copilot-sdk

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# GitHub Copilot SDK

Build applications that programmatically interact with GitHub Copilot. The SDK wraps the Copilot CLI via JSON-RPC, providing session management, custom tools, hooks, MCP server integration, and streaming across Node.js, Python, Go, and .NET.

## Prerequisites

- **GitHub Copilot CLI** installed and authenticated (`copilot --version`)
- **GitHub Copilot subscription** (Individual, Business, or Enterprise) — not required for BYOK
- **Runtime:** Node.js 18+ / Python 3.8+ / Go 1.21+ / .NET 8.0+

## Installation

| Language | Package | Install |
|----------|---------|---------|
| Node.js | `@github/copilot-sdk` | `npm install @github/copilot-sdk` |
| Python | `github-copilot-sdk` | `pip install github-copilot-sdk` |
| Go | `github.com/github/copilot-sdk/go` | `go get github.com/github/copilot-sdk/go` |
| .NET | `GitHub.Copilot.SDK` | `dotnet add package GitHub.Copilot.SDK` |

## Architecture

The SDK communicates with the Copilot CLI via JSON-RPC over stdio (default) or TCP. The CLI manages model calls, tool execution, session state, and MCP server lifecycle.

```
Your App → SDK Client → [stdio/TCP] → Copilot CLI → Model Provider
                                          ↕
                                     MCP Servers
```

**Transport modes:**

| Mode | Description | Use Case |
|------|-------------|----------|
| **Stdio** (default) | CLI as subprocess via pipes | Local dev, single process |
| **TCP** | CLI as network server | Multi-client, backend services |

---

## Core Pattern: Client → Session → Message

All SDK usage follows: create a client, create a session, send messages.

### Node.js / TypeScript

```typescript
import { CopilotClient } from "@github/copilot-sdk";

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

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

await client.stop();
```

### Python

```python
import asyncio
from copilot import CopilotClient

async def main():
    client = CopilotClient()
    await client.start()
    session = await client.create_session({"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

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

session, _ := client.CreateSession(ctx, &copilot.SessionConfig{Model: "gpt-4.1"})
response, _ := session.SendAndWait(ctx, copilot.MessageOptions{Prompt: "What is 2 + 2?"})
fmt.Println(*response.Data.Content)
```

### .NET

```csharp
await using var client = new CopilotClient();
await using var session = await client.CreateSessionAsync(new SessionConfig { Model = "gpt-4.1" });
var response = await session.SendAndWaitAsync(new MessageOptions { Prompt = "What is 2 + 2?" });
Console.WriteLine(response?.Data.Content);
```

---

## Streaming Responses

Enable real-time output by setting `streaming: true` and subscribing to delta events.

### Node.js

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

session.on("assistant.message_delta", (event) => {
    process.stdout.write(event.data.deltaContent);
});
session.on("session.idle", () => console.log());

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

### Python

```python
from copilot.generated.session_events import SessionEventType

session = await client.create_session({"model": "gpt-4.1", "streaming": True})

From microsoft/skills, MIT.

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