: 171 MB
- Stars: 1
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Contributing: CONTRIBUTING.md
- License: LICENSE
- Code of conduct: CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
- Security: SECURITY.md
- Support: SUPPORT.md
- Agents: AGENTS.md
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
[](./LICENSE)
[](https://codespaces.new/github/copilot-cli-for-beginners?hide_repo_select=true&ref=main&quickstart=true)
[](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/copilot-cli)
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🎯 [What You'll Learn](#what-youll-learn) ✅ [Prerequisites](#prerequisites) 🤖 [Copilot Family](#understanding-the-github-copilot-family) 📚 [Course Structure](#course-structure) 📋 [Command Reference](#-github-copilot-cli-command-reference)
# GitHub Copilot CLI for Beginners
> **✨ Learn to supercharge your development workflow with AI-powered command-line assistance.**
GitHub Copilot CLI brings AI assistance directly to your terminal. Instead of switching to a browser or code editor, you can ask questions, generate full-featured applications, review code, generate tests, and debug issues without leaving your command line.
Think of it as having a knowledgeable colleague available 24/7 who can read your code, explain confusing patterns, and help you work faster!
This course is designed for:
- **Software Developers** who want to use AI from the command line
- **Terminal users** who prefer keyboard-driven workflows over IDE integrations
- **Teams looking to standardize** AI-assisted code review and development practices
## 🎯 What You'll Learn
This hands-on course takes you from zero to productive with GitHub Copilot CLI. You'll work with a single Python book collection app throughout all chapters, progressively improving it using AI-assisted workflows. By the end, you'll confidently use AI to review code, generate tests, debug issues, and automate workflows: all from your terminal.
**No AI experience required.** If you can use a terminal, you can learn this.
**Perfect for:** Developers, students, and anyone who has experience with software development.
## ✅ Prerequisites
Before starting, ensure you have:
- **GitHub account**: [Create one free](https://github.com/signup)
- **GitHub Copilot access**: [Free offering](https://github.com/features/copilot/plans), [Monthly subscription](https://github.com/features/copilot/plans), or [Free for students/teachers](https://education.github.com/pack)
- **Terminal basics**: Comfortable with `cd`, `ls`, running commands
## 🤖 Understanding the GitHub Copilot Family
GitHub Copilot has evolved into a family of AI-powered tools. Here's where each one lives:
| Product | Where It Runs | Description |
|---------|---------------|----------|
| [**GitHub Copilot CLI**](https://docs.github.com/copilot/how-tos/copilot-cli/cli-getting-started)
(this course) | Your terminal | Terminal-native AI coding assistant |
| [**GitHub Copilot**](https://docs.github.com/copilot) | VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, etc. | Agent mode, chat, inline suggestions |
| [**Copilot on GitHub.com**](https://github.com/copilot) | GitHub | Immersive chat about your repos, create agents, and more |
| [**GitHub Copilot coding agent**](https://docs.github.com/copilot/using-github-copilot/using-copilot-coding-agent-to-work-on-tasks) | GitHub | Assign issues to agents, get PRs back |
This course focuses on **GitHub Copilot CLI**, bringing AI assistance directly to your terminal.
## 📚 Course Structure
| Chapter | Title | What You'll Build |
|:-------:|-------|-------------------|
| 00 | 🚀 [Quick Start](./00-quick-start/README.md) | Installation and verification |
| 01 | 👋 [First Steps](./01-setup-and-first-steps/README.md) | Live demos + three interaction modes |
| 02 | 🔍 [Context and Conversations](./02-context-conversations/README.md) | Multi-file project analysis |
| 03 | ⚡ [Development Workflows](./03-development-workflows/README.md) | Code review, debug, test generation |
| 04 | 🤖 [Create Specialized AI Assistants](./04-agents-custom-instructions/README.md) | Custom agents for your workflow |
| 05 | 🛠️ [Automate Repetitive Tasks](./05-skills/README.md) | Skills that load automatically |
| 06 | 🔌 [Connect to GitHub, Databases & APIs](./06-mcp-servers/README.md) | MCP server integration |
| 07 | 🎯 [Putting It All Together](./07-putting-it-together/README.md) | Complete feature workflows |
## 📖 How This Course Works
Each chapter follows the same pattern:
1. **Real-World Analogy**: Understand the concept through familiar comparisons
2. **Core Concepts**: Learn the essential knowledge
3. **Hands-On Examples**: Run actual commands and see results
4. **Assignment**: Practice what you learned
5. **What's Next**: Preview of the following chapter
**Code examples are runnable.** Every copilot text block in this course can be copied and run in your terminal.
## 📋 GitHub Copilot CLI Command Reference
The **[GitHub Copilot CLI command reference](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/cli-command-reference)** helps you find commands and keyboard shortcuts to help you use Copilot CLI effectively.
## 🙋 Getting Help
- 🐛 **Found a bug?** [Open an Issue](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli-for-beginners/issues)
- 🤝 **Want to contribute?** PRs welcome!
- 📚 **Official Docs:** [GitHub Copilot CLI Documentation](https://docs.github.com/copilot/concepts/agents/about-copilot-cli)
## License
This project is licensed under the terms of the MIT open source license. Please refer to the [LICENSE](./LICENSE) file for the full terms.