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 CLI installed and authenticated (Installation guide)
2. Language runtime: Node.js 18+, Python 3.8+, Go 1.21+, or .NET 8.0+

Verify CLI: copilot --version

Installation

Node.js/TypeScript

mkdir copilot-demo && cd copilot-demo
npm init -y --init-type module
npm install @github/copilot-sdk tsx

Python

pip install github-copilot-sdk

Go

mkdir copilot-demo && cd copilot-demo
go mod init copilot-demo
go get github.com/github/copilot-sdk/go

.NET

dotnet new console -n CopilotDemo && cd CopilotDemo
dotnet add package GitHub.Copilot.SDK

Quick Start

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

import asyncio
from copilot import CopilotClient, PermissionHandler

async def main():
    client = CopilotClient()
    await client.start()

    session = await client.create_session({
        "on_permission_request": PermissionHandler.approve_all,
        "model": "gpt-4.1",
    })
    response = await session.send_and_wait({"prompt": "What is 2 + 2?"})

    print(response.data.content)
    await client.stop()

asyncio.run(main())

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#)

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

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

import asyncio
import sys
from copilot import CopilotClient, PermissionHandler
from copilot.generated.session_events import SessionEventType

async def main():
    client = CopilotClient()
    await client.start()